Raising 4 Princesses

T' Time {#62}...Meet Melissa

2012-02-16T20:54:00.000-06:00

It's T' Time again! Here's my gal... meet Melissa!

"Hey y'all!

I am Melissa a.k.a. Lissa and I blog over at My Southern-Fried Christian Life.

Our church supports Maria and her family and I have enjoyed getting to know her thru emails and her blog over the last several months.
She truly is a wonderful lady and a great Godly example!
This is an honor, in deed! I mean, how often does one get asked to guest post on their favorite blog?!

Ok, so I guess if the "y'all" didn't give it away, then my blog name did. I live in the South...South Louisiana to be exact.
(Not too far from where Maria's Prince is from)

I am a Christian, a (single) Mother, a coffee addict and a thrift-a-holic.

God has blessed me with a beautiful, energetic 9 yr old daughter (Toots),
a handsome God-loving/serving boyfriend (D) and his handsome (like his daddy)
and kind-hearted 10 yr old son (JD).
The 4 of us make up an unstoppable team fueled by spicy cajun gumbo, ice cold sweet tea, a little extra powdered sugar on our beignets
and our whole-hearted desire to serve the Lord.

With Christmas just passing, I'm sure that most of our homes now have some new-fangled electronic gadget added to it. Technology a.k.a. the internet, computers/laptops, smart phones, video games, ect have taken over a big part of our lives. I know that I personally wouldn't know what to do without at least 2 (ok, maybe 3) of the above-mentioned items. The days of hand-written letters, phone books and encyclopedias are long gone it seems. Thanks to the conveniences that these electronics provide, information is much more accessible and keeping contact with people is done much easier.

Today, I propose that we take time to...unplug!

Just recently, we "unplugged" from all things electronic and got out and enjoyed nature for a little while. D and I took the kids, my nephew and one of Toots' friends and went exploring some trails in a wildlife preserve near his house. I will admit that I did take 1 electronic device (my camera) with me...but everything else was left at home, I promise. :o)

The kids enjoyed exploring around in the woods, trying to spot alligators and various "wild" animals, climbing on fallen down trees and making "walking sticks" to help them navigate around. I think D and I most enjoyed the fresh air that filled our lungs and sounds of birds chirping us some background music while we walked.

It was a wonderful afternoon spent enjoying some of God's beautiful Creation without the ring/buzz of emails, texts and phone calls.

Definitely something we should all do a little more often. :o)"

LOVE this, Melissa! Thanks so much for the reminder and encouragement to "unplug" from it all....I feel the refreshment coming already! You are so much fun, and I love your writing style. I have the feeling if we were next door neighbors I'd be laughing all the time. {wink} Not so sure if I'd go looking for alligator with you though, but maybe I would. Just so I could write a post saying we did!

to be exact

2012-02-15T20:29:00.001-06:00

it all started with

"mommy, lets make something"...."something yummy"

so we made something.

funfetti cupcakes to be exact.

and someone just ate the frosting

yes.....just licked every drop of frosting off her cupcake to be exact

and left it

left it sitting on the dining room table to be exact.

The baby got up from her nap.

Mommy turned her back for a bout a minute.

The baby had the cupcake and was sitting on the kitchen flour,

amidst a pile of crumbs, using {someone's} toothbrush as a spoon.

And truly enjoying it to be exact.

Here's proof I don't find my lil' darlings only frosting and cake,

fresh oranges , as fresh as can be.

Right off our neighbor's tree to be exact.

good day, to be exact,

T' Time {#61} and Linky Party

2012-02-13T20:51:00.000-06:00

Last Week's Party Features! (Drum Roll, please)

2 Ingredient Fudge at Lady with the Red Rocker

Reese's Peanut Butter Hearts from Flour Me With Love

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies from the Misadventures of Mrs. B

Now let's all play by the rules!

1. Links must be very kid friendly (example: things that Grandma would approve of {smile}) Really, if it's something that you can do with a child or your family then it would be just peachy...share it with us. A craft, a recipe, a post about a day spent with your kids...you get the picture?

2. Pretty please be a follower of Raising4Princesses and if you use the button to link back I'd be just tickled pink. You can also find us on Facebook

3. Here's the rule you're seeing everywhere.....{5th grade teacher voice} "visit other links and tell them how "marvelous they are!"

once upon a day

2012-02-13T10:39:00.002-06:00

(Daddy and Brynlee Erin,14 m.)

it was a warm day

daddy had just finished cutting the grass

when he sat down in the hammock Princess Brynlee thought he needed some company

a shoe salesman turned Baptist Preacher

2012-02-12T17:35:00.001-06:00

Have a lovely Sunday,

count your blessings

#187 old hymnals to sing the old hymns out of

#188 the soothing balm that the old words do to my heart

#189 voices singing hymns, mother's voices, father's voices, children's voices ....GOD HEARS

the lesson of the droopy rose

2012-02-11T13:07:00.003-06:00

I don't remember where I heard this story before, but it is something from my girlhood that really "sunk in" and stayed with me. The Girls Only Club is going good, meeting every Saturday at 10:00. I enjoy planting little seeds of purity in my young girls hearts.

Today, I laid 2 beautiful red roses in the center of the concrete table. The girls "ohh and ahhed" over them. We admired them throughout the meeting, enjoying their faint scent floating on the breeze.

After we finished our worksheets, I gently picked up one of the roses, held it to my nose and {dramatically} breathed deep. "Doesn't a rose just smell heavenly?" We passed that rose around the table. Each girl held it to her nose, smelling the red rose.

Next, I rubbed one of the outside petals between my fingers. "Don't they feel so soft and velvety?" Each girl had a chance to rub the rose between her fingers and against her cheek.

The rose made 2 more circles around the table, letting each girl enjoy it's beauty. After much delicate abuse the petals were droopy and several fell out. I laid the well-used rose back in the center of our circle, beside the untouched one. "Now, if you could take one of these roses home with you, which rose would you choose?" Each girl said the perfect looking, untouched one.

"Today, you are young, beautiful, pure...just like this fresh rose." I went on to describe in detail how not to turn out like the droopy rose.

"When Prince Charming comes charging over the hill on his white steed, which "rose" do you think he'd choose?"

{Valentine} T' Time....meet Angel

2012-02-10T09:13:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday!

Today's Valentine Guest poster is all the way from Romantic Ireland!

My girlie, college friend, and shamrock lover.

Meet {again}...Angel.

"Hello,
I would like to introduce you to my Sweetheart, Stephen. We have know each other since the 4th grade and started dating our Jr. year of high school and we were engaged by the end of our Sr. year of high school. We now have been married 15 yrs.We just renewed our vows before we moved to Ireland and loved each minute of it of doing it again!(i do, take two!)
We have two children, Taylor(15), Caoimhe(13) and our Basset Hound,Jack.
My tip for all the lovebirds can be spruced up for Valentine's Day but can most definitively be used everyday. "Just be silly with each other!"

Any memory, song, movie, or story that comes to mind tell him and vise versa and have a good laugh about it. Laugh with him every day and let your kids have great picture of love and happiness. I love to laugh!

For example, I have been seeing a insurance commercial and now it has gotten funnier and funnier. So I told Steve about it and now when we see it, we just start laughing! We get some weird looks from the kids but I see it another memory deposited for when they are married!
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine Proverbs 17:22a

Happy Valentine's Day! "

{sigh},

Grandma Grace's {Oh-la-la} Cream Puffs

2012-02-09T19:31:00.000-06:00

In honor of Eden Grace's 4th Birthday,

we called Grandma Grace and she gave me her Cream Puff recipe.

The princesses and I were super excited to try these...after all they sound so fancy-smancy.

I was so happy with how they turned out, and couldn't believe how easy they really were.

Prince rarely gets excited about food, but he surprised me with how much he liked these

...and even requested them again!

Grandma Grace's Cream Puff Recipe

1. heat to boiling point in a medium saucepan

1 cup water

1/2 cup real butter

2. stir in 1 cup all purpose flour

*key* stir constantly over low heat until mixture leaves pan and forms a ball (approx. 1 minute)

3. Remove from heat and cool until medium warm

4. Beat in (1 at a time) 4 eggs. Beat mixture (briskly) until smooth and velvety

5. Drop by spoon onto ungreased baking sheet in mounds. Makes 8. Bake until dry at 375 degree for about 45 minutes (or less)

6. Allow to cool slowly away from draft. Cut off top with sharp knife. Scoop out any filament of soft dough.

7. Fill with sweetened whipped cream, replace top, and dust with powdered sugar

Optional: fill with Ice Cream, pudding, chocolate sauce, you can tint white filling also!

Grandma's favorite Custard filling

1. Mix together in saucepan

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 Tablespoons flour

2. Stir in 2 cups rich milk, no lumps. Cook over low heat, stirring until it boils, boil one minute.

3. Remove from heat, stir a little of this mixture (1/2 cup) into 4 egg yolks or 2 (well-beaten) eggs.

4. Slowly mix all together in saucepan. Bring back to boiling for 1 minute. Cool, add 2 teaspoons vanilla

(perfect accessory for a princess....tap shoes)

(my party animal)

Happy Birthday, Eden!

Thank you so very much for praying for my friend, Jannice. The nurses told her today she has to wait in the hospital for 3 1/2 more weeks then they will try to induce her at that time. They check her temperature every 4 hours. She was told if her temperature goes up then they will have to take the baby early. Please keep her in your prayers.

{Valentines} T' Time....meet Bev

2012-02-09T10:13:00.001-06:00

Valentine's Day is getting closer!

Today's guest is another one of my college girlies.

A lady with a sweet and submissive heart, married 4 years.

Meet...Bev.

"My name is Beverly Weiss, God has in the last year changed my husband and I's life around from preparing and going to the mission field of the Philippines to turning us towards the States. Wichita Falls TX, Victory Baptist Church. My husband, Brian Weiss became the pastor on March 27, 2011. Though this transition I have learned that my life and my family is in the hands of the LORD. God changes our paths for reasons we may not understand but through His Grace we will follow where ever He leads.

We have two wonderful growing little boys, Isaac 2 and Matthias 10 months, and day after day I strive to glorify God with my life where God has placed us.

My t' time challenge is...
how to organize TOO many TOOLS!
I have recently organized his tools in a dresser - not necessarily finding a new spot but just putting them ALL together. So when he asks where ______________fill in the blank is??? you can tell him exactly where it is."

Have a lovely day,

Valentine T' Time.... it's Rachel

2012-02-08T09:26:00.001-06:00

My guest today is my sister, Rachel.

Married 6 years to my sweet brother-in-law, Jared.

"Take the Time To…
Remember to make yourself

{beautiful} just for him.

Sometimes my days are so crazy,

“Son, don’t feed the dog that it is going to make her sick!

Don’t jump from there you are going to hurt yourself!

What is that smell?

I told you not to rub your dirty hands down the hall.

Yuck… what is that?”

By the time 5 o’clock comes around the last thing on our minds is what does my hair look like? What does my face look like? What is on my shirt… oh, there is that smell! So about 10 or so minutes before he gets home, put on a clean shirt. Not a fancy one, just clean. Squirt yourself with some of that perfume that he got you for Christmas that he thought you liked. "Fluff" your hair.

If he gets home before you, put on fresh lipstick before you get out of the car.

Even though sometimes he will NEVER say anything about what you just did, he does notice!

Remember how we use to take hours to makeup ourselves before we were married? Never lose that desire to look good for him. Even while you are sitting at home across the dining room table eating leftovers. "

in the Jamaican hospital

2012-02-07T21:39:00.000-06:00

Whenever I see the tall imposing form of the public hospital, in Montego Bay, it always brings to mind thoughts that are...gloomy and foreboding. The first time I saw it, I was pregnant with Brynlee and trying to decide if I wanted to have my baby there. The hospital sent shivers down my spine. It is old, entirely concrete, many stories tall, and dirty gray. I'm really not exaggerating I think of myself as a brave woman, but the thought of going through the security checkpoint and entering through those walls makes my belly flip. So why entertain thoughts of going in there? One of my best friends was inside, having a baby.

Early this morning, we received a call that my close friend, Jannice's water had broke and she was at the hospital. Farouk and Jannice are a very faithful couple at Valley Baptist Church and dear friends of ours. Just last Sunday, they came forward as a family( with their nieces and nephew) to pray together at invitation. They are such a blessing to have in our Church. Normally I would be so excited about the coming of a baby {oh, how I love babies}. But, Jannice's due date is 7 or 8 weeks away.

Prince got ready and I dressed the Princesses and we headed to town. When we arrived at the {gloomy and foreboding} hospital we found a parking spot wayyyyy across the lot and after securing the bus, we headed for the front entrance. When we arrived we saw our next door neighbor who was there visiting her sister. Her sister was in a nursing home and when our neighbor went to visit her 2 weeks ago she realized that she couldn't walk. Come to find out, she had fallen and broken her hip and nobody had noticed....I said, nobody had noticed. {sad, very sad} My neighbor used to be an RN in Long Island, New York. She was very upset and took her sister to the hospital and they did surgery on her hip yesterday. I haven't talked to her for a few days, so we stood in line and visited while we waited for the visiting hour. This is a direct quote from her, "This place is a dog house, I'm sorry to say that but it is." That didn't help to sooth my worry, wrinkled eyebrows.

Children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the hospital so the girls and I walked around and found a large tree to sit under and wait. I sat on a large root and had a "spelling bee" with Moriah and Alexis while we waited for Daddy.

He was gone a long time and then I was approached several times by men wanting to know if I wanted a taxi and ladies wanting to know if I needed a child keeper. My white skin. There were taxies buzzing around everywhere. One taxi stopped on the road and called out to the group of drivers, sitting on the dirt, under the tree beside us. He asked them, (I'll translate it to English...wink) "Are they your tourists?" and he pointed at me. One of the men under the tree called back, "Yes." So the man drove on. I was thankful for that man.

When Prince returned he said, "You can go now." It shocked me. I didn't consider going....by myself. Please realize life here is nothing like life in the States. Especially life in my {wonderful} little home town of Kahoka, population 2,200 (aka Mayberry). We stand out, we don't blend in well, with 4 sandy haired little girls there are just some places you don't go. I do stay home a lot, I don't mind. It's best for my little girls. In America I drive across states alone, I do my own shopping {deep sigh}, I can walk down the street and feel safe....but this just isn't America.

I said, "I'm scared." Prince ignored me and gave me directions to find her. Go through security and the man with the wand, down the hall, left, right, left, right, around the corner, go through the door marked exit, left right, up the stairs, left, right, she'll be sitting in the middle of the room. Humm, well at least he didn't say "turn north then south".

Here I go. Waiting in line and getting past the tall security guard was no problem. Right away I was confused, I thought he said go left but the only door on the left said "surgery" in faded red paint. I asked an older nurse wearing a white skirt and shirt uniform and an adorable {tiny} white cap pinned on her head. I walked in circle for another minute or two and after an older gentlemen felt sorry for me and asks me where I was going, he gave good direction by pointing. I was overwhelmed by the amount of people. It was a huge building on the outside, but the inside was very open. I mean open, no ceilings in some places. Rooms were around the outside walls with straight, wooden waiting benches. I was supposed to not wait for the elevator because "it's very slow". So I was supposed to walk around behind the elevator and go through the door market "exit." Humm, do I go up the skinny twisting concrete steps with the dim light bulb? Some nurses were walking that way so I followed their pretty caps. As quickly as my high heels would allow, I ran up the stairs that seemed to circle around and around. There was a overwhelming hissing sound coming from behind a small metal door on the wall. One floor up, turn left then right and you're in a room with a lot of beds.

Nothing could have prepared me for this. A very large room was filled with beds so close together that you could only walk between them. No glass windows, only wooden panels that you turn to catch the breeze. Mommies of all ages sat or laid in their narrow bed. Some were obviously still expecting and some were holding their tiny babies. I saw one very young girl, great with child. Even now, my heart aches. I take so much for granted.

I kept walking until I made eye contact with my sweet friend, Jannice. She was sitting on the edge of her bed smiling at me. So much better then the visions I kept imagining of her tossing around in her bed in excruciating pain...my imagination is just too big sometimes.

I hugged her tight and felt so much better. Now, I could try to comfort her. She said the nurse listened to the baby and said it sounds good. Her water had broke so they gave her an injection to help the baby's lungs and the doctor is going to run a test on her. She just wants her baby to be ok. Please keep praying for my friends, Jannice and Farouk, they need it.

Today was Eden's 4th birthday, and I'll share more about that later, but right now my thoughts and prayers are on my friend who is carrying a baby I already love.

Thank you for your prayers,

{Valentine} T' Time...meet Carol

2012-02-07T14:58:00.000-06:00

I've received a lot of sweet comments about my Valentine guests

and I'm so honored to have each of them.

I'm excited to introduce to you Today's Take the Time to guest.

Here you are ladies,

meet....Carol.

"Hello from a fairly ~~warm~~ snowy and cold Iowa! My name is Carol VanderHart and I have been happily married for almost 23 years to my wonderful husband, Scott. He is an assistant/youth pastor and a very busy man! We have four children - three princesses ages 17, 13 & 10, and one prince, age 15.

My husband is a very romantic guy and has made our marriage a lot of fun! One thing that is very special to both of us is taking time for just the two of us.

We home school our 4 children, so any chance I get to spend alone-time with my hubby, I grab at with both hands! Monday is his day off so we have made that our date day. It’s very exciting! We go for groceries and normally out for lunch!! I use to tease my folks about doing the exact same thing, but now I understand how very important it is to spend alone time together - away from the house! We normally don’t go anywhere too expensive to eat and if we decide we want to go somewhere really nice, lunchtime is normally cheaper! When your husband is as busy as mine, you need to take every chance you can get!

The one special thing we do at least once every other month is stay one night in a hotel. We have a credit card that we use for everything and it accrues points. So we are able to stay in a king suite (that sometimes has a Jacuzzi) for free! I love Choice Privileges!

My T' Time Challenge is....
Spend time together - without the kids.
It doesn’t have to be anything expensive. Just give him your time. My husband asks me to go to work at the church with him sometimes, just to be there with him! If he’s working on the car, he loves it when I go out and sit and hand him tools! It can be as simple as that! If you don’t have children in the house, you still need that time away from your home. We sometimes get in a rut with the daily routine. Make your time together special!

You need together time to keep your marriage strong!"

T' Time {#60} Link Party

2012-02-06T19:32:00.001-06:00

Last Week's {Lovely} Party Features

Melted Crayons at Once a Mom Always a Cook

Cool Whip Fun at Joyful Homemaking

How to Make a Heart Rosette at Loopy Loop Creations

Paper Strip Hearts on The Crafty Blog Stalker

Now let's all play by the rules!

2. Pretty please be a follower of Raising4Princesses and if you use the button to link back I'd be just tickled pink. You can also find us on Facebook

3. Here's the rule you're seeing everywhere.....{5th grade teacher voice} "visit other links and tell them how "marvelous they are!"

{Valentine} T' Time....meet Kami

2012-02-06T10:48:00.001-06:00

I have a special Valentine idea for you! This guest is a friend who lives on an Island...just like me!

Actually, we're not really far apart. I first "met" this lady when her teenage son sent us a letter about supporting us as missionaries. My husband and I were humbled by this teen wanting to sacrifice to be a blessing and encouragement to us. Since that time they've moved to the island of St. Barthelemy as missionaries. Meet....Kami

"Hello, my name is Kami Gimenez and I'm blessed to have married my high school sweetheart, Patrick. We have been married for 17 exciting years. The Lord has blessed us with 5 precious kiddos with ages from 15 years to 20 months. Baby #6 is due in April!

We have been serving as missionaries on the island of St. Barthelemy in the French West Indies for the past 9 months. We are loving our life here and look forward to seeing God work in the hearts of the people of St. Barths. I'm thrilled to be getting in on all of the blessings from being a wife, mommy, and missionary! I love pickles, quilting, cooking, crafty things, kisses from my sweety, chocolate, taking pictures of my precious kiddos, blogging, reading....I guess I could go on and on! God has been so good to me!

I was so honored when Maria asked me to take part in writing a T' Time Challenge. I've loved reading all the great tips from her and other Mothers. Then, she asked if I would give a challenge centered around our husbands since we're so close to Valentine's Day. I love the idea!

So, my T' Time challenge to you is....

Plan a Candlelight Dinner.

You may be saying, “We just don’t have the money to go out right now, and to have to pay for a babysitter also!” My challenge is to plan a virtually free candlelight dinner. Here’s the plan. Make a super easy meal for the kidddos like frozen pizza or a TV dinner. While they are eating, work on a nice meal for just you and your man. Don’t forget the dessert! Once the kids are in bed, your romantic dinner begins! Make it special by using your nicest tablecloth and linens. Set the china if you have it! (My husband and I have 2 gorgeous cups that are only used for date nights and special times. We always use those!) Move the table to a different angle, or move it to a different room altogether. This makes you feel like you’re somewhere else besides at home. Light lots and lots of candles. Play soft music and take your time eating and enjoying a nice dinner, just the two of you."

How romantic {sigh}. See you tomorrow!

read more about this fellow Island Girl at her blog

{Valentine} T' Time Challenge {#59} ...Meet Amy

2012-02-02T17:21:00.000-06:00

I'm so thankful for these wonderful woman who are helping me with the {Valentine} Take the Time to challenges.

My guest today is such an encouragement and inspiration to me. She is probably the one who inspired me to start down the blogging journey.

This is the daughter of my recent Tuesday guest, Mrs. Bosje. If you want a lady who is very down to earth and real, this is your girl. She's someone who you can sit outside with and talk....really talk. NOT just "I don't really know you, so we're making polite conversation"...I felt like she was one of my sisters and have loved her since the first time we met.

Here she is...meet Amy!

"Hello, everyone! I'm Amy, and I am happily married to my childhood sweetheart and am a busy homeschooling mommy to twelve amazing children, ages one to eighteen. I love to read, write, doodle, sew, cook, and create in general. I enjoy the simple pleasures that God pours into our lives every day. I am so excited to be a part of Maria's sweet blog today. Don't you just love this girl's heart? She continually inspires me.

The challenge I would like to present you is to Take the Time to…

BUILD YOUR MAN.

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but thefoolish plucketh it down with her hands.” (Proverbs 14:1)

I am married to an exceptional man and we have a wonderful relationship, but I am just as human as the next wife, and frankly, he isn’t perfect either. I just like to pretend he is. ☺

And I practice pretending until some days – most days – I almost believe it. Funny, thing is, my children DO. I decided many years ago that someday our kids would figure out their Daddy has faults and makes mistakes, but they wouldn’t learn it from me. Instead, they would hear things like this:

While cooking dinner: “Daddy’s gonna love this. Your Daddy’s such a good man.”

While folding his laundry (or picking up his dirty socks and turning them right side out): “Your Daddy is so strong. He works really hard for us.”

While watching at the window for him to come home: “Daddy’s coming soon. Won’t it be fun to have him home with us tonight? Your Daddy loves you so much.”

Across the foyer at church: “Look at that handsome man over there. Is that YOUR Daddy?”

While riding in the car together: “I love your Daddy so much. You have the best Daddy in the whole world.”

Building blocks.

One by one by one, we mommies place those thoughts in our children’s minds. Building, building our homes, stronger and higher and more beautiful.

Years ago, I was discouraged by one of the ways my husband spent some of his time. It wasn’t anything sinful; it just wasn’t my choice. I began to pray that God would help him to change it. While I was at it, I began to ask God regularly to change some of his other “faults.” One day as I was praying, with a rather discouraged and negative outlook towards my man and the lack of change in him, God clearly impressed on my mind to be quiet. To love my man just the way he was and to let God take care of his faults. It wasn’t my job to be the discerner or the corrector. It was my job to build.

And so I stopped thinking about all of those petty things, and instead, I began to praise him - in myheart, and out loud, both to him and to our children. And I discovered that the more I praised my man, the less I noticed what was wrong. In fact, looking back now, I can’t even remember the things I had on that prayer list!

Fast forward a few years. This year we will celebrate our 20^thanniversary and we will have five teenagers in our home. My little ones still believe the sun rises and sets on their Daddy, but the older ones are developing opinions of their own (strong ones – and often opinions with little logic to back them up, but that’s another story, lol), and I realize that this is the time in life when that respect and love for their Dad that we have spent years in building up, one word and action at a time, is crucial in their lives right now. Within the next few years, they have many decisions to make that will determine their happiness for the future. My pastor refers to it as “falling insurance”when your love and respect for a person will constrain you to choose right in the face of temptation. Eighteen years ago, when I began to practice the habit of building up Daddy, I hadn’t thought this far ahead. Today, I pray that those invisible walls of love and respect and praise we have built over the years will be strong enough to protect them.

And the funny thing is, once you begin that habit, you quickly realize that there is little room for criticism. And no room to voice it. Why would I tear down my own "house" that I have spent so much time in building?

So I encourage you to start today. When you wake in the morning and stop to gather up his dirty dishes left in the living room after his bedtime snack, be thankful that he was home last night, and not off partying with friends, and take a moment to brag on him a bit. Even if you’re the only one to hear it. If you keep it up throughout the day, I guarantee your husband will come home tonight to a smiling, loving woman. And what kind of man can resist that?"

Have a lovely day,

You can visit Amy's blog see her latest creations and interests at

Also, I wanted to mention that she sells some lovely Scripture prints available at

you're thinking my name

2012-02-02T12:32:00.000-06:00

If I really thought about it...
I'd get hurt feelings that you call the dog by name but not me.

Sure you say, "Dada"...EVERY...time you hear the bus rumbling up the road.
And rush to be the first to greet him.
Another Daddy's girl.

And Moriah thinks she's also your mommy.
She really is a big help to me.
She loves to get you up in the morning and sneak you cookies.
So I guess she earned the right for you to say "A-Riah".

And the Dog.
Well he's a dog, and all my kids love animals.
But not only do you call for "A-go" but you deemed him worthy of the kissing "come here" sound.

For crying out loud, you even say "na-na" for those fresh bananas that you love and eat all the time.

{pouty lip}
It's just not fair.
Today though, the thought struck me right between the eyeballs. And thoughts usually have to do that...this far away from my morning coffee. And those same thoughts usually have to flutter around the room and knock on my head a few times to get over the sound of the children. I'm mommy. I don't have to hear it from your slobbery little lips, I can see it in your brown eyes.

And even when I long to hear it, I know without a doubt that you're thinking my name.

count your blessings

#184 the sound of a baby's voice

#185 giving my children fresh bananas off the tree

#186 children in hats

Old and rusty

2012-01-31T21:03:00.000-06:00

"Mom, when I get old and rusty on the outside

will I still be pretty on the inside?"

Alexis Nicole, 6

I {love} my pretty girl.

count your blessings

#180 the feeling in your tummy when you swing really high

#181 elastic hair ties

#182 someone who is pretty on the inside

T' Time {#58} Link Party

2012-01-30T19:36:00.001-06:00

Last Week's Party Features

What is your apron style? from She Shall Be Called Woman Blog

Amish Cinnamon Sauce from Ozark Mountain Family Blog

3 Books A Day by Living By Faith Blog

10 things you may never know about your Pastor

by Valerie Write Now Blog

Now let's all play by the rules!

2. Pretty please be a follower of Raising4Princesses and if you use the button to link back I'd be just tickled pink. You can also find us on Facebook

3. Here's the rule you're seeing everywhere.....{5th grade teacher voice} "visit other links and tell them how "marvelous they are!"

{Valentine} T' Time....meet Mrs. Bosje

2012-01-30T18:25:00.000-06:00

We have a guest for Tuesday's Take the Time to {Valentine} Challenge today. This is one of the sweetest ladies... honestly. Ask everybody.

We first met when my husband and I were still going to college. We worked on a bus route and picked up a school bus load of little Mexican kids from the rough side of Oklahoma City... and kept them entertained all the way to Church. Bro. Bosje was our bus driver. Everyone loved his dry humor. Since then they moved back to their home state of New York. We have been able to visit them several times and even spend Easter together once. We can learn a lot by looking at marriages like this. I'm humbled and honored that this special lady took the time to write something for me.

Without further adieu.....meet Mrs. Bosje.

"On July 7th we will be married for 50 years. All of our children will be coming home and our 29 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Even our son, Mark and his family, will be flying in from Thailand. All of our four living children are serving God. Two are in full time ministry and two are active in our local Baptist Church. Our son, Matthew, is with the Lord. We have been richly blessed!!!

Mrs. Bosje's Valentine Take the Time to..."suggestion"...

I would suggest that the ladies create
ambience in their home
for their wonderful man.

He loves to come home to a clean smelling house, a lovingly cooked meal and a lovely wife. Always tell your children how wonderful, smart and strong their daddy is and always greet him when he arrives home after a day at work.

Sending you much love,

Mrs. Bosje"

Take note, ladies! I think she's doing something right {Wink} 50 years, praise the Lord.

a year ago today

2012-01-30T17:58:00.000-06:00

a little peek into our life a year ago today....
my baby and I were in the Intensive Care Unit in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
while Dear Daddy was in Jamaica

God brought us from there to here

Thank you, Lord for our Sweet Brynlee Erin. She's healthy, strong, and really busy. I {love} being her mommy.

count your blessings

#177 those little yellow rubber boots, all my girls have worn them

#178 the catch I get in my throat when think about my sick baby, I'm so grateful for her health now

#179 a little pink seahorse that plays lullabies

brownie batter dip

2012-01-27T13:29:00.000-06:00

Are you ready for this? It's gonna knock your socks off!

original recipe credit given

browsing through my {secret addiction} pinterest I was looking for something to eat

....something with the keyword "brownie" in it.

I found several tempting recipes but this one took the cake {wink}

Brownie Batter Dip Recipe

1 (8 ounce) cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

3 cups powdered sugar

5 Tablespoons flour

5 Tablespoons cocoa powder

1 (or 2) Tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1. cream together cream cheese and butter

2. alternate adding powdered sugar and milk

3. mix in remaining ingredients until smooth and tempting

4. add more powdered sugar or milk to reach desired consistency

this was fast...even better then I expected (and I was expecting a lot) and so addicting. The princesses dipped graham crackers in it and the next day we frosted cupcakes with it also!
Yummy-o-so!

You really should jump over and look around this food blog! She really knows what she's doing.
count your blessings

#174 sprinkles....for every season

#175 the heavenly mixture of cream cheese and chocolate

#176 my little set of heart shaped pottery bowls...i enjoy them so much

{Valentine} T' Time {#57} Meet.....Mrs. Murphy

2012-01-26T09:44:00.000-06:00

Today, my Take the Time to guest poster is a lady I highly respect and admire.
She was my favorite teacher in college, teaching Christian Womanhood Class with animation and spunk.
She loved what she was teaching and I believe every girl in the class benefited just as much from her example, as a {genuinely} happy Christian wife, as we did from the notes taken.
Honestly {blush} these were the only college notes I saved and shipped with me to Jamaica.

I'm super excited to introduce her to you! Meet..... Mrs. Murphy!

"Greetings Ladies, from MinnaSNOWta! We finally have some of the cold white stuff here.

My name is Lois Murphy. I am the wife of Evangelist Darrell Murphy. We have been married going on 27 years. Through this journey called "life" we have had so many experiences that we have enjoyed, and honestly had to just trust God through. We have three children a 21 year old, 12 year old and a 10 year old. We travelled for 13 years full-time with my husband in a travel trailer. I have spent many nights parked in a church parking lot. I got very sick and we made the decision to have my husband travel full time alone. Marriage takes work, but when you are in a situation like ours, it takes WORK!!

My T' Time Challege is....

take the 14 day work challenge.

Beginning on February 1 and ending on February 14 I challege you to write a small love note and tell one thing that you love your husband for.

Examples:

Day One I love you when you look at me and I know you are telling me that you love me!

Day Two: I love the way you work so hard to provide for us!

Day Three: I love the way you let me take your arm or hand when we walk..I feel so secure!

Day Four: I love how you lead us to be more like Jesus!

You get the idea.

On Day 14 Write a love letter to your husband. By this time there is no doubt in his mind that He is still the LOVE of your life! Plan an exciting candlelight dinner, with romantic music, flowers and a beautiful well dressed wife. No need to get a sitter for the children. Have your hot date planned for after their bed time! Ladies, it will take a little work to pull this off, but your man needs to be reminded of the love you have for him. If you do not show him love and excitement, Satan will sure make sure that he knows this! Work and reap the benefits!"

How about it, ladies? Are you up to the challenge? I'll remind you again on Feb. 1st!

One thing Mrs. Murphy told us that really stuck with me is this, she said that every morning she prayed for a "hedge of protection" around her husband to keep danger and temptation away. I wasn't married at the time, but I realized how important praying for your husband is. This is a thought and prayer that I've carried with me the last 8 years of my marriage.

Have a lovely day,

goochie, goochie, goo

2012-01-25T08:09:00.001-06:00

the little princess came up to mommy and wiggled her fingers on mommy's knee

and kept wiggling them

"what in earth are you doing?"

"I'm goo-chie-ing you, mom!"

{insert the loud horse laugh that is Eden's trademark}

From a mom who has goochie, goochie, gooed her babies,

count your blessings

#171 coffee steaming out of my favorite cup

#172 bright colored Crayola crayons...there's none to compare

#173 little girl pigtails

T' Time {#56} and Link Party

2012-01-23T20:27:00.000-06:00

For the Take the Time to Challenges up until February 14th-ish I'm doing challenges for you and your husband! Simple, do-able, thoughtful, well worth it, ladies.

Take the Time to Challenge #56 is....
sneak in and write him a message on the
bathroom mirror while he's taking a shower.

Sometimes the hardworking daddy get a little left out or forgotten in our busy, hectic day. I challenge you to remember your sweetie.

Last Week's Party Features

Cinnamon Roll Cake from Onna Wanna Deal

Breakfast Burritos from Kristi's Recipe Box

Monte Cristo Bites from a Crafty Cook

On To The Party!

Now let's all play by the rules!

2. Pretty please be a follower of Raising4Princesses and if you use the button to link back I'd be just tickled pink. You can also find us on Facebook

3. Here's the rule you're seeing everywhere.....{5th grade teacher voice} "visit other links and tell them how "marvelous they are!"

hello, Pastor

2012-01-22T20:22:00.002-06:00

It's funny how you forget how things used to taste.

Prince smelled his real apple jacks and said, "American cereal even tastes better."

Prince's family and several families in our home church {kinda} surprised us

by shipping in a very large box of American groceries.

This was the third time we've shipped in barrels or crates of belongings

and it can be a very nervous time.

To start off, you either have to have something worth shipping or purchase something.

Then you have to pay the guy in America with the boat to carry it to you.

Then you have to pay them a little more when they get it here.

Then there are the numerous hands waiting for their share

while you're at the dock trying to claim your belongings.

It's a little scary to me, because there is no way of knowing for sure

how much it will end up costing,

by the time I get the stuff home.

We've had missionaries who used to be here, tell us "horror" stories of customs agents making them pay hundreds of American dollars or they won't let them have their barrels.

So you have to go into the process with a lot of prayer.

Children are not allowed on the dock, so I stayed home with the princesses

and Prince headed off to claim our shipment.

I sat home and waited....and waited....and waited...for hours.

No one in Jamaica gets in a hurry and everything (I mean everything) takes all day!

While he was gone, one of my "little hair bows with big ears" heard me tell someone

that Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Christine had shipped them a dollhouse.

News travels fast in our house.

I found the 3 older ones sitting on the veranda in the sun watching for daddy...

hours before he arrived home.

After they find your barrels they bring them where the customs agents personally inspect everything.

I usually have to dig all my precious belongings out and lay it on these

{questionably} clean countertops.

The whole time wondering how I'm ever going to get the extremely tight packed space back in.

It never fits back in the same. I have armloads that just end up being carried to our bus.

When Prince was waiting for the agent to come,

he heard a voice behind him say," Hello, Pastor."

When he turned around the agent assisting him

was a lady who had attended our Church Christmas Service.

Out of all the customs agents in Montego Bay,

God decided to send her to help us.

This turned out to be a huge blessing and it only cost us around $8.00 US!

God is so good.

I was absolutely overwhelmed at the graciousness of everyone back home.

So many things, I had honestly forgotten about, and now I'm relishing each bite!

The girls are LOVING the canned mandarin oranges, and I made a canned ham salad sandwich.

I made {Louisiana} BBQ sandwiches today,

with velveeta shells and cheese, and canned black eyed peas.

Mummm, it's been a long time.

I'm sooo very excited about the American sugar and baking flour.

(One idea they did that I think is pretty awesome

is they wrote some names and Bible Verses on the canned goods.

Fun for the Princesses to peel off and look them up.)

It might sound funny to you, but it's like manna to us.

I'm sincerely humbled and thankful for the families back home who made such a big sacrifice to be a blessing and encouragement to our family.

Thank you just seems so inadequate. Love,

count your blessings

#168 God's unexpected surprises

#169 a big bowl full of American cereal (aka Peanut Butter Captain Crunch)

#170 "As for me and my house..."