My life...

1000 in 2013

2013-01-29T07:56:00.001-08:00

This morning I was reading in my bible and found a note I had written. I don't know when I wrote but it was a reminder I really needed this week. 'The poor me's vs. thankfulness.... how many times do I spend my days focused on what I don't have and not what has been provided'.

Continuing my count to 1000 in 2013

36. Celebrating R2's all orange birthday with her friends

37. Receiving "mail" in my Valentine Day mailboxes

38. A "I love you" text from my husband

39. Making a Valentine wreath with our Mom2Mom group

40. Yummy new recipes from Pinterest

41. R2 asking R1 to read to her.

42. Listening to the girls play "house" together

43. The girls reminding me to put our "armor" on in the morning.

44. Worshiping with my church family

45. A much needed phone conversation with a friend

46. Health insurance for my sick kiddos this week.

47. Husbands continued favor at work

48. Ladies providing meals for new parents in our church

49. The girls helping around the house

Edward

2013-01-24T15:48:00.000-08:00

We had an over night visitor today. His name is Edward.

The elementary school R1 attends kindergarten has a school wide "read". Every family is given the same book and a reading schedule. While the kids are suppose to be reading the book each week with their parents each class room reads along the same reading schedule. What I have heard from parents and teachers the children look forward to this event each year.

This year book: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. We finished the book last night. The girls both really loved listening to the story and for a 5 and 6 years old to sit, still with very few pictures they did AWESOME!

During this time each student in R1's class gets to have Edward for a spend over. She was so excited and wanted to call Daddy as soon as we were home to tell him her "good news". I am sure you can imagine he was thrilled. :) Edward did come with a book for the student to write a story and color a picture about their night with Edward.

Family Game night had to include Edward and R2's friend Amanda

Sounding out words to her story.

1000 in 2013

2013-01-21T09:28:00.001-08:00

There is no school for the girls or work for the husband because of the Martin Luther King holiday. We all slept in a little later than we usually do. We discovered the girls had been up for a bit coloring and husband and I woke up to the sweet sound of them singing. "He is a friend of mine, the God of angels armies is always by my side" by Chris Tomlin. It's hard for this mama not to get teary eyed when I hear them sing. I all I could do is pray cement it in their heart.

So much to be thankful for this week. Continuing to 1000 in 2013:

22. My girls singing

23. My husband praying scripture of the girls every night

24. Our weekly dinner and game date with a young couple from our church

25. R2's preschool asking if she can stay for a full day free to keep the only girl in the afternoon class company.

26. Mama dates

27. An extra long weekend with my family

28. Husband and I finally completing our family value statement ( I will post more on this later)

29. A warm home

30. Family movie night

31. R1 wanting to served daddy breakfast in bed

32. Morning cartoons

33. R2 enjoying her music class

34. Listening to R1 reading

35. Lazy mornings

My word is my word

2013-01-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

I have spent a lot of time this week in the book of Exodus, between the series my pastor has been teaching and a new book Sons of Encouragement I have had a hard time not "digging in" and feeling hope.

About 15 years ago in a small church we attended a pastor and small worship team were visiting. One of the nights the worship leader called me to the front and spoke a word over my life. I remember standing there trying to take it in.

Years went by and on the outside I tried to hold things together (at least I thought) but on the inside I was a broken mess. Anger, frustration, hurt, rejection, and confusion all of those things balling up inside. My journals during that period of time are a hot mess. They are full of pleading to God but not to change me or to draw me closer but of whys and hurts. I ended up betraying my family, friends and God, the one I so desperately needed to help me get out of the quick sand.

Every day after was spent taking communion, reading Psalms 51 over and over, and my amazing husband reading scriptures out loud over me. Things finally started to change in my spirit.

On a side note can I just say that my husband truly is the best. He is amazing, he stood with me, he bore my shame with me and he lost a close relationship because of me. He has gone through those moments of hurt and frustration but every morning he still prays with me and over me, asking God to teach him my love language and he always ends the the day with a kiss good night and telling me how much he loves me. That's a good man! :)

It was a year and a half ago in my quiet time when I remembered what was spoken over me. I shoved to the back of my mind not thinking much of it. To many years have gone by, to many sins have gotten in the way. But this week it was like receiving a double dosage of "I am God, I have forgiven you and I my word is my word".

In Exodus 32 Aaron made a golden calf for the Israelite's to worship and three thousand ended up losing their lives but even after that God anointed Aaron and his sons priest. I feel hope. I feel that even though I might not see God's word fulfilled in my life that there is hope for my girls.

A date

2013-01-17T06:46:00.000-08:00

A mama date with my oldest daughter (R1). On our mama dates and daddy dates the girls get to pick whatever they want to do. Today R1 wanted to head to our local grocery store. This was R1's request, she wanted a donut from the grocery store where we could get Starbucks and yakisoba noodles from the deli and a trip to Walgreen's to look at nail polish.

So thankful for these times to spend with my girls.

1000 in 2013

2013-01-14T07:23:00.000-08:00

Last week I purposely kept the week light of thing "to do". I had great expectations to be lazy and spend some much needed time for my self reading and writing. It didn't happen. The busyness of being a wife and a mom took over and I found my self being gone more than being at home this week but I LOVED every minute of it. I will reschedule my quiet week again but for now I am going to enjoy my busy life.

Continuing my gratitude list to 1000:

14. Getting back to routine after the holiday break from school.
15. The opportunity to spend a few hours a week in R1's class room.
16. My niece having a safe delivery of my 5th great-nephew Judah David
17. Spending an entire "kid free" day with my husband
18. Taking the girls to watch Brave (for the millionth time) at R1's school
19. Doris Day movies with friends on a cold morning.
20. Morning coffee delivered to me in bed by my husband
21. Peace in the midst of a hectic week.

Counting my blessings... 1000 in 2013

2013-01-07T08:03:00.000-08:00

When I first started my blog I participated in Ann Voskamp's Multitude Monday, counting my blessings in the every day. Although the past couple of years I neglected my writing I have continued to journal my thanksgiving/blessings.

I found this journal for my girls last week and this year they are joining me in counting our thanksgiving. I love listening to their list. R1 (6yrs) is writing her gratitude's and R2 (5yrs) has been coloring pictures.

Starting my count to 1000 gratitude's in 2013:

1. Celebrating the New Year's east coast time with friends.
2. Having family fun week while my husband and girls are on vacation.
3. R2 telling us the story she heard in kids church of Abraham sacrificing Isaac.
4. Listening to R1 reading to her with daddy.
5. R2 singing "Mary Did You Know" over and over and over again.
6. Getting back in routine after the holiday.
7. Spending a lazy morning with a friend watching Holiday Inn. Can you believe she has never seen in!
8. Having dinner with friends who have recently moved back home. YAY!
9. A friend loaning her camera while mine was being serviced.
10. Starting back with my blogging.
11. Husband and I writing out our family goals for 2013.
12. Celebrating my sister's birthday
13. MY CHURCH!

Happy Birthday Barnaby Jones (aka my sister)

2013-01-06T23:07:00.001-08:00

Today my oldest sister celebrates her 53rd birthday! I am a lucky girl to have her for a big sister. She has had her moments in life when things haven't gone as plan but each of those times I have seen her handle them with such grace and strength.

My parents ran a small business while I was in grade school and had to be away some evenings. This left her babysitting. One particular night I was missing my mama and did not want to go to bed. An old detective show was on 'Barnaby Jones'. I am sure in her mind she was just trying to be goofy to get me to bed and out her hair but she starting dancing with me singing Barnaby Jones...Barnaby Jones. Not only did it settle me but it has made one of those lifetime memories.

I Love You, Barnaby!

Friday: Pinned It, Did It

2013-01-04T11:24:00.001-08:00

I am a pintrest junky. I love browsing through all the different things my friends and even strangers have posted. I like to figure out how I could "copy cat" the idea and make it mine. I love the ideas of organization and all the wonderful recipes.

Recipes, that is where I spend most of my time searching. I am a once a week menu creator and Pintrest has made that job just a little easier. Myfridgefood.com is also a great source for recipes. You can check items off their list of what is in your fridge and you will get a list of recipes you can cook with those items. Thank you Pintrest I can now even cook a roast!

I try to make something new at least once a week (you never know when you will make that one dish that a 5 year old and 6 year old love). I will be sharing on Friday's some of our family favorites. Enjoy!

This didn't have a name so we call Italian Chicken. This has become a great "go to" meal. We all love it. I have made it with green beans and with broccoli...green beans were our favorite. 4-6 raw chicken breasts, new potatoes, green beans (fresh or canned-really any green veggie would work). Arrange in 9x13 dish. Sprinkle with a packet of Italian dressing mix and then top with a melted stick of butter. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

I would love to give credit to the original post but I have not been able to locate it.

This came from myfridgefood.com (one of my FAVORITE sites to search for meal ideas)

Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli

A new year

2013-01-02T07:33:00.001-08:00

I remember my mom saying the older you get the quicker time seems to go by. I thought she just said that because she was old but now I realize how true it is. I cannot believe it is 2013! Yes, I am getting old. :)

I am not big on new year resolutions (I seem to fail at those). I do have a plan for this next year which I guess you can say is a resolution of sort. A part of that plan is to start blogging again on a regular basis.

The past couple of years I haven't felt much like writing. A little here and there but it was mostly forced to try and get in a routine or habit of doing something. My purpose of writing isn't because I am a great writer (I am definitely not that) or because I think I have great words of wisdom to share. I am not eloquent with my words and most days I feel completely lost to what God's purpose is for me. Honesty I started blogging because I liked it.

So here I am looking forward to a new year and a fresh start.

~Susan

Hair Pretty's

2011-10-12T15:55:00.000-07:00

Just a quick look at my project I had planned for today. It took me a whooping TEN minutes. It is very simple but I think (I hope) this will help us keep things all in one spot.

What I used: A large oatmeal container
Two sheets of scrapbook paper 12x12
Scott tape
Mod Podge
Brush and scissors

Because the container was to big for one piece of paper to fit around I had to cut the second to fit and used the left over to cover the lid. Once I got the seems figured out and how I wanted the to look I taped them into place and then started with the mod podge. That was it. I would love to take the credit for this idea but I cannot, it was another find on Pinterest.

Before I started I cleaned the inside of the container. It is now home to all the little hair clips.

New Recipe Tuesday - Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

2011-10-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

This weeks new recipe comes from The Girl Who Ate Everything via Pinterest. Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese. It was delicious!

The recipe is pretty straight forward but there are a lot of steps. For me it would be a great recipe for our Sunday night family dinner's when I have more time to prepare the meal and more people to enjoy it. It made a HUGE 11x14 baking pan. It has some kick to it with the buffalo wing sauce and pepper jack cheese. It was almost too much heat for my girls. The recipe does give an alternative to make it not as hot.

In the future I plan to separate the the mixture in two pans and freeze one for a later time.

DIY Day

2011-09-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

Dear BFF’s,

I love you but I have found another. BORAX and WHITE VINEGAR who knew you could bring so much joy to my life.

Like a lot of stay-at-home mama’s I try to stretch our budget to the fullest. I love being able to have my girls in gymnastics, playing t-ball or soccer. I love to shop for all the super cute clothes and shoes (my not so secret addiction) them. In order for me to do that I have to find other areas that I can cut or stretch. I try to do my best at couponing but I am definitely not as extreme as others.

Lately, I have been hitting the internet aka Pinterest, another not so secret addiction and have so many DIY cleaning products for the home. Slowly I have been working my way through and finding my favorites. I have discovered you can clean everything with Borax and White Vinegar.

I purchased a 76 oz. box of Borax for $2.76 and a gallon of vinegar for $2.58! That is quite a bit of saving from the manufactured made products and on top of that I didn’t need to have a fan on while I was cleaning the bathrooms.

In the next couple of weeks I am post some of my favorite recipes and what worked best in my home.

Wakening My Praise

2011-09-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

It was so good to be back in church after being gone for a short family vacation. We have worship music on in our home constantly but there is just something about standing with church family and worshiping together. The sound of the voices raising up, watching the little ones dance and imitate their parents by raising their hands. I love it.

"Every day I will waken my praise...You are good."

Continuing my list of gratitude...

#297 - 304

Family weekend at the beach

Beautiful weather for the weekend

Girls giggling and having fun in the water (this is a rarity on the Oregon Coast)

Sneaking away for a "Jesus Date"

Waking up and falling a sleep to the sound of the ocean

Safe travels

Soccer

First day of Pre-School and Pre-K

R1 goes curly

2011-09-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

My beautiful four year old has long blond and very straight hair. Lately she has been asking me to make her hair curly like one of her friends. I have tried different ways to make it curly but the attempts have either taken so long that she looses all interest or she complains about it hurting.

Attempt # 1

She was all smiles for about ten minutes and then wanted them out fast.

Attempt #2

This attempt went pretty well but used a lot of hair spray and took a lot of time.

Finally, our third attempt was a success for both R1 and mama. I found a youtube video for a "no heat curl" technique. After washing and blow drying her hair complete it took about 15 minutes to wrap her hair. Then she headed off to bed. The next morning we had a curly blond hair little girl ready to start her first day of Pre-K. I used not hairspray an it stayed curled all day.

Finally..

Homemade rope bowl

2011-08-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

As the fall and the holiday is approaching I wanted to start setting one day a week aside to make decorations and Christmas gifts. So Wednesday is designated "craft day". Hopefully, I will be able to complete and post pictures by Thursday but no guarantees. :)
A friend and I found a tutorial on Pinterest (of course) to make our own rope bowl. It was a little by trial and error, we should have read the tutorial a little better. I think the over all product turned out pretty good. Here are pictures of our bowl and you can check out the tutorial at Every Creative Endeavor .

New recipe challenge

2011-08-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

I wish I was more of an adventure when it comes to cooking with lots of time during the day to try new things but I am not, a previous post about my pot roast issues will prove that. But I am bored with all the same ole' same ole' dinners that we have ALL the time.

So here’s my challenge, I have decided every Monday night I am going to make a new recipe for my family (with peanut butter sandwiches as my stand by). My all time favorite food is Thai and I am in search of a yummy Pad Thai recipe. Please send me one if you have it.

This week I found this Roasted Pepper and Basil Pesto on Pintrest and it was a hit. I had most of the ingredients already which is another part of the challenge; use what I have on hand. Here is how mine turned out. I only had shell noodles but they worked just fine. I also sautéed my red peppers instead of purchasing roasted in the jar. Next time I will add chicken too. It seemed kind of plain with out some type of meat, especially for my meat eater husband. It received thumbs up from the family.

Happy Anniversary

2011-08-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

Today as I have gone about my morning routine I notice what today's date was and I will admit I got immediately grumpy, sad, and grateful all at the same time. On this date in 1952 my parents were married at the ripe old age of 17. My dad still had a year of high school left but my mom's family were planning on moving and my mom didn't want to go. So they did the only 'logically' thing and that was to get married.

My parents would tell us how they were not allowed to kiss (they had liked each other since they were 12 years old) so they would pass snicker candy bars to each other and that meant a kiss. They were married for 42 years before my dad passed away.

I miss them very much but I am so thankful for them teaching me through all the ups and downs of life they were always there for one another.

1949

1953

1991

I'm back..... Multitude Monday

2011-08-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it has been a year since my last post. So much has changed so many life experiences from celebrating milestones with my girls to the unexpected loss of my mom. The past birthday year has left me with many emotions that I am still sorting through but I am getting there and finding who I am in Christ all over again.

Picking up where I left off on my list of gratitude:

#290 - 295

- God's patience with me

- Dinner with family and friends for my birthday

- Husband getting me the shoes I wanted

- A friends gift card to get me more shoes! :)

- Date night at the fair with husband and friends

- Screaming, laughing and NOT throwing up on the "spinny" rides

31 again...

2010-08-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

Ok so maybe I celebrated an anniversary of my 31st birthday but my real age just makes me feel real old especially having a 3 and 2 year old. Why 31? Everyone does 29 and maybe people will fall for me being 31. :) Anyways, my super thoughtful husband completely surprised me with a family necklace. I love the fact that after 13 years he still can surprise me. I have been wanting a family necklace for a long time and I have been looking online and finding the different ones I like. I really didn’t think he was paying much attention. He was and for my birthday last week he surprised me with a necklace from The Vintage Pearl. I LOVE IT!

284 - 289

* My thoughtful husband

*Spending time on my birthday with my mom and going to Mom2Mom with me

*My amazing Mom2Mom friends who surprised me with a cake.

*Cards from all the kiddos

*Opprotunity to work from home for my former boss

Dad's song

2010-07-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up I dreaded waking up to this stupid, yep I said stupid song my dad would sing. He was way more of a morning person then I was. I think he secretly loved hearing us moan and complain because it was too early.
Now it is my turn or is it? R2 has been singing this song over and over again and flashbacks of my childhood of waking up to this song and the light switch being flicked on have all come rushing back. What have I done? Did I mention she is singing it over and over again.

Multitude Monday

2010-07-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

#273 – 283

~ Dinner with new friends

~ My sister gave us their pool last year and we are enjoying it this year.

~ Hearing…”look mom, look”

~ I can never get enough of hearing my girls sing.

~ Spending time with my family

~ Free fire wood for camping

~ Family bike rides

~ A walk in the country with R1while she rides her new bike

~ The smell of mint fields

~ Husband’s job is safe for another 6 months.

~ Girls coming home from a couple of days with grandparents.

The Maguire Project 2010

2010-06-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

Yay for finally having some fun in the sun. We had a great busy week full of play dates, Mom2Mom and family dinner. I love the fact that my girls want to be outside playing at 8am and it has been nice enough to say yes.

Play date #1 for the week plus a walk to see the pony.

Play date #2…I love this girl. She colored a family portrait for me. If you cannot see on the picture it says The Maguire’s. I love how she colored my husband’s hair. He is sporting a nice pink mohawk.
Every Wednesday for the past eight weeks some of the kids from our church come to the house (play date #3) while the parents are at bible study. We were finally able to have a night where we could be outside.
After meeting at the park with our Mom2Mom group (play date #4) the girls and I headed for the grocery store. While we were picking out a watermelon we found this huge moth.
Yay! I learned to make my own fondant. I was reading Bake at 350 and she has a super easy recipe for homemade fondant. Cheap too! I was getting reading for a baby shower I was hosting and decided to copy her idea for Mother’s Day cupcakes. I had so much fun making the fondant and saving money.
Ahhh…Saturday. It started off with a baby shower at my home, a birthday party in the park, a trip to Best Buy (my husbands candy store) and a stop for some yummy pizza.

After an amazing morning at church. We headed over for family dinner. It was so nice that the kids were able to play in the pool. They had so much fun.

;) Susan

The Maguire Project 2010

2010-06-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

R1 and her bff decided to make a drum set. Chopsticks and parts of a stackable cake and there you have it. Mixed with some Toby Mac and it was quite the concert.Coloring the "Fruit of the Spirit

Wednesday {06.16.10} - No photo

R1 has been begging to play on the schools playground. Finally, no rain and school is out so we took advantage of the afternoon and played. Side note R1 does have more than this one dress. I realize she is wearing this same dress in a lot of my post. It is a favorite twrilling dress that the elbows are almost completely worn through. If I would let her she would wear it 24/7.

I mentioned before that I was chosen to host a Hasbro Game Night through House Party.com. We had fun. The night started out with a Chinese food potluck, good company, the new Trivia Pursuit game and ended in a late night game of Mega Monopoly.

Finally...for those who know me and have been to my house you know that getting molding installed is HUGE! It has started. - P.S. It really bugs me how messy our garage looks in this picture. :)

I will say I do have twinge of guilt over my choice of Father's Day present for my husband. I will definetly benefit from it in the long run by way of having my molding completed. He had borrowed a friends saw to get started but he was happy to have his own.

Scratch and Sniff

2010-06-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

I love that there are so many resources on the internet to find craft ideas for my kids.
We have been learning the Fruits of the Spirit. Swag searched (of course) Fruit of the Spirit and found Danielle's Place. What a great source. I found lesson plans, coloring sheets and fun crafts for them to do including making scratch and sniff paint.
My girls love to paint. This is what we did:

4 – Kool Aid packs (Strawberry, Grape, Cherry, and Lemon-Lime)
Add 1 to 2 Tablespoons water to each color

That is it. I will admit that the strawberry was the only one I could really ‘sniff’ but it was fun.

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