Share and share alike!

Of course, I love a good giveaway, and this is no exception......

Check out my sweet friend, Mellie's blog! She is the cutest!

http://melodeelangworthy.typepad.com/candid_thoughts_/

10 years of us! What a day!

Let me set the scene:

10 years ago....on bed rest. 9 weeks into my bed rest. Total misery.

Looking back now, I wish I had just laid there, and soaked it all in, instead of stressing about all that I could NOT do. I wish I had treasured every kick, and every rumble. I wish I had let Mason lay there with me more, and feel his new little brother move in my belly.....just one more time. If I could get those moments back, God knows I would!

I was NOT mentally recovered from losing Elijah. I was so scared about losing this baby, too. Every contraction...way too early. Every late night run to the doctor. I was scared. Not just scared, but TERRIFIED. Please, God. You know I can't handle this twice.

I was NOT yet recovered from the mental trauma of the house fire. Sometimes, laying on the couch, I could still get a quick smell of that smoke. Maybe from the walls, or just from the air moving throughout the house.

Still today, I am so fire-phobic, it is ridiculous.

So, those weeks of bedrest....just pure mental overload. On the meds, that make me crazy, but I am not supposed to move. What kind of a sick joke is that!

I digress.

So, on this particular Wednesday, I knew. I just knew. I could feel him moving, strong. I could feel each kick...powerful. My back hurt. Not like normal. Even my hair hurt. Everything.

I called my mom. I called my mother-in-law. Today is the day. They both told me to pack, get ready, and they would too!

So, off we go. Meeting Scott in Bham.

It's for real. We are about to do this! Amazing.

Happy tears come now, just thinking about how excited I was. We made it! He made it!

And, it feels like it all happened so fast.

Prepped for surgery. and ready to go! Scott made it just in time, sporting his Coca-Cola shirt (seems only fitting now!).

Kristin was there, Kendall was there. All was complete. We can go!

And, off we went.

What a glorious day. I remember, the minute he was born, and I heard Scott telling him Happy Birthday.....he was crying, I was crying. I remember thinking, this is what I have dreamed of my whole life. A complete family. And, here we are. 4 of us. The Smiths.

Goodness, life has never been the same. I am so thankful for December 15,1999.

I cannot imagine life without Chapman. I wondered why, oh why, God took Elijah from us. I laid there on that couch, angry, and frustrated, and feeling so wronged.

But, the moment I held that sweet little Chapman, in his red Santa hat.....I knew. I knew. Elijah, he was precious, but this Chapman. My goodness.

Thank you Lord for your grace, and all-knowing self. I am so glad that you go by YOUR plans and NOT mine!!!

Happy 10th Birthday Chappy!!!

2 a.m. Reflections

I am including the pictures as a reminder.....for myself.

It's after 2am, and it's like God woke me from my sleep.....something I cherish.....to remind me that I am so blessed.

I am sitting in my living room, typing to the glow of the lights on my tree....surrounded by my favorite time of year, in my favorite cozy spot.

My children and my husband are sleeping soundly. Even the dog is asleep in his favorite spot on our front porch. Life is not just good.....it is amazingly wonderful.


Yet, sometimes I forget just how blessed I am.

I have been working this week at Chap's Santa Shop.....an event that I hold dear...and look forward to all year. It is a labor of love...but it is a blessing....and tonight...on silly facebook....I took my blessings for granted.

I made a comment that was not so nice. Yes, I know. It's ok. No real harm done. But, I might have hurt someone's feelings. Or, I might have just been to hard on the situation. And, I am truly sorry.

I am so blessed, and God has provided such a wonderful home for me, and how dare I take that for granted, when, right now, as I type, people are hurting. Especially, more, at Christmas.

So, as I look at these pictures.....and my tree.....and I have noticed that this year...there are no ornaments on the bottom! Because both of my "elves" are tall this year...and they can reach higher than in years passed. Sad. But blessed.

Just the simple reminders that God is so good to me. I am sorry, Lord, that I took it for granted, and especially sorry, that I said it outloud. Please, if I hurt YOUR feelings, forgive me. And, Lord, I ask yours too.

And, if anyone, other than me--because I am sure I will need to re-read this--is still reading...Merry Christmas in advance...take a minute, to recognize those little blessings.

Amazing what some glitter Thickers can do for a girl!

Sometimes, when life gets a little crazy.....I just go up into my studio.....and sit right down in the middle of the mess (from the last time I was up there, ontop of the last time, etc) and I just make something.

Anything.

Sometimes it is a card, sometimes, a crafty gift.....but, yesterday, on such this crazy-out-of-control kind of day....I went up.....and these 2 pics were sitting there, just glaring at me.

The colors are not really meshing with me, and there really is just a lot going on here, but I just felt like that kind of went with the theme of my day/desk/life! so.....I grabbed some hambly, added a some glitter Thickers, and then those Making Memories tiny glitter alphas! I love those!!! And, yes, I love this layout. It's wildly busy, and I like it.

It is now hanging in my kitchen....and the guys thought it was GREAT! They make me laugh..Scott says "ooooh, Jasmine was a hottie" and then Mason says "mom, did you REALLY scrapbook these pictures?"

Good times. And, I felt better!

I love a good bargain

Found these online, thought i'd share!



Free slice of Pie @ the Waffle House - expires 12/15/09
http://www.sweetfreestuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/wafflehouse1.jpg

Free Medium Pizza
Spend $10...and order online....Log onto Papajohnsonline.com and use code PZZAFBFAN.

$10 Toy Voucher from Keebler (I had one of these a few years ago...buy a toy, use the voucher. Very cool)
http://www.keebler.com/PromotionDetail.aspx?id=19876

Free Aveda Foot Relief
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/6495/attachmentm.png

$5 rebate.....
Purchase any THREE SC Johnson products from the list between 10/1/09 through 6/30/10. Twin-packs and multi-packs are considered as single product purchase.

***And, note, WalGreens has their ziploc bags on sale for $1.99, so if you buy 3...you only pay $1.00 for 3 boxes! Good deal!
Get $5 back by mail when you purchase ANY 3 SC Johnson Products, including:
• Ziploc®
• Glade®
• Windex®
• Scrubbing Bubbles®
• Pledge®
• Shout®
• Fantastik®
• Drano®
• Raid®
• Off®
• Saran™
• Nature’s Source™

Santa Mr. Potato Head only $.99 at Target

Use this coupon, then buy the Santa Potato Head in the Christmas section at Target (only $5.99)
http://print.coupons.com/couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=11572&zid=vu14&nid=10&cid=14571062

Several free samples at Walmart.com **just fill out the form, and they come in the mail!
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples-And-Tools.aspx

Aveda Sample pack! very cool
http://www.avedabday.com/printable_coupon.php?mag_campaign=marieclaire

Free Dog Treats
http://www.naturesvariety.com/SweetSpots/

The journey of the Rainbow Cake

Well, I have seen a VERY cute rainbow cake....several times on several different blogs....so, I thought it would be fun to make one for Scott....so, we were going over to my sisters house for the night...so, Rainbow Cake here we come!

So, starting with 2 white cake mixes. Divide each mix into 3 bowls....so you have a total of 6 bowls of cake batter (approx. 1 cup each)
Then, put some food coloring into each bowl....one color per bowl.


Then, spray the pans (9 inch cake pans).....and pour one bowl into each pan. If you only have 3 pans...then you will bake 2 times, no big deal!
After each layer has baked, let it cool. I repeat...let it cool.

After each layer has cooled, begin the layering process. Bottom layer. Then icing. Make sure to put a good layer of icing, this is important.

Layer. Icing.
Layer. Icing.
Layer. icing.

Now, here's what happens if you don't let the layers cool enough.

Until the cake is completely stacked.
Now, um, I am not the smartest cookie, so I started my colors from the bottom, duh. But, you get the picture.



Ok, so, I know, green comes before blue, but, hey, perfection is NOT my strongest quality!

And, then, I added the purple....and began to ice the entire cake. I used a cream cheese icing, instead of white....and I think it was a good choice!

Then, let the singing begin, as I presented this lovely creation to my hubby!

And, here's the slice.......oooooohhhhh....aaaaaahhhhh

He loved it!


And, here's the cake.....post first cut!


And, now.....remember that I said LET THE CAKE LAYERS COOL...... well, shortly after a few slices had been removed, the towers began to fall!!! It was almost in slow motion


Yes, slow enough that we had time to grab the video....note in the video we are laughing hysterically, and Mas comes in to let us know that we are disturbing their precious football viewing! duh! MEN!

Temporary Interruption of Service......

We interrupt this cleaning project for a few other events.....of MUCH more importance!

An Evening with Amy Grant and the Alabama Symphony........fabulous!

An Alabama Basketball game with my 3 fave guys!

A fun,hilarious night of baking at my sisters house! (video to follow, hopefully)

And, a day of under-the-weather-napping at home.

But, the cleaning will continue, don't worry! I have enjoyed 1/3 of my house being clean (and it still is!)