I hope that everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving.  I hope to get some pictures out soon.  Our’s was grand…we had family, food and fellowship.  Doesn’t get better than that. 

I wanted to share a couple of “fun finds.”  Everyone remembers the 1980′s family sitcom Full House.  Remember the girl that played “DJ?”  Well her name is Candace Cameron Bure and she has a new online magazine.  Here, let’s refresh your memory:

Here  she is today,

Her new online magazine is called Roomag.com.  Be sure to check it out.  She has compiled a bunch of fun contributors and many topics that apply to us as women, wives, and moms.  Fashion, food, fitness, faith, fun!  Sounds good to me!!

The other fun find is with Karen Ehman,

This is such a fun way to start the Christmas season.  Karen highlights a friend each day, asking questions about Christmas memories, food, activities and so on.  All you have to do is leave a response and you could win a special surprise!   We all like to win things, and we like tips and ideas so this easy as pie! 

I hope you take some time out of your crazy, busy day, grab something warm and fun to drink and look around at both of these fun finds.  You could win something! 

I really enjoy having my home feel cozy.  With Thanksgiving next week and Christmas coming upon us, I thought it would be fun to share how we make our homes feel warm and inviting. 

I love to have a fire in the fireplace and classical music playing in the background.  I almost always have a candle or tart burning and a tea kettle ready with water for that yummy cup of warm tea, hot chocolate or cider.  Blankets drape my couch and I have a fun winter novel and devotional on the side table.  I enjoy having many of our nightly meals from the crock-pot and yummy apple or pumpkin treats ready for an evening treat. 

There is just something about this time of year.  I love the idea of getting cozy with a good book, snugly throw, and a cup of something warm.  Time to read, rest and rejuvenate our souls. 

So how do you make your house a home?

My husband and I recently went to see COURAGEOUS the movie.  Can I just say, incredible.  It has such a good story line and message that has you crying, laughing, cheering, and is very thought provoking.  I encourage you to go see it.    Find out more information about it  here. 

Our sweet, caring friends at Dayspringhave come up with an entire collection that accompanies  the movie.  I love that they have created products that can take the movie  from the big screen to our homes.  They have created mugs, cards, t-shirts and this beautiful print that is the message of the movie.  Great gifts for the great men in your life.   (Oh, a disclaimer, DaySpring gave me  the free product to review and  all opinions stated are mine.)

Courageous Resolution PrintEncouraging Card Pack

Here is the cool thing….you have a chance to win the very things pictured above.  Just leave a comment about how you encourage the men in your life.  The 7th person that leaves a comment wins.  Deadline for comments is Friday October 28th at 2pm EST.   Thank you Dayspring for being so generous!  You must have a U.S. mailing address to win.

 I absolutely love this time of year.  There is nothing like it.  I thought it would be fun to list our top 10 favorite’s of fall.  Here are mine,

1.  The changing colors, have you looked around?  I love the majesty of the oranges, reds, yellows and browns.  God is  Amazing!

2.  The cooler temps.  We had such a hot summer here.  The cooler temps are a reprieve!  Can’t wait for it to be closer to 65 degrees.

3.  Pumpkin spiced Latte’s at Starbucks, yum!

4.  Roaring fireplaces.

5.  Trips to the pumpkin patch and apple orchards.

6.  Jeans and sweatshirts. 

7.  Baking!  Love to make anything apple.  Pumpkin mousse, pumpkin muffins, pecan pies.  Also add soups and roasts.

8.  Quiet days…time to rest.

9.  Time to snuggle down with a great novel and something warm to sip. 

10.  Fall decorations!  Love to see all the leaves, pumpkins and scarecrows!

 So now it is your turn.  Tell us what you like about fall.  I thought I would add a few links of some fun websites to check out.  Lots of fall ideas from cooking, baking, activities and decorating. 

 http://www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com/blog

http://www.mommyskitchen.net/

http://www.gooseberrypatch.typepad.com/blog/

http://www.southernplate.com/

http://www.aprongirls.blogspot.com/

Happy Fall Y’all!  I hope to post some fall recipes soon and would love to have you share a simple one as well.

A decade, 10 years, it’s alot of time.  September 11th, 2001 marked a day in history we will never forget.  That day will forever be etched in my mind and heart but another day  is forever ingrained in my memory and heart that changed my life.  September 16, 2001.  Five days after our hearts broke for all those families affected by the World Trade Center attacks, my family was personally attacked.  That day, our very “normal” toddler had a life altering event that rocked our family.  Our daughter Natalie was 18 months old and pure joy, fun and love.  She had such a sweet personality. 

As you can see from the photo’s, life was good.  Well life went bad very quickly.  Natalie suffered a brain injury that has left her severly disabled.  Her disability is similar to CP.  She is in a wheelchair, can’t talk, eat by mouth, sit by herself, she is full care.  I don’t want to dwell on the past, but I can say that it has taken a long time, and I mean a long time to mend the brokeness in my heart.  I have processed the incident, trying to figure out how I could have changed the outcome, we tried to heal her by our own doings and research, fought with God,  pleaded with God and tried to make deals with God.  I asked why, which is a loaded question.  One that if you really new why you might not have wanted to ask it.    

I started this journey with my backpack packed wrong.  It was full of bitterness, fear, anger, pride, doing things in my own strength and many, many masks.  It was not one that I wanted to carry for a long time and it really didn’t help me anyways.  So I asked God to come, change me, help me  and he did!   He came and dumped out my backpack, refilling it so I could walk this journey with Jesus as my guide down the path.    Don’t get me wrong, life is tough, full of steep ledges and pits,  but I am confident that there is a plan.  I am confident that God has employed Natalie for HIS kingdom.  There is something about Natalie. Everyone that meets her falls in love with her.  It’s the twinkle in her eye, that side smile she does, her sweet spirit.  God is using her and has a purpose for her life.  I claim and hold onto His promises.   We might not know who her life is impacting or how her life is making an impact, but we do know that our God is faithful to complete a work in us. 

Phillipians 4:13  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Romans 8:31     What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Psalm 105:4   Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Romans 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose

 I could write so much more.  Our zany life has encountered so many blessings and trials.  God has been so faithful, teaching, loving and guiding.  Natalie has endured her fair share of illness and pain, bouncing back with a power that is only of God.  She is a trooper and God’s hand has been all over her.  We are grateful for all the people we have met, friends we have made, prayer warriors who have lifted our family up and those who have stood in the gap for us when life get’s hard.  We are thankful for Natalie’s school, her assistants at school, her doctors, her therapists,  and all the help that has come into our home to help with her. 

Today I honor Natalie.  I am confident that God has a plan for her..his word says so! (Jerimiah 29:11)  She is an heiress with Christ, (Galations 3:28).  I love her, she is a blessing and she is my hero!!  One day sweet girl you will dance on the streets of gold, you will sing with all your might, you will praise Jesus with a beautiful voice and we will feast together.  I cannot wait for that day.  To see you whole, healed and with the KING.  May God be glorified in her life and we give Jesus all praises!!   Natalie I am proud to be your Mom!!!!

 

Hi, it’s been a while.  We have had a fun and fast summer.  I have to say that it is our fastest one yet.  Lot’s of entertaining, swimming, camps, visiting relatives, the beach and starting a business.  So here is a recap in pictures.

Tricia and Travis Cottrell

VBS

Papaw and Phoebe with sparklers

beach wheelchair..very cool!

Natalie, Phoebe and cousin Emma

cousin Lily, Emma's little sister

getting hair wrapped

church camp slide..FUN!

Phoebe and Holland at church camp

girls with Buddy Davis at the Creation Museum

Papaw's cannonball

Phoebe's cannonball

Elliott's cannonball

Last day of Summer break Celebration

Amazing Beauty by God

In my last post I shared that we had some BIG news to share.  Big news comes in different ways.   Announcement of a pregnancy or new baby.  Someone gets engaged then married.  Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations.  Well,  this one is the grandest of all!  This sweet, compassionate, fun, loving, delightful girl,

made the best decision in her life…she decided to follow Jesus!  Yes, she gave her life to Christ on June 5th.  Can I just say,  nothing compares to the joy that  overflows from my heart.  She is sealed with the Holy Spirit ( Ephesians 1:13).  She has an eternal home.  She loves Jesus with a sweet girly passion.  I am very confident that God who started a good work in Phoebe will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6). 

Baptism morning

confession of faith with Mr. Guy

This day was a day of rejoicing.  Our church had a special baptism service and  baptised 43 people.  Praise Jesus! 

Pastor Greg

It was such a delightful day that glorified God!   Afterwards,  we had a huge celebration with family and friends.   

We are so excited for Phoebe’s decision.   It’s grand  news and we are extremely proud to share it! 

2 Corinthians 5:7  Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!

Things here have been crazy, a good crazy…does that exist?  Well in my world it does.  We ended another school year with lots of laughter and memories.  Natalie had a great last week with activities and Phoebe had the famous “Fairytale Ball” and Readers Theater.   We are excited about the teachers that both girls have next year and look forward to new adventures…but first, some summer fun!

We have already had alot of things going on and it’s the first week of June.  Our pool is open and feels terrific.  We have been grilling and entertaining, which is fun.  Elliott and I decided this summer we are getting some cookbooks from the library and trying new things. (there is always carry out..)  That should be fun.   The schedule has camp’s, a beach vacation, VBS and relaxing by the pool on it.

We have some awesome news to share, but before I do I want to share some pictures to get you up to speed.

my new favorite dessert

FairyTale Ball

great friends

chillin

I am so excited to share with you the BIG news…but you will have to come back later to find out what it is.  I don’t have all the pictures yet.  I am so excited about summer.  I am excited in the relaxed routine.  Excited about some family time!  Time to just grow together, laugh together and make memories.

One thing that will not become relaxed is my time in God’s word.  It’s our playbook for life.  I am in the process of looking for the bible study I will do this summer.  What are you doing?

A group of us are heading to the Deeper Still event this weekend in Louisville.  I can’t wait!!  Kay Arthur, Beth Moore and Pricilla S.  I am confident we will receive a word from Jesus!   Ah, a girls weekend.  What a way to start off summer!!   I am sure I will have tons of pictures and a few stories to tell.  Something funny always happens with this group of friends  and I don’t think this time will be different.

With spring break over I wanted to catch family and friends up on what’s been going on in our world over here.  Some of these pictures are from valentines day..

our valentine snack..chocolate fondue..yum

Phoebe liked it!

Natalie's 11 b-day

Elliott's 40th b-day dinner at Fuji Steakhouse..chop chop..it was fun and delicious

yum yum!!

making "bird nests" you can eat, great snack!

The Zoo

sharing a birds nest with a friend

fruit for a delicous fruit pizza

the filo dough for the crust..not easy stuff to work with

Fruit pizza

We had a good spring break.  Play dates with friends, the zoo, making yummy snacks, library, family movie night (The Chronicles of Narnia 3, Phoebe loves these movies).  I am glad school is back because I like routine.  So what did you do for spring break?  Got big plans for summer??