Very Verdant

Owl Birthday Party Invitations

2012-01-26T05:06:00.000-08:00

Yes, our youngest is turning 10 and she has requested an OWL birthday party. Immediately I hit up Pinterest and found These Lovely Invites.

As fate would have it, the DIY owl invites are printable and I really wanted a "handmade" look. I'm just insane that way.

Fortunately, Mammaw was here yesterday. I showed her the printable version and she went right to work, tracing and cutting and gluing. After a few hours(and many pieces of scrapbooking paper), she, Christianna and I had turned out 10 of these adorable owl's.

Oh My soul!!! These little gals are just the cutest ever!

Now for cake and decorations!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I linked up here:

AKA Designs

Creation Corner

Design Dazzle

As Promised

2012-01-11T04:21:00.000-08:00

I know! I Know! I am Soooo running behind.

I finally got a few of the rings listed. Yesterday, I was able to photograph several more, so there will be more posted today.

People asked me about the band on these rings. The band is silvertoned and elasticized so that one size fits most. I have purchased rings at department stores that had the elasticized band and loved it. When I found these ring bases on Etsy, I was just thrilled.

The rings will remain at their introductory price of $5 until February 14. After Valentine's Day they will be $10.

Enough rambling.

VeryVerdant

Love Is A Blooming

2012-01-03T14:18:00.001-08:00

As promised, here is a first look at my new fabric flower rings. These are a gorgeous assortment of pinks, reds and white and make perfect gifts for Valentine's Day.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, these pretty baubles will be offered at an introductory sale price (HALF OFF!!!) but only through February 14. I will list a few every day until I get each fabric design listed. Check back often.

Not interested in LOVE colors? That's ok, there will be plenty more to choose from soon.

A Place To Play

2011-12-26T18:19:00.000-08:00

I have seen several of these "reading/play" tents spattered about the web lately and I just knew that our Christianna would love to have one of her own.

I was right, by the way.

While there are a few places that offer tutorials, I ended up making this one on my own. Some of the tutorials were so detailed that they were overwhelming, while others were just not quite what I had in mind.

Oh, well, we like the final outcome...Christianna has great plans for this tent. Once it is hung in her room, it will be her quiet place to read and play with her new Calico Critters.

Pinned It and Made It

2011-12-03T15:32:00.001-08:00

This is my version of These Deliciously Beautiful Ornaments. I found the ornaments on Pinterest but the original ornaments were made by Kim over at Too Much Time On My Hands. The tutorial is super simple to follow.

Yes, I pinned them to my boards. Are you pinning yet? It took me a little while to jump on the preverbial band wagon, but now, I am all in.

VeryVerdant

Let The Decorating Begin

2011-12-02T08:38:00.001-08:00

This year we have opted for a simple Christmas. But there are a few things that we just can not do without.

The cradle under the tree…

To remind us that God gave to us, his most precious gift. On Christmas morning the children wake to find “baby” Jesus in the cradle.

Do you love my polish pottery? These few pieces were given to me by some of my military friends. I set these out each year at Christmas time to remind me to pray for those who are serving our country instead of spending their Christmas at home with their families.

The Advent Calendar…

My mom made this one for the kids several years ago and we look forward to counting down Christmas each year. Yes, we hung it from clothes line attached to the wings of our Radio Flyer. I love the nostalgia in this little set up. Of course, the kids just love finding the little gifts tucked away in the tiny pockets. Why oh why must they grow up so fast?

VeryVerdant

Thankfulness Day 28

2011-11-28T13:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we celebrated 18 years of marriage!

Yes, 18!

I am thankful for every moment of every day of each of those 18 years.

Mark Alan, I love you!

Thankfulness Day 27

2011-11-27T04:27:00.001-08:00

Last night I was privileged to watch a livestream of my cousin as he and his battalion stepped off the buses from months long deployments. I am thankful for our heroes present, past and future.

Welcome home!

Thankfulness Day 24

2011-11-24T18:52:00.000-08:00

We shared Thanksgiving with our local children's home. Our whole family was so blessed.

I am thankful for the houseparents and for the way they put their lives into the kids there.

You guys! I love you! You are amazing!

Thankfulness Day 23

2011-11-23T15:02:00.000-08:00

Today, I am thankful to have a roof over my head and loved ones close by. I am always so thankful for my family, but especially so at this time of year.

January Wedding

2011-11-23T08:07:00.001-08:00

These luggage tags are shipping out this weekend. They are part of a custom order for 115 luggage tags that will be guest favors for a January wedding.

Congratulations to the happy couple!!!

VeryVerdant

Thankfulness Day 19

2011-11-19T19:54:00.000-08:00

As I walked the distance around our subdivision, I was again reminded of how blessed we are. I am thankful for my neighbors. They are all so nice and we each watch out for each other. It is nice that even when the husband has to be away, I can feel safe here.

I am also thankful for the wonderful temperatures and the light drizzle that has been wafting about all day. It has been a wonderfully gray, ralaxing day.

Thankfulness Day 18

2011-11-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

Today, I am thankful for a man (we will call him David). We met him at a local shelter and he shared his lifestory with us. He has not had an easy life, in fact, he share with us how his bad decisions had wrecked his life. He's lost all he has, his home, his wife, his two children.

Then he shared how a few years ago, he came to believe in Jesus. Five years later, he doesn't have his life completely back together but he is making progress. In fact, he still has no place to call his own, but he has just started a job, only two weeks ago. He is not back with his wife but he has been able to see his kids a little bit and ... and he is wearing the most peaceful smile on his face.

He has hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 Lives in this man. I was so blessed to meet him.

Thankfulness Day 17

2011-11-17T20:23:00.001-08:00

We try everyday to have quiet times together and during those quiet times we share thing that we are thankful for - only we call them praises. So today, just to be different, I will share the things that we wrote in our journal AND in the order in which we wrote them.

~ Linny's Birthday - We've never met them but we have grown to love this family.
~ Even's Job Interview/Internship - Even is the fiance of a friend of ours.
~ Our first house - We are in the process of starting paperwork for it's sell.
~ Winter Teen Camp - The three oldest are going to a three day retreat with our youth group and we found out today that nearly all of the funds have been raised for each of them to go. YAY!
~ Trees Changing Colors - Especially the one in our front yard.
~ Almost Christmas Break - Yep, even homeschoolers count down the days until school lets out for a bit.
~ My children
~ Disney Movies - We pulled out Sleeping Beauty this week and enjoyed watching it together while sharing hot kettle corn.
~CBC - Our church

To Say It Like "Uncle Dave" - Better Than I Deserve

2011-11-16T05:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have missed 3 Thankfulness posts. Why? Am I not thankful for the blessings I have received?

No, that is not it at all. On the contrary, I have become overwhelmed. I simply could not put into words all the thoughts that have been rushing through my head.

So here is a recap of my weekend. Hopefully, you will understand.

I Am Thankful For Traveling Mercies
After traveling for only a few hours I was reminded of all the long road trips we have taken during our married life. We live in lower Alabama and my husbands family lives in Northern Illinois. Yes, we take several road trips, sometimes more than once a year. In the nearly 18 years we have been married, we have only had two incidents while traveling, both were transmission or engine related.

Why does this just blow my mind. Because of stories like this one. His life was forever changed because of a short drive to church. I also have personal friends whose daughter was killed in a car wreck while on her way to Wednesday night Bible study. Long trips just give me time to ponder my own life and blessings.

I Am Thankful To Be Mom and Teacher

Homeschooling, like any other decision in life, has it's pros and cons. The cons are numerous. That list includes things like...I never get vacation days, I don't get a paycheck or financial benifits, I am often exhausted, My job starts when my feet hit the floor and does not end until everyone is tucked away and the last of the dishes are done for the evening. The pros also are numerous. Some of my favorites are...I have been there everytime my children learned something new, My children share their deepest thoughts with me and value(although not always) my opinion...and then, there is this one, our first graduating senior. It's moments like this one, that make me step back and say, "You know what? It was all worth it!"

I Am Thankful For My Home and For My Husband's Job

On our way home from Kentucky(we were visiting B's college of choice) we stopped in Atlanta. Our plan was to visit Passion City Church before heading home. Now, our GPS system was stolen out of our van way back in June and our Georgia map was not a very good one, so we got "turned around" in down town Atlanta. We decided instead of driving around looking for "the right road" we would just get back on the interstate and go to the church using the directions we knew were right.

Long story short, while passing through the heart of Atlanta, we passed beautiful old buildings and landmarks of every kind...but we also passed...women and children with bed rolls under their arms and looks of hunger and lonelienss on their faces. On one city block, there were men just beginning to stir and wake up. They had spent the night on the sidewalk ledge surrounding stone building with definite Greek inspired architecture. The stark contrast of the wealth of the building and the need of the homeless men who slept in its shadows left a lasting impression on my mind.
These men have nothing but the clothes on their backs and the few belongings they have stuffed into trash bags on who knows how many nights to use as pillows.

Now contrast that with my situation.
We have a gorgeous home that we bought for a bargain, yet I often complain because, this or that repair needs to be made or because the rooms need to be painted or the girls room needs to be built. On the nights that we are not at home, we are able to get nice cushy hotel rooms that are even better than the rooms we sleep in at home. REALLY?!? Is this all I have to complain about? How about some thankfulness.

I also was forced to think about our income. My husband has lost a lot of hours at his local job. Yes, even at a hospital, cost cutting measures are being taken to ensure that the "company" can keep its head above water. So, my sweet husband has taken a second job to supplement the hours he is missing from his local position. His second job often requires that he stay overnight or even for several days, out of towm. We miss him like crazy. But Really?!? I complain about this? I am reminded of many of our friends and acquaintances who have comepletely lost their jobs or who can not find a job, and yet, Mark has been able to get two part time jobs to provide a home and food and clothing and yes, even extras for us.

So You See Why I Am Overwhelmed

When I started counting my blessings, I began to realize that I have more blessings than I can count.

Thankfulness Day 12

2011-11-12T18:38:00.000-08:00

Friday morning my husband, Brooke and I drove roughly 9 hours away from our home to visit a wonderful little college in Kentucky. Our Brooke believes she has found her college. My husband and I believe she is right.

Today, I am thankful for travel mercies and for this small college tucked away in a sleepy little town.
Bis thankful for next year's football season - her Auburn Tigers aren't doing so well.
K is thankful for friends. She and a few of her best friends are attending a concert tonight.
D is thankful for the days that he feels good. Poor thing has the typical stuffy nose and headache that accompanies peanut season.
C is thankful for parades. Today is the closing of our county fair so my parents took the kids to the parade.

Good Times!!!
We are so blessed.

Thankfulness Day 11

2011-11-11T03:30:00.000-08:00

Today, our thankfulness list is long. I would like to thank...

Billy Y (Grandfather)
Brandon W
Chris B
Corley F
Eric P
Everett L
Frank M
James D
Jeremiah F
Jim D
Joe F
John C
John M (Close friend killed in action)
Joseph H
Josh B
Justin F
Justin Y (Cousin killed in action)
Kathy R
Kris N
Mark B
Matthew G
Mike M
Mike R
Mike E
Orey H (Cousin currently serving overseas)
Richard C
Robert O (Uncle served in Vietnam)
Roger E
Ron B
Shawn H
Travis J
Trey S
Will B

Today, we are thankful for our military, both past and current. We are thankful to their families who sacrifice their time with their loved ones as they serve our country.

Thankfulness Day 10

2011-11-10T18:04:00.000-08:00

C - Friends and family
D - Playing football and riding bikes with friends
K - Spending time with friends.
B - Vehicles
Me - My parents
The Hubby - To be at home for a couple days

Thankfulness Day 8

2011-11-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

Today we are thankful for Icecream Breaks. They give us a chance to just sit and enjoy each others company. For just a little while there are no school books, no computers, no schedule...a break from busy"ness"...a time to reflect, a time to laugh, a time to get to know each other a little better.

Thankfulness Day 7

2011-11-07T06:29:00.000-08:00

C - I am thankful for Christmas music.
D - I am thankful for the rain we had yesterday.
K - I am thankful for my friends.
B - I am thankful for senior breaks.
Me - I am thankful for all the people who have prayed for me over the years.

What are you thankful for???

Thankfulness Day 6

2011-11-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

Here is our family thankfulness for today. Did you enjoy worshipping with other believers today? That is definitely something to be thankful for.

C - The Sun -
D - Cold weather
K - Heat
B - Freedom
Me - Laughter
Daddy - Naps - I don't get enough of them.

Thankfulness Day 4

2011-11-05T05:34:00.001-07:00

C - I am thankful for Daddy. I like it when he's at home.
D - I am thankful for blankets because it was cold outside.
K - I am thankful for the children's home because the house parents help to take care of children who do not have as much as I do.
B - I am thankful for my morning cup of coffee.
Me - I am thankful for the neighborhood that we live in. It is a true blessing to pillow our heads at night and feel safe. Many people around the world do not have that luxury.
The Hubby - (Yes, he is actually home this morning! YAY!) I am thankful for my family because they are awesome.

On a different note. My two youngest crazies decided to camp out in the back yard last night. Yes, it was a cool 42 degrees. Yes, they had way too many blankets. Yes, they slept all night. Yes, they had hot chocolate first thing this morning.

Crazy kids!

Helping Daddy Put Up The Tent!

6:30am I Hear Voices

6:45am D and C decided to climb out of their piles of blankets

6:50 The Cozy Campers Have Hot Chocolate to Warm Their insides

Yes, they have officially declared the night was, “AWESOME!!!”

Thankfulness Day 3

2011-11-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving is just 20 days away but we should not confine an attitude of thankfulness to only one day of the year. If you would like to share what you are thankful for, please, feel free to leave a comment.

Here is our little list of things we are thankful for today.(I promise, I go to each one of my children individually so they have no idea what the others have answered. There answers are both fun and surprising.)

C - Brothers and Sisters - They are fun and we laugh together.
D - Sisters - Yeah, occasionally but I really don't know why. I just am thankful for them.
K - Mammaw - She's just really cool and she is a great example to me.
B - Homeschooling - I can go to morning swim practices and then take a nap before starting my school day.
Me - Well, K stole my answer. I was just thinking about last November and the day that we got the news. This year, I am so happy to have my mother around. God is good.

A Fall Tradition

2011-11-03T12:51:00.000-07:00

Do you have a favorite fall memory or fall tradition? I have so many. This time of year reminds me of how blessed I am.

One of my favorite things about fall is the food. Yes, the food! The spices and rich flavors that permiate this season are just amazing. One of our family favorites is the sweet roasted peanuts that my mom makes. Every year she gifts them to the men in our family in special tins that she hand picks for each of them. Sweet memories...except that all of us girls wish we had our own tin of sweet peanuts too...Hint Hint...

Today, I shared this recipe on the She Etsy Team Blog. To read more and get the way simple, scrumpdelicious recipe go HERE.

Thankfulness Day 2

2011-11-03T08:46:00.001-07:00

C – Thank you for hot chocolate. It warms me up on cold days.

D – I am thankful for the big map. When I forget where things are, I can look it up and remember.

K – I am thankful for my little sister. She is always smiling and happy.

B – I am thankful for coaches. They have the best intentions even when we can not see what those are. The practices are for our best.

Me - I am thankful to have been a stay at home mom and wife to my best friend.

Thankfulness - 1

2011-11-02T05:51:00.000-07:00

Did you notice that there were no Halloween posts here? Well, I have a confession to make. We have never celebrated Halloween. That was just our choice as a family. Now, that does not mean we do not love costumes and apple cider and roasting marshmallows...no, in fact, that is exactly what we do love.

Each year on Halloween, we go to my parents house and eat around a camp fire. Sometimes we start making Thanksgiving crafts and sometimes we just play games and enjoy each others company...but always, we begin turning our hearts toward thankfulness. Then every day until Thanksgiving day, we write one thing we are thankful for on a slip of paper and place it in our Thankfulness box. On Thanksgiving Day we take out those slips of paper and share them with each other.

So this year, I would like to celebrate with you. Each day, until Thanksgiving day, I will share with you some of the things we are thankful for. I would love it if you would stop by and share some of the things you are thankful for as well.

Here is our list for today.
C - Mommy and Daddy, because they feed me and they get me toys.
D - Blankets, because I'm cold today.
K - My Bible, because it's fun to read.
B - Bed, because I don't have to sleep on the floor.
Me - I am thankful for my husband's job. Many days, like today, his job takes him out of town and often over night. We miss him a lot, but so many people around the world are suffering because they have no income. Many military families have loved ones over seas for months at a time. My love and prayers go out for them each and every day. I am thankful...

My Luggage Tags Get A Make-Over

2011-11-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

So many people talk about branding and for me, the time has arrived to consider some branding of my own.

Because of this, my luggage tags have received a little make-over. See the sweet new packaging?

I love it and I think my customers will too.

VeryVerdant

So Proud of You

2011-10-29T04:24:00.001-07:00

This Makes It Official...

2011-10-26T15:46:00.000-07:00

We picked up her cap and gown yesterday, and yes, the tears threatened to fall. To remedy the situation I got out the camera to snap the first of B's senior pictures. Friday we will be driving to a local cotton field and a quiet little park to take a few casual pictures of B, my oldest, my baby, my very grown up daughter...sigh. This mommy's heart is so proud. I found this quote on Pinterest and it just really seems to fit.

"My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?" - Dr. Seuss

To Stain Or Not To Stain

2011-10-21T07:56:00.000-07:00

...that is the question!

My dad got this sad little crate at work. An engine had been shipped in it then it was discarded to be sent to the dump. Dad just couldn't let it go, so he brought the sad little crate to me... Score!
Can you guess what it will be when we get finished with it?
A little hint, it's going in my boys room.

Shop Announcement

2011-10-12T05:54:00.000-07:00

I have marked down all my pencil pouches to make room for a slightly new design.
Get yours while supplies last!

These would make great stocking stuffers.

2012 January Wedding Burgundy and Sage

2011-10-02T04:51:00.000-07:00

Burgundy and Sage Combinations

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2012 January Wedding Sage

2011-10-02T04:42:00.001-07:00

Sage

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P.)

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2012 January Wedding Burgundy

2011-10-02T04:35:00.001-07:00

Burgundy
A.)

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F.)

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Look Whoo-oo-oo's New In the Shop

2011-09-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

All the sweet little owl goodies are going fast. I have just a few more to add to the shop then I will have to start on Thanksgiving and Christmas home decorations.

Any HOO!!! Just thought you all would like to take a peek!

VeryVerdant

Cape Cod Wedding Favors

2011-09-27T08:03:00.001-07:00

I will be shipping these little beauties off this afternoon.

Aren't they great?!?

Congratulations to the happy bride and groom!

VeryVerdant

Do Every Little Thing That You Do…

2011-09-21T14:15:00.001-07:00

Wow, I have to be honest. There are days (not unlike today) when I feel worthless.

Just being honest here!

My mind begins to play those accusation games with me. You need a ~~new~~ hairstyle. All you’ve done with your adult life is raise kids and clean house. You really aren’t very good at that. Your talent is mediocre at best.

On and on the accusations fly. Then something in me realizes. This is what I was made for. That pile of laundry…is my job. Those three home cooked meals a day…That’s my job.

Those kids I try to teach well and train up right…those are my mission fields.

I love the words to the song by Steven Curtis Chapman.

“You’re picking up toys on the living room floor
for the 15th time today
Matching up socks and sweeping up lost
Cheerios that got away
You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips
and head out the door
And while I may not know you I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes does it matter at all
Well let me remind you it all matters just as long as you

Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do”

I may not be a CEO, and I may not get to wear or even own a closet full of fancy clothes. I may not get to help support the family financially but this is who I am. I am who I am because, this is who God made me to be. Not worthless but valuable. I am even able to bring glory to the God that created the universe…you know what…that’s pretty cool!

Pants On The Ground

2011-09-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

...not at this house. My girls have been asking for weeks, if I would make belts for them. Finally, I put down all my other sewing and worked for my kiddos for a change.

We sat down and looked through page after page of fabrics until each had chosen her favorites. Then, when the time came I sat down and sewed some belts for my babies!!!

The end result?(no pun intended)

"No Pants On The Ground, cause we got belts!"

Easy Canvas Prints

2011-09-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed on my sidebar an add from Easy Canvas Prints. I was contacted a few weeks ago by one of their representatives asking if I would consider placing their add on my blog in exchange for a free 8 X 10 Canvas Print of one of my photos.

Would I Mind?!? Really?!?

The toughest part of the whole process was deciding which photo to use. We moved into our house almost a year ago and we are hoping to begin building an upstairs bedroom for our two oldest girls in the next couple months.

Yes, they have been sharing a room with their little sister for 9 1/2 years! Shameful! I know!

Anyhoo...I wanted to do something for the girls room upstairs and I immediately thought of my DC pictures from our trip 2 years ago. Our oldest Brooke loves all things American History, so it is only natural that her favorite place to visit is Washingto DC.

I was a little concerned that the photo would not turn out because I use a point and shoot camera, but the end result is just stunning. I love it! The process begins with choosing which size print you would like and whether or not you want the photo wrapped around the edges. That is the option I chose. After that you simply upload the photo and edit the placement.

It was just that simple. Our canvas print arrived early the following week. We love it!

I think we will order a couple more canvas prints for Brooke to have a full set. After all, she is a senior this year and these prints would be a great way to forever remember her senior trip and her first visit to her new college.

Can't Wait!!!

A Tall Drink of Water

2011-09-12T05:56:00.001-07:00

Could you take a minute and grab yourself a glass of water?

Maybe you could go to your refrigerator and run water into your glass through a filtered system in your fridge.

Maybe you have bottled water, that will do fine too.

Maybe the Culligan man brings water to your home.

Do you have only tap water and ice?

It really doesn't matter, just as long as you have a glass full of water.

Now take a sip.

Ahhh, isn't that good? Do you feel refreshed?

Did you realize that you just did something that thousands of people across the world will never have the opportunity to do? Yes, that sip of water is a privilege, not to be taken lightly.

Now, look at your glass. There is water left over. What a treat it would be for people in impoverished areas around the world whose drinking water is tepid and filled with disease at best.

Our family has recently taken a pledge to pray for the entire world for an entire year and in our first week of prayer we took a serious look at the worlds water supply. It is astonishing to me that so many people groups across the world lack the fundamental element of life that we take for granted. I was also shocked to realize that our water supply is endangered for future generations.

At home we can help in so many simple ways.
~ Finish our glass of water, don't pour out the contents when we have had enough.
~ Take shorter showers.
~ Run the washing machine and dishwasher on shorter cycles.
~ Donate funds to help send clean water to disaster stricken areas and to impoverished lands across the world.
~ Turn the faucet water off while brushing our teeth or washing our hands until time to rinse.

All of these are simple things we can do to conserve and provide a cool refreshing glass of water for those who have none.

Then this thought occurred to me.

You know, as Christians, we have total access on a daily basis to the Water of Life. The water that flows through our souls and cleanses us, revives us and keeps us; yet, thousands will never have a drop of the life giving water...the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What are we doing to take that water to a world that is dying of thirst?
What are we doing to "conserve" the water for future generations?

Here are some ideas.

~ Get involved in your community.
Right where you are there are people who have no hope.
Get involved in a community reading program.
Tutor children who need help after school.
Volunteer in your local soup kitchens, Crisis Pregnancy Centers and the local food bank.

~ Get involved globally.
Instead of spending time on vacation, take the family to a few days on site at Habitat for Humanity.
Take the family on a missions trip. (This does not have to be out of your country. There are many needs right where you are.)

~ Train at home.
The best way I know to teach my children to share the water of life with those around them, is to let them see me doing the same. I can not just tell my children, "Jesus love the little children, all the children of the world..."
I have to show them what that looks like. Training at home, involves getting out of our homes and taking the cool refreshing water of the gospel to those who need it...taking it to them Where They Are!

The next time you pour yourself a glass of water would you just take a minute and consider what a privilege that glass of water is. Take a minute and think about those people all over the world who have only tepid, disease infested water to drink. Take a minute to think about how you can share the Life Giving Water with others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Resources ~Physical Water Research, Conservation, and Provision

Filtered Water for Your Home - http://culliganwateroffers.com

Personal Portable Water Filters – http://www.filterwater.com

Clean Water For the World - http://cleanwaterfortheworld.org/

Water For The World - http://purewaterfortheworld.org/

~Spiritual Water Resources for Sharing

Operation World - http://www.operationworld.org/

Score International - http://scoreinternational.org/

Samaritans Purse - http://master.samaritanspurse.org/index.php

Radical The Book - http://www.radicalthebook.com/

September 11, The Ten Year Anniversary

2011-09-11T04:29:00.001-07:00

I am sure, like us, you remember where you were when the attacks happened. I was thinking for months now that when the anniversary rolled around, I would not dwell on it.

But I can not help it. Last night, we stayed up watching documentaries and even after 10 years, the tears flowed and my stomach was sick with nausea at the footage of that day.

One of the documentaries I watched last night was on TLC. It focused on the families of those people on flight 157. A few of these families were not only on the phone with their loved ones at the time the plane hit the building, but they were also watching it on live TV. One of the moms said something like, "Every time I see those clips, I see it all over again. Every time, I am watching my son die."

How wrong was I?

We should never forget what happened on that day.
We should never forget those who lost their lives.
We should never forget, because none of us are promised tomorrow.

It Feels Like Fall

2011-09-06T11:52:00.001-07:00

Yesssss! It feels and smells just beautiful outside today. Even here is South Alabama the weather is cooler! I am so excited, you just don’t know.

I love the crisp feel of fall and the smells – yum- apple cider, rustling leaves, vibrant colors.

Speaking of vibrant colors, look what’s new in the shop!

Fall Decorations for your home!

Did I mention this is my favorite time of year?

Well, it is!!!

VeryVerdant

Learning From Ordinary People

2011-09-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

I just need to ramble a bit so be forewarned, this could be long and will be very random.

Today, Mom came over to help out. She does this often but especially when I have big orders to fill. My mom is a woman of strength and godly wisdom. I love her. She comes to our house every once in a while and let's me teach and sew while she works quietly doing dishes or sorting laundry...quietly working...doing stuff I really don't like to do. Oh, and while she works she sings. ;0) Singing and dishes...singing and laundry...singing and hugging my kiddos.

I am still learning so much from her. I suppose I always will.

This week I had a deep discussion with our second about dating. Her boyfriend? Her dad and I kind of like this guy. They are both 16 and solid as rocks...not physically but spiritually. She came home late last night because they stayed after church for praise band practice. Her face was contemplative, "Mom, I walked into the teen room looking for C and there he was sitting with Pastor studying Job. All the other guys were outside playing football and he was sitting with his Bible open ... learning." "Mom, it just made me want to cry. So many people come to us for advice. I hope we live so that they already know what our advice will be. You know? I want what we say and what we do to be exactly the same."

I have so much to learn from her.

Today, I am praising God for the strong witnesses that he has placed in my life.

Today, I am thankful for my mom, who gives freely of herself as Christ gave freely for me.

Today, I am thankful for my daughter, who is learning to embrace God with her whole heart.

Today, I am thankful that God speaks to us in ordinary circumstances and through ordinary people to help us live extraordinary lives.

My Back Pack Featured On Art Blog

2011-08-30T07:03:00.001-07:00

Fashionable Yet Affordable Back Packs

Green and Blue Fabric Choices for a Cape Cod Wedding

2011-08-23T15:10:00.001-07:00

I am posting these fabric options for a coming wedding. The bride has contacted me about making luggage tags in a specific color scheme. The luggage tags are to be used as favors or place cards for her guests. These fabrics are currently available at Fabric.com

To learn more about ordering your own custom luggage tags, please visit my shop, Very Verdant.

Fabric Choices for a Cape Cod Wedding

2011-08-23T14:30:00.001-07:00

These fabrics are currently available at Fabric.com

To learn more about ordering your own custom luggage tags, please visit my shop, Very Verdant.

Strawberry Shortcake

2011-08-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

This is one of my very favorite recipes. Every time I eat strawberry shortcake, I am transported back in time to my childhood and Sunday dinners at home...usually with guests who have joined us.

I am not sure where this recipe
originated because I never saw my mom use a recipe. The steps were rote memory for her.In fact, when I got married and wanted to make a strawberry shortcake of my own, I called my mom. On the other side of the phone line (yes, they were all ground lines then) I could here Mom getting all the ingredients out of the cupboard. She had to put the ingredients together and guess what the measurements were as she worked.

"Let's see, I think that's about 2 cups. Yeah, write down 2 cups of self rise flour. Now let me get the sugar." [pause] "Hm, I think that's about..."

No lie, that is exactly the way she taught me to make strawberry shortcake. Now that I think about it, that is the same way she taught me to make great big southern buttermilk biscuits.

Hopefully you will enjoy this recipe as much as we have.

For this recipe you will need an 11" Flan Pan. You can order them from any bakery supply store, Amazon.com, Walmart(sometimes), or Pampered Chef.

Strawberry Shortcake:

Strawberry Filling
You will want to prepare the strawberries at least two hours in advance(overnight is best).
2 pints of fresh strawberries
Sugar

Rinse the strawberries and cut them into thin slices. Place the strawberry slices in a large bowl and sprinkle a layer of sugar over top. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set them in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them.

Shortcake Bottom
1 Egg
3/4 Cup Crisco
1 Cup Sugar
2 tsp Vanilla
1 3/4 Cup Self-Rise Flour

With a sturdy mixer combine crisco and sugar until creamy.
Blend in egg and vanilla. Slowly add flour.

Press dough into flan pan and bake at 350 until lightly browned.

Topping
1 Large container of Cool Whip (thawed)

Putting it all together
Once the cake bottom is cooled, pour out the strawberries onto the cake bottom until it is completely covered. Use the juices and the strawberries. You won't be sorry! Promise!!!

Top it all off with cool whip and chill until you are ready to serve.

Handmade..but not by me!

2011-08-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

I am sure I am not the only person who looks at handmade items and says, "Hm, I could just make that myself."

Truth be told, in most cases we probably could; but, how often do we actually go home and make them? For me, rarely ever, UNLESS it is for someone else. Now, I will sit and sew for my children, my parents, my friends and gift away my creations all day;but to go home and make something nice for myself? That Ain't Gonna Happen.

So when I realized a few months ago that my pincushion was leaking sand I knew it was time to make a new one. I searched Etsy and found so many pincushions that I loved ...but did I make one for myself...NO.

I did, however, purchase a couple. What? Don't judge me. You haven't heard the whole story yet! I think I will have a pincushion collection.

No, no I can't, but after searching Etsy and seeing all the lovely pincushions, I can see that it would be easy to become obsessive and collect myself out of living space.

So instead, I will shew you what I did purchase and I will be a good little Mama and just look at the others and dream of having them.

The first is this gorgeous little flower pincushion. It is attached to a cotton jersey band that closes with Velcro and can be worn on my wrist. This is very important when I am sewing clothing and altering items. I have been putting my pins right in my shirt front and sadly have left a couple of them in the shirt only to discover them AFTER they had been laundered. The result was not pretty!

When this pincushion arrived, I found it to be even more beautiful than the pictures. The beadwork and the sweet little butterfly are what got my attention. Thank you Nispero Designs

The second pincushion is actually a pincushion and a thread catcher, and I must say,"I am really enjoying this one." Before, I was throwing my threads and fabric shavings in my son's waste basket from his room. It was fine for me, but his room was beginning to look like a dysfunctional office cubical with wadded papers everywhere because I almost always had his wastebasket at my workstation.
These little pincushion/thread catcher combos are perfect and I am so thrilled with mine; and so is my son.
Thanks Sew Southern Quilts

Seasons, A Letter To My Daughter

2011-08-08T03:48:00.000-07:00

I love the changing seasons of nature. Spring time brings forth new life. The grass is green. Baby birds chirp outside my window. The crisp air of winter turns to a cool breeze and the sun begins to caress our now bare shoulders.

Summer bares down hard on us with her heat and forces us to stay inside and enjoy each others company. The beaches call out to us to observe and enjoy the crashing waves and the cool of the water as it rushes over us.

Then along comes fall. The leaves begin to change colors, as their inner working begin to slow down. Woodland animals begin to store up food and look for comfy burrows and caves in which to hibernate. Winter is on it's way.

And with winter comes the cold. Nature shuts down to rest. The cold fierce winds blow and haunt. The snow covers the ground and our eyes see only the white reflecting the sun. Bitter cold engulfs us and our finger become numb but underneath the blanket of ice and snow...is life.

The seasons change and each season has it's own purpose. Some seasons are more easy to enjoy than others but all are necessary to sustain life.

So our lives, also have seasons. We enter life in the spring time. Every thing is new and wonderful. We look upon the world with wonder and excitement. We learn about everything in the world and celebrate the genius of our creator.

Then sometime in our late teens and early twenties we transition into summer. Our world expands and we see the vast opportunities that lurk on every horizon. We begin to feel the tides of adult life with its new found responsibilities that roll out upon us like waves of the sea. The pressure to move into the person we will grow up to be, burns upon us like the heat of the sun. We grow like a tree. We change. We make something of ourselves. We experience the world like never before. We are strong and unstoppable. The whole world is our ocean.

Summer... It is full upon you our oldest. Our Brooke. I hope you know that your dad and I will wade out into the waters as far as you want us to go. We will hold the raft for you when you feel like you are drowning in the circumstances of life. We will gladly push your little vessel out into the depths, when you are ready, without trying to hold onto the anchor.

We will stand on the shore tall like a lighthouse. Although we will not be physically with you, everywhere you go you will see our light. The things you have learned from us will go before you to guide you. You will navigate well and when the seas are rough to you, it is on that same shore that you will find us, ready...watching...waiting...

We love you,
Mom and Dad

Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle

2011-08-01T05:25:00.000-07:00

The kids dropped time.
The team took 4th place in the state.
My husband is bright red like a cherry tomato.
Swim season slows down for a little while.

Ah, the wonderful experiences of State Swim Meets!

VeryVerdant

Down Time

2011-07-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

It was all so calm and quiet. Mark and I were spending a weekend away. I closed up my shop for a few days, refused to answer emails, and chose not to take the camera to avoid the temptation to work on the blog.

The children stayed at home with my parents.

It was quiet. It was calm. It was a weekend.

Actually, Mark was on call at the hospital so he did have to go in a few times but for me, it was exactly the weekend I needed. I hung out at the pool, read a lot, shopped a little and ate ... alot.

It is wonderful to be back home. I feel so much more relaxed and am enjoying the laughter and noise and hectic schedule that make up our lives...our Very Verdant lives.

L.I.F.E. - It's Not Just A Game

2011-07-17T11:07:00.000-07:00

...no, it's a little insight into the minds of our children.

While playing Milton Bradley's Game Of Life, my nine year old had just finished her turn and began counting out a little stash of money that she had set aside. After each turn she had taken a small amount of money and added it to her savings pile. Suddenly there was an urgency in her voice.

C needed it to be her next turn.

C had a plan.

"Is it my turn? Is it my turn?"

"Yes, C, it is your turn."

"Yes!!!!"

Then, with a spin of the wheel and frantic shuffling of multicolored "real life" money, C payed the banker, threw her arms up in the air and gave a joyous yell..."I'm debt free-e-e-eee!!!!!"

Thanks, Dave Ramsey.

VeryVerdant

Handmade Wedding Favors

2011-07-15T04:56:00.000-07:00

I have been selling my luggage tags for a few years now, but it was not until last year that brides began buying them in large quantities to be used as gifts for each of their wedding guests. The bride and groom create a business sized card, thanking the guests for attending their wedding. This card is slipped into the vinyl pocket for a complete and useful gift. You know, that is a really great idea.

These are my current project for an October wedding. The main color is burgundy and the theme is vintage. The fabrics that the bride chose will be a perfect fit and I know the guests will love them.

You can find listings for luggage tags in my shop in sets of 200, 100, or 50. Each bride chooses her own fabrics from selections that I have set up here on my blog. If you need a different quantity, convo me for a custom listing.

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I love the idea of giving handmade gifts to each of your wedding guests. So while I am showing off my latest project, I thought I would take the time to show off some other wedding favors from some of my favorite shops on Etsy.

Wedding Favor Soap: Package of 50 - Bird Bath Soaps

100 Fire Starter Pine Cones - Nature Favors

Thank You Favors - Craft Up Your Life

Museum Grade Tupelo Honey Samplers - Horton's Farm

Americana Decorative Balls

2011-07-07T09:26:00.001-07:00

I still see so many people using decorative balls in their living rooms and as centerpieces on their dining room tables, so the kids and I sat down and made these this past weekend. It was a great project for 4th of July. With different fabrics, these would work for numerous occasions.

These balls are super simple to make but they do require drying time. We began these on Saturday and completed them Monday - not that it took all day and night Sunday to dry; we just choose not to work on Sundays as much as possible. The balls were completely dry by Tuesday morning.

Gather your supplies:

~3" Styrofoam Balls
~Fabric strips
1 3/4" x 35"
~Straight Pins
or Floral Pins

~Liquid Starch
~Mod Podge
High Gloss
~Paint brushes
~News paper
to cover work service
~ Dixie cups to hold balls while drying

To begin, pour liquid starch into bowl and soak the fabric strips. We did this one at a time to cut down on the mess.

Now, remove the strip of fabric from the bowl and wring out all excess starch.

Secure one end of fabric strip to the foam ball.

Wrap fabric around the ball until the entire piece is used up.

Check to make sure there are no gaps where the foam ball is showing through, then secure the loose end with straight pins.

When all of your balls are completed, walk away. Yes, I know! It’s so hard. But these babies need to dry overnight.

The next morning (after you’ve had your coffee of course), pour a small amount of gloss Mod Podge onto a paper plate. We used a paper plate because, again, it’s just less messy this way; besides, when the kiddos dip their brushes into the jar of Mod Podge, they tend to swirl it around and that makes ugly bubbles in everyone’s projects. Not Cool!!!

Brush Mod Podge over the entire surface of the balls. Lay it on thick!

It helps to have a Mammaw around. She and I made sure all the edges of the fabric, were laying flat.

Cut the ends of Dixie Cup off, about an inch from the bottom and use the pieces to dry the finished balls.

Now Wait!!!!

Want to know what to do while you wait?

Have a Water Bomb War (Tutorial for your own water bombs HERE). Grill a platter full of food. Play Mexican Train. Wrap your little sister in glow bracelets so she can do her own techno dance in the dark.

Allow the balls to dry over night and you’re done! You will have a great center piece for your next family get together.

~VeryVerdant

I'M Linked To:
Tater Tots and Jello
Design Dazzle
Creation Corner
Harvest Moon By Hand
Tea Rose Home

2011-06-29T03:29:00.000-07:00

I linked up my arm sling tutorial to these Linky Parties.

A Purchase and a Prize

2011-06-25T12:32:00.001-07:00

This year I have been very fortunate to win several giveaways. This one was one of my favorites. I found this giveaway on Facebook. As the winner, I was allowed to choose ANY one item from Marokel Jewelry.

I have always favored Asian inspired clothing and accessories so I immediately knew that this necklace was for me.

Don’t the knots on this necklace remind you of frogs found on so many Asian clothes? I just love the details like the tightly wound ivory threads wrapped around various sections of the necklace.

Instead of a clasp or metal closure, this necklace is adjusted by sliding a frog like knot down the tassel ends of this necklace. These tassel strands are eautiful with open shoulder summer tops.

Oh, and my birthday is in August so I thought the sweet little peridot at the center of the butterfly’s body was just perfect.

Then, of course, I lingered around the shop a little longer and purchased these earrings too. Beautiful!!!!

Thanks, Marokel Jewelry for having the giveaway.

Sweet Treats For My Sweet Daughter

2011-06-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

These adorable felt foods came from The Mama of .Moo Said The Mama. I entered a giveaway on her blog and won! YAY!!!

My C has already enjoyed hours of play time with these lovely foods as has her favorite stuffed friends.

This blog belongs to a homeschooling mom who is always sharing creative inspiration.
I love her blog tag line.

"Random thoughts and experiences of a mama. We're an unschooling, urban homesteading, organic gardening, homebirthing, attachment parenting, eclectic, crafting & sewing, Christ-following, frugal living family and this blog will spotlight some of the goings-on in our home."

Please stop by and visit if you get a chance.

VeryVerdant

Arm Sling Tutorial - Hopefully You'll Never Need To Use It

2011-06-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

Brooke chose her fabrics today.
First Rip stop Army camo - Hooah!
Second red, black and white...her swim team colors.
Brooke was nearly beside herself when she found this Latte fabric in her colors.
" This is it! Yes, I love this one!"

What was I to do? We made our purchase and went straight home to start her REVERSIBLE sling.

Hopefully the instructions are easy enough to understand. We took pictures all along the way so there are a "bunch" of pictures

You will need:

1/2 yard main fabric (this should be something sturdy, like canvas(or rip stop)
1/2 yard contrast fabric
3 metal D rings
1 1/2 yard 1" belt webbing
I used a 5/8 inch seam allowance for this project and then trimmed the fabrics back to 1/4inch to avoid bulk in the seams and allow for nice turns especially in the curved areas above the wrist.

Step 1:
Measure the arm. As you can see, we used a very scientific method to do this. I measured from just below Brooke's sleeve line to just below the elbow. THEN doubled that for the length.

For the width I measured about 2 inches past Brooke's arm to the beginning of her thumb nail.

Again, being very scientific, I traced a saucer to get the rounded edge of the sling that will be closest to her hand.

Use the piece you just cut as a pattern to cut out the contrasting fabric.

Step 2:
With right sides together, pin the straight "length" of the fabric from the top and stopping at the elbow. Brooke is very thin so I needed to gather in the edges a bit to make the elbow area snug. I did this by pinning straight down the length until I reached her elbow. I then folded the excess fabric to the sides. You can see it in the picture below.

Fold the two edges that are perpendicular to the arm in toward each other and stitch from top to bottom.

Here you can see with the contrasting fabric another way to do this. This time, beginning at the fold at the bottom of the elbow, fold the fabric inward 1 inch and stitch from bottom to top.

When you turn the fabric right side out you will get a small fold or "pocket" that will snugly hold the elbow in place.

Repeat this step for both the main fabric and the contrasting fabric.

Step 3:

To make the straps, cut a 10 inch piece of webbing and baste stitch 1 metal D ring into the center. You will remove this stitching later.

To the remainder of the webbing stitch 2 D rings to one end, as you would when making a belt.

Now, loop the long webbing (the end without D rings) through the single D ring. Then thread the same end through the two D rings just as you would when putting on a belt. This will later allow your shoulder strap to be adjustable. It should look like this when you get it all done.

Step 4:

Baste the single end of the longest strap to the center seam above the elbow. This should be done on the right side of the fabric.

DO NOT ATTACH THE OTHER ENDS OF THE WEBBING YET!

With right sides together, stitch the main fabric to the contrasting fabric all the way around the edges of the sling, but leave a small opening at just where the rounded edges begin. You will need to do this on both the front and back of the sling.

Here you can see what I mean. I left a 2 inch opening in the front curve and a four inch opening in the back curve. The four inch opening is for turning the fabrics right side out and the other is simply for attaching the webbing/strap.

Step 5:

Turn the sling through the 4 inch hole. Work the seams until they are smooth and the curves are laying nicely. Attach the loose webbing/straps to the wrist area of the sling. Be sure to place one end of webbing about 2 inches into each of the openings from step 4. Top stitch the sling all the way around.

Now using a stitch ripper, remove the stitches that hold the single D ring in the shorter piece of webbing/strap. If you do not remove these stitches you will have a nice fully lined sling but it will not be reversible. (Just trust me on this. We found it out the hard way.)

As a final step, I top stitched this X design over the areas where the webbing lays inside the sling. This will add stability and durability.

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VeryVerdant

Dip and Squeeze

2011-06-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

Mmm, my new favorite reason to eat at Chick Fil A!
(Like I really needed a reason!)

I am addicted to sauces of all kind. Yes, it is really starting to show. I love that I can dip or squeeze and that the package is easy to open.

You'ld have to be a mother to understand, or a preschool teacher, or an auntie and uncle keeping the neices and nephews, or a babysitter, or....

VeryVerdant

A Visit With The Orthopedic

2011-06-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

This is not exactly where Brooke wanted to be only two months away from beginning her senior year of high school, but here she is.

She has had a pain in her elbow for two months now and her coach finally told her, "No more swimming until you get that elbow looked at." So here we sit...waiting.

Brooke has researched elbow pain and decided that nothing is torn or broken, only sprained. The doctor confirmed what she thought and yes, Brooke was pretty proud of herself.

The only bad news is that she can not swim for an entire month. Good news is, she gets to wear a sling and get out of a few household chores.

Ok, the getting out of chores part is good but why is wearing a sling good news? Because my 17 year old daughter asked me if I would please make a sling for her so she did not have to wear a hideously ugly one for a month. (Interject proud mommy smile here!!!)

I Love My Kids!!!!

VeryVerdant

My New Toy

2011-06-15T08:41:00.000-07:00

Actually, It is not so new. My husband gave me this cell phone for Mother's Day and I wanted to wait a while before writing about it. This is my first experience with a "smart" phone and I was really not sure how much I would love it, but love it I do.

This is Peggy she is a Samsung Fascinate. She has her own lovely coat with cherry blossoms. We got her coat at a real bargain price of $3.95 by shopping at Amazon.com

But where did she get that lovely jewelry? Glad you asked.

I actually won this cell phone charm from Cell Chic. I love the slogan - Personality and Style for your Cell Phone

Cute isn't it?
Anyway, thanks so much, Mark, for my new friend Peggy and her lovely jacket. And Thank you Cell Chic for hosting the wonderful giveaway. Peggy loves her bling.
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Please, note that I was not compensated in anyway by Verizon or Samsung. I just love my phone and wanted to share.

Cell Chic and her awesome products can be found at
HuebschHouse Blog
On Twitter
and on Facebook

VeryVerdant

Raising Boys in a House Full of Girls - Part 3

2011-06-13T02:51:00.001-07:00

When our son turned three, my husband decided it was time to change careers. This would also mean another college degree and a lot of time away from home. In fact, Mark would work nights, drive to Walmart parking lot, sleep in his car for an hour, go to school and straight to clinicals, then come home. By the time he did get home he was exhausted and ready for his two hours of sleep before going back to work. Needless to say, we did not see much of Daddy during those two years.

This schedule is what prompted us to homeschool our now 4 children. Homeschooling allowed us to have time together as a family on the days Mark was off. When he came home at 1:30 or 2:00, we were able to pick up the books and finish later. If not for homeschooling, the children would have only seen their dad on holidays.

So here I was with three girls and one boy. The children were learning from me and I, at times, was learning even more from them. Now, the girls would sit for hours with books and lessons. D however, taught me a new way of "doing school". Bless his heart, D needed to go outside and dig - a lot. So we bought him a small shovel and marked off places for him to dig. D needed to move around, so he practiced spelling words while hopping in place, or while turning summersaults down the hallway, or by writing his spelling list on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. The key was, I needed to remember that D needed time to vent and to release his pint up energy. As long as we allowed for lots of play the lessons came easily. As soon as I tried to get a days worth of lessons from D with no real breaks or physical activity, there was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

With Mark's permission, we also began looking and praying for other men to step in and be an influence in D's little life. Funny thing is, they all came to us. There was Uncle Mike and Uncle Cheesy, two military men from our church whose role of influence was listening to D's jabber and hoisting him high into the air until he had giggled himself into exhaustion. There was our neighbor, Mr Hall, who invited D over to "help" pick up leaves or look through his tool box. D love handing him tools while he worked on his car. There was Pappaw, of course, who took D fishing and hunting and puddle hopping and mischief searching. And there was our Pastor Lewis and Br Joel who always listened when D's creative little mind needed answers. Now, some of these men are still part of D's life but most are not. At the time, they were a Godsend and we appreciate so much the way they each took D under their wings while his dad could not be there and helped him learn more about things that interested him.

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Some Great Resources That We Have Used are:
To Train Up a Child - Micheal and Debi Pearl
Hide 'Em in Your Heart Series - Steve Green
The Five Love Languages of Children - by Gary Chapman
Wild at Heart - John Eldredge
Dare to Discipline - James Dobson
Bringing up Boys - James Dobson
The Squire and the Scroll - Jennie Bishop
Preparing Your Son for Every Man's Battle - Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, Mike Yorkey

Raising Boys in a House Full of Girls - Part 2

2011-06-10T06:19:00.000-07:00

This is one of my very favorite pictures of D. He was just over 2 when this was made and it was at this time that he was just beginning to really show us what he was made of.

My husband, Mark is a very athletic fellow. If it's a game and involves a ball, Mark can do it and with excellence. When our son was born, Mark and I talked about how cool it was going to be that Mark would have a ball buddy. We pictured the two of them together swinging bats in the batting cage, shootin' hoops and watching Cubs baseball together. But D would have none of that. We also talked about all the boy toys and how it was going to be great to have something besides pink clothes, dolls, and hair accessories. I think I was mostly looking forward to that because my sister and I never had cars and Star Wars toys or even LEGOs. Now I had an excuse to have those things in my house. We also began to put away breakables, because I had heard that boys aren't necessary malicious or mean; they just play rough. We anxiously awaited the day when the baby developed into the boy child who would soon become a young man.

I remember clearly the first signs of boyhood. It is comical to think of but, yes, I do remember the first time D began to realize he was all boy and associate with his Daddy. I remember because it broke my heart. At 13 months old, D weened himself. It took 2 days. That's it! He was old enough and I was OK with it, but I knew our cuddle time was over. He did not want me to rock him to sleep and he did not want to sit in my lap. D wanted to be free to play and play he did.

It was at this time that he also began to talk. D said Daddy first - not Mommy and at 18 months he would walk through the house saying such things as,
"Where Daddy?"
"Daddy work?"
"Want Daddy"
"Daddy boy, Declin Boy"
"Mommy geril"
"Brookie geril"
"Kayla geril" (all right folks that was the best his barely 18 month old self could do)

D was identifying himself with his Dad but not in ways that we thought and not in every way. Over time we have learned some very cool things about D.

1. D is very protective. He did not want people in his room unless invited. His sisters were great for picking on as long as he was the one picking on them. Let some one else tease his sisters and war was waged.
2. D is very sensitive to the needs of others. He gives great hugs and, unlike his dad, D is a people person. He filled with compassion. D notices hurting people and wants to help.
3. D does not like ball...not even a little bit. Here is where Daddy had to adapt. We were shocked - and I am not sure why - that D had no interest in ballgames of any kind. Instead, D loves Nascar and tools and history and READING and guns and...did I mention he likes to read?
4. D is very creative. He draws amazing pictures and writes wonderful stories, not Mark but he loves D's drawings and does read his stories.

Ok, I could go on and on about all the qualities of my son, but I won't. I just want to point out that the text book description of what a little boy should be...well, it does not always apply and just because a boy's Daddy enjoys certain things, that does not mean his little boy will follow right in his footsteps.

One last thing, I once had a precious lady from our church watch the kids for me so that I could go to a doctors appointment. D was 3 or 4 at the time. When I returned home she said to me, "Your D is just so sweet. He listens to you and plays so nice and doesn't sit in front of the TV for hours at a time. I wish my grandsons were this sweet, but your D is just not like other boys."

What??? How was I supposed to take that. Was she saying that there was something wrong with our son? Then the following year we not only had our fourth child, another girl, but we also chose to begin homeschooling. This "not like other boys" boy was going to be home all day with three girls. What ever would we do?

Raising Boys In A House Full Of Girls–Part 1

2011-06-09T08:32:00.001-07:00

I remember when I first held our son in my arms. I thought, “Wow, he is the most wonderful, handsome little boy EVER!!!” Then, the thought hit me, “You get to raise a little boy and teach him how to be a man!”

ME??? I know nothing about little boys! I grew up with one sister and I am the picture of everything girlie girl! I love pink and lace. I hate, despise, am terrified of most bugs, and don't even get me started on how I feel about being sweaty and dirty. I can teach a boy how to read and write and plant things and help them to grow. I can teach a boy how to treat others; but how in the world would I ever teach a boy how to be a man?

So my prayers began to be filled with requests for a special kind of wisdom and for me to allow God to provide the type of education that our son would need.

In the following days I hope to share with you a few of the things I have learned along the way. Do I consider myself to have arrived, or to have perfected the “bringing up boys” issue? Not on your life! But I have learned and am learning so much. I remember times of thinking, “I just wish I had someone to talk to, someone to give me a little advice.” That’s all I am doing here, just sharing my experience.

130 Luggage Tags

2011-06-08T08:18:00.001-07:00

Yes, 130 of the most beautiful lavender, gray, and black luggage tags are now on their way to Australia. These will be used as favors for wedding guests. Sweet hah?

The bride chose between 13-15 different fabrics which worked out beautifully. I sometimes get bored with large orders like this one, especially when I am using only one or two fabrics for the whole order. Having a large variety helped keep my attention.

VeryVerdant

Wallet Selections

2011-05-26T08:52:00.001-07:00

Autumn Floral

Black Birds in the Garden

Blue Boy Shirt

Twirly Dots

Pink Lemonade

French Country

VeryVerdant

Giveaway Winners

2011-05-26T08:39:00.001-07:00

I have so enjoyed this years giveaway, hosted by SewMamaSew. There were so many great prizes given out and I saw some really talented artists and read some great blogs. Honestly, I can not wait until fall to do this all over again.

Oh, Did I tell you that I won something? Last November I shared my mom’s cancer story with you all. This week I had the chance to share her story again on Margaret’s Hope Chest. My mom was selected to receive quilt b in that giveaway…boy is she going to love it. There will be happy tears in her eyes for sure. I am so humbled, it could not have happened to a better person. I love my mom, and she has been an encouragement to all of us.

Now, to announce the winners.

The winner of the apron is …

Brytni Jade said...

I have 3 sweet little sisters ages 6, 4 and 2 who love dressing up and playing house! Your apron/napkin set is adorable! :)

Brytni – In light of the fact that I am feeling very blessed, I am actually going to send a little something for all three of your little sisters. Thanks for entering for them.

The winner of the wallet is …

Jane Jeffress Thomas said...

I just love that apron. Nice work!!! Thanks.

Jane, you are listed as a non-reply – meaning I have no way to get in touch with you. Please contact me within the next 7 days or I will need to select a different winner for the wallet. Thanks for entering.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A special thanks to all who entered. I wish I had something to give to each and everyone of you.

VeryVerdant

Giveaway Day

2011-05-22T19:28:00.001-07:00

If you are like me, you look forward to the SewMamaSew giveaway with great expectations. I always enjoy seeing all the different prizes and visiting new blogs. Oh, and I enjoy the winning too.

So without any further delay…here is what you can win by entering my giveaway.

The first prize will be this handmade apron and cloth napkins set for the hostess in training.

And what an adorable little hostess she will be in this paisley and polka dots apron.

The long pink sash wraps around and to the front to make a very girly bow.

The pocket is deep to keep play items from falling out.

This apron comes with 4 matching napkins to practice setting the table.

Every item is machine washable and may be ironed using a warm iron when needed.
~~~~~~Measurements~~~~~~
front of apron - 15 1/2 inches wide
11 1/2 inches long
pocket - 6 1/2 deep
13 3/4 wide
straps - 72 inches long

The Second Prize will be a fabric wallet from my collection. The winner of this item will be able to choose her favorite print.

This is a great little fabric wallet, the perfect size for carrying cash or credit cards or could be used to hold two pads if it happens to be "that time of the month"
Fast Facts:
-100% cotton
-3 3/4" X 4 1/4".
-fastened with metal snap closure
-machine wash/tumble dry
-warm iron when needed

It’s Easy To Enter and Win:

1. Leave a comment. (1 entry) Be sure to leave a way for me to get in touch with you.

2. For those of you who like multiple ways to enter, you can follow my blog for 1 extra entry.

3. The giveaway ends midnight May 25. The drawing will be on May 26 at which time the winner will be announced

4. I will contact the winner via email and the prizes will be shipped out no later than May 30.

5. This giveaway is available to all locations.

I am doing another giveaway on my Facebook page. www.facebook.com/VeryVerdant All you need to do to enter is LIKE my page and leave a comment. There will be 2 winners on my Facebook page.

Want to enter and win more prizes? Visit SewMamaSew to see the complete list of all blogs that are participating.

Hand Crafted Items / Handcrafted + supplies / Supplies

Click “Comments” below this post to enter.

Good Luck To You All!!!!

Not Exactly A Day At The Beach

2011-05-09T14:38:00.001-07:00

I lay there with my head resting comfortably. The bright light filtered through my closed eyelids. Water gently sprayed into my face and sand squished between...

My teeth???

Yes, another dentist appointment. The beach part? That was just a dream. I would so rather be at the beach. The good news is, I now have squeaky clean teeth thanks to my hygienist, Cherri. My pearly whites are beautiful, or so says my dentist. The best part is...no more visits here until December.

Bring on summer!!!

Warm Yummy Reuben's

2011-05-06T23:27:00.001-07:00

My sister actually taught my second oldest how to make these oven crisped sandwiches. They have become a favorite in our house so I thought we would share them with you.

Ingredients List:

8-10 French rolls from the local deli

3-4 sweet large onions

10-12 ounces thinly sliced deli ham or turkey

8 ounces thinly sliced provolone cheese

1/3 C mayonnaise

1/3 C Dijon mustard

Preparations Instructions:

First slice the onions into thin rings and lightly sauté in butter or olive oil. There is no need to season the onions. While the onions are being sautéed slice the rolls into halves and set the tops and bottoms open faced on a cookie sheet. Set aside for later. Preheat oven 350 degrees.

To Prepare the bottom portion of the French Rolls.

In a small dish, mix 1/3 cup Dijon mustard with 1/3 cup mayonnaise. Using your fingers, scoop out a small portion of the bottoms of the French rolls and into the holes place 1 tablespoon of the sauce mix. On top of that place one slice of Provolone cheese and set this back on the cookie sheets.

To Prepare the upper portion of the French Rolls.

On the top portions of the rolls layer 1 piece of deli sliced meat and a good portion of the sauteed onions. Place these back on the cookie sheets.

Place both cookie sheets in the oven and allow the sandwich halves to cook until lightly golden. Serve while hot. YUM!

~VeryVerdant

It’s That Time Again

2011-05-03T11:01:00.001-07:00

Sew Mama Sew is having another give away and I am so happy to be participating.

There will be so many fun blogs to explore and prizes to be won!!! I will be giving away a handmade item here and another on my Facebook page.

I will post more details as the day grows closer, but for now, hop on over to Sew Mama Sew and find out how you can participate.

~ VeryVerdant

All Tuckered Out

2011-05-03T05:33:00.001-07:00

Swimming for 3 hours…

Playing in the hot Alabama sun…

Hitting yet another growth spurt…

Waiting for Mom to finish making dinner…

That’s all I can take…

Yes, C fell asleep in the computer chair in our kitchen, while waiting for dinner to be finished. Now that has to be the epitome of exhaustion!

Disaster Relief for Alabama

2011-04-30T05:14:00.001-07:00

The photos of the storm damage across our beautiful state are just too sad for words. I can not imagine what those families are going through. As I said earlier, our area in south Alabama received little more than wind, rain and lightning.

(Photo from local news coverage)

As I was growing up, I often heard my parents say a small phrase that right now reverberates in my mind, “Blessed to be a blessing”.

For the entire month of May, 10% of all sales from my Etsy shop will be donated to disaster relief for those families who have lost everything via local ministries gathering donations and working with the American Red Cross.

~VeryVerdant

Praying For Our State

2011-04-28T08:20:00.001-07:00

We are very fortunate to have escaped the fury of the storms that ripped through our home state. My kids have been glued to the Weather Channel all morning.

The two younger children disappeared for a bit. This is where I found them.

In D’s room tracking the remainder of the storms and discussing the plan of action for the fresh wave of storms that are to come in just a few days. Please be in prayer for those who were hit hard by the storms. My heart goes out to the families who have lost property and to those who have lost family members.

~VeryVerdant

Seeds From Far Away Places

2011-04-27T11:05:00.001-07:00

I recently entered a giveaway at Life As A Schoolhouse and WON!!! Truth is, I had been so busy with finishing up our school year and running a business that I completely forgot about the giveaway. Then what should appear on my doorstep today all the way from North Carolina to Alabama…

This cute little “green house” , complete with soil and a packet of mixed seeds. C and I dumped the seeds out into a small container and sorted them. Then C “planted each one in its individual spot and watered them. Now the seeds are safely sitting in our windowsill above the kitchen sink. Just waiting to grow…

…and C is being very patient

Almost!

~VeryVerdant

A Sparkle In My Eye (a product review)

2011-04-23T06:01:00.001-07:00

Recently, I joined an online program called BuzzAgent. I get free products in return for giving my personal opinion, and like every other girl in this world, I've got an opinion!

A few weeks ago I received a package from BzzAgent containing this gorgeous eye shadow by L'Oreal called The One Sweep Eye Shadow. Wow "ONE SWEEP"?!? That would be super fast and, as a busy mother of four, I need super fast.

As it turns out, I never could get the "One Sweep" wand to work correctly. The colors came out patchy, at best and was a little disappointing. I did end up buying disposable applicators and using the eye shadow anyway because it is a fantastic trio of colors. I was just not happy with the "One Sweep" wand that was included.

The second, and my favorite, item in the package was the Double Extend mascara by L'Oreal. I honestly was more skeptical of this than I was the eye shadow, at first.

This mascara has two functions. First I used the Step 1 mascara which I found to be really creamy and did not clump at all. I did not even need to apply two coats. It was beautiful. The second step is the "Eye Illuminator". When I first opened the illuminator I was a bit shocked. My thought was, at 36 I really do not need sparkles on my eyes. But I was attending a wedding and thought I would try it out. Surprisingly enough, the sparkle was subtle and very beautiful.

When I returned home my 15 year old daughter stopped mid sentence and said,"Mom, you have sparkles on your eyes. It's kind of distracting. I like it!" Indeed she did because Sunday morning when the family dressed for church, she too had "sparkle" on her eyes!

What I’ve Been Up To

2011-04-22T08:09:00.001-07:00

I have really stepped back from blogging and Facebook and Twitter and even my Etsy teams for several weeks now. I just needed a break. As it turns out, I had several things to keep me busy during my “break” not the least of which is homeschooling. I’m not sure why but this time of year the lessons are longer and more difficult and my children need me so much more. That’s just fine with me! All of this is indication to me that summer is just around the corner.

So what have I done with my free time? Along with completing several custom orders, the largest of which was 150 luggage tags for a June wedding, I was decorator and director for a wedding on March 26. I also have had the awesome opportunity to help decorate for a wedding that is coming in August. We met at the home of the proud parents of the bride to make bouquets then the brides mom came to my house to make boutonnieres and corsages. Wanna sneak peak?

(Boutonnieres for the gentlemen)

(Corsage for the mother of the bride and mother of the groom)

(Corsages and boutonnieres for the grandmothers, grandfathers, and helpers)

Lovely aren’t they? Did you notice all the burlap? GORGEOUS and sinkin’ genius if you ask me! But you didn’t so I am telling you anyway.

The burlap flowers were joint collaborative between myself , the mother of the bride and my mom. The original idea was built off of this tutorial on The Tidy Nest. We used her basic flower shape and added our own twist (and a little white netting, wire, ribbon, greenery, and floral tape). I think they turned out nicely.

There’s much more but I must stop before your eyes glaze over with boredom. Needless to say, I’ve been up to a lot – maybe too much because now I am sick from exhaustion and running fever. So much for taking a break.

Will I ever learn?

VeryVerdant

Peeling My Potato Skins

2011-04-18T19:34:00.001-07:00

Today was a type of ~~torture~~ celebration for me. It was an informal ceremony so tennis shoes and comfy walking attire were appropriate. I did accessorize, but only just a little - a single stop watch. There was a strict program to follow. It was an odd sort of program with only a list of times, followed by such strange words as warm up, run, cool down, walk, run, walk....

First began the music. A low whirring sound soon mingled with slow methodical rhythms. The whirring sound became more hectic not at all melodic and the rhythms came at closer pounding intervals. My right calf muscle complained to me, "What are we doing here? Why are you punishing me?" My entire body joined in the chorus. "We are not ready." But it was too late, the music had begun and the program would not allow for deviation. The plan was well laid out. It must go on.

The music stopped but my heart still raced. I needed a drink of water!!! Again!!!

When , finally, the program was ended, I collapsed into my chair. I was tempted to see if it was all gone - that unsightly Couch Potato Skin that I have been wearing since - well a long time ago; but I know it will take a long time to completely “peel” it all away.

So patiently I will continue.

Until one day, I will be able to wear the skinny girl look again.(only an older version of course!)

~~If I live to tell about it~~ As the weeks march on, I hope to report my progress . My weight, my calorie counting, and my workouts will be ~~carefully~~ occasionally logged and updated. Confessions will abound, I am sure. After letting my life get super busy with a husband, a home, and four children, I am realizing that I need to take care of myself a little better. So here goes!

Want to shed your couch potato skins and show off the skinny self that is buried somewhere within? The program is called C25K – or Couch – to – 5K.

Good Medicine

2011-04-18T13:34:00.001-07:00

I told the children today, "I am really just stressing out a bit. I have not been sleeping well and I feel disorganized. I think I need to slow down and regroup, you know, get my priorities straight."

My son, who at the ripe old age of twelve is wise beyond his years, politely told me, "Mom, what you really need is to take some of God's medicine. Come on, let's go watch some Looney Toons. Bugs Bunny is great medicine."

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Proverbs 17:22 KJV

Very Verdant

Sheteam Giveaway

2011-03-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

I know I have not been around much lately. I'll explain why in a few weeks. Right now I am just stopping in for a bit tonight to let you all know about the giveaway that one of my Etsy teams is having.

Sheteam stands for Schooling At Home Etsians and, as you might have guessed, we all have one thing in common - homeschooling. Several of the shops owners have gotten together to offer 9 prizes for a team giveaway. Two of the items are from my shop.

Stop by the Sheteam Blog and enter to win!!!

VeryVerdant

Too Tweet For Words

2011-03-07T05:56:00.001-08:00

My monogrammed bookmark supply has been greatly depleted due to Christmas and Valentine's Day orders. *Thank You Very Much*

Last week I had a customer ask for a book mark that was neutral. She was gifting it as a door prize at a ladies conference held at her church.

Hm...what to do? What to do?

I thought and thought.

This is the first of my ideas but now my wheels are turning. Birds, banners, cupcakes, poppies, forget-me-nots, stars...

I would love to hear from you and get a few opinions!

VeryVerdant

New In My Shop

2011-03-01T06:08:00.001-08:00

Team Giveaway

2011-02-28T19:26:00.001-08:00

One of my Etsy teams is having a giveaway. Several shops are participating and their will be multiple prizes and multiple winners.

The giveaway starts March 14 and ends March 18. Winners will be announced on March 21. The prizes will be posted shortly so visit the team blog often.

Sonja

Deck The Walls

2011-02-26T04:57:00.000-08:00

We moved into our new house in October and I am just now starting to add life to our walls. My dad came over a few weeks ago and he and D built and hung a couple framed chalk boards - one in D's bedroom and one in the kitchen.
This one is D's bedroom. He chose this vintage looking drawer pull as his chalk tray.

Then, this week I started on a silhouette project to be hung over my piano in the living room. I think these turned out nicely and just so you know...I so copied this tutorial.

Sonja

Rest for the Weary

2011-02-21T15:09:00.000-08:00

B and K had an awesome weekend with the teenagers from our church. They spent time together in service and games and eating and worship and late nights and...

Now all they want to do is...

SLEEP!!!

A Valentine's Shirt for C

2011-02-14T06:57:00.000-08:00

So, C has her new shirt. Perfectly pink and red. She "feels so Valentinesy".
A special thank you to Craftiness Is Not Optional. I really enjoyed following along.

Beautiful Bias

2011-02-13T14:06:00.001-08:00

Leave it up to C to make things difficult. -Insert big sarcastic loving grin here-
After choosing her fabrics, C decided I should make her shirt as soon as the fabrics arrived. Unfortunately for her, that is not her call to make.

Then when the fabrics arrived, I was the one wanting to rush to the finished product...and wouldn't you know it, C decided that the colors would be perfect for Valentine's Day. So, I have been sitting on the project and waiting.

Here is the beautiful bias with links to the tutorial Mine took a little longer to make because I do not have one of those wonderful bias tape folding thing-a-ma-jigs but it turned out beautifully just the same.

...and finally, tomorrow, C will wear her new shirt.
Her Valentine's Day shirt!
Her very own
hand picked by her,
handmade by Mommy shirt!

Sonja

Sew Along Day 2

2011-02-01T04:18:00.001-08:00

To begin making the pattern, C had to pick out her favorite shirt for me to trace out. This one is from the talented Monster Bug Blankets. I traced the shirt onto brown paper wrapping for a pattern then used it to cut out my pieces.

I am loving this tutorial but I am also loving the visit from my In-laws. They came in Thursday from Illinois so last week was spent preparing for birthday and company and the week end was spent enjoying the birthday festivities and the company. Mom and Dad Greene head home tomorrow and I will finish up the shirt.

Find the tutorial and follow along HERE

VeryVerdant

The Last Year of Single Digits

2011-02-01T04:11:00.000-08:00

Sew A Long - Day 1

2011-01-25T08:02:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned earlier, I am taking part in this Sew-A-Long.
The bad news is that I am already a day late. Yes, LATE!!!! Not because I am not working on it but because I have been waiting for the fabrics to arrive. Wanna see what we chose?
Actually, C chose these fabrics herself and we ordered them from Fabrics.com

The good news is that the fabrics did arrive last night, right after our evening meal(That was only 5 days after we order and honestly that is not too bad). So now I am playing catch up. Tomorrow I will post the pattern pieces and bias tape. You can still follow along and find the tutorials here.

VeryVerdant

The Declaration K's Way

2011-01-20T13:21:00.001-08:00

K , our second child is currently studying US and World History. The program she chose is Beautiful Feet. K is an avid reader and a hands on learner, so Beautiful Feet has been her History program of choice for a number of years now.

Tuesday, K came to me with a smile a hug and a whiny voice - a combination that only a fifteen year old can manage. "Mom, can I pah-leeease just type this up. It's so long, and my hand writing isn't straight, and it is taking so many pages....pah-leeease." You get the idea.

I gave in, of course, and as soon as I did K asked me where I kept the instant coffee and the lighters. Hm, some thing's up. K was getting ready to be the creative perfectionist that we love so much.

K sat down and typed out the entire original draft of The Declaration of Independence and printed it up. OK, so far so good.

Then, she wadded all four pieces into tight balls as if she were ready to toss them in the garbage - but wait! It's all right! Don't panic! There is a method to this madness.

She then walked over to the ironing board and pressed the sheets flat(but wrinkly).

Now for the fun part...

Taking a damp paper towel and dipping it into instant coffee grinds, K began to rub down each page of her project until it looked something like this.

Now B, our oldest had to join in too; because, it was time to make those great aged edges. (Added Bonus - They were able to play with fire!!!)

Yes, I supervised, although very lightly. They are 15 and 16 years old, you know!

Yes, it made a mess.

B and K are old enough to clean up after themselves.

Besides, the end result was a fabulous and meaningful project.

VeryVerdant

Sew A Long

2011-01-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be taking part in my first Sew-A-Long.
C is going to love this top and I may have to adapt it to make a baby gift or two.

Here are the details if you would like to join in the fun!
Rachel Wrap Sew-A-Long

VeryVerdant

Of Play-Doh and Fondant

2011-01-17T05:08:00.000-08:00

Have you ever walked by a shelf at Wal-mart or Target and purchased something just because it was on sale? I confess that I too have made impulse purchases. This week's impulse buy was a Pay-Doh pack of 24 colors for $9.

Actually, it was not impulse buying. My 8 year old has "hinted" for weeks that the Play-Doh at home was dried out and we were down to one can. We can't have that, now can we? So $9 was more of an investment in the kiddos creative future...and what a bright future it is.

At first there were "decorative" sugar cookies..

...then there was a birthday cake for a five year old...

...Then...C says,"I've got an idea...let's make cakes using rolled fondant!"

WHAT?!? Heh?!?!

...A cake to celebrate our new house(complete with gutter because we need details)

...a swimming pool cake for our competative swim team...

...a brides cake...

...a wedding cake...

"Hey, Mom, if we practice enough, we can be the next Cake Boss!!!"

'nough said...

VeryVerdant

I Won!! I Won!!

2011-01-14T09:20:00.000-08:00

I know, AWESOME!!! Right??? Here at the Verdant house we say, "I'll enter but I'm a Greene. We never win anything."

Well, 2010 was obviously a break out year for us.
First, I won a set of gnome dolls from Dragonfly Hollow that My eight year old absolutely adores!

Then my husband entered a radio contest and won a set of tickets to a Weekend To Remember. Awesome! I recommend every married couple go. It really challenges you to stay focused on each other and strengthens marriages. Yes, we have been to a couple of these and look forward to attending again in 2012.

Finally, I won these beauties from the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway.
It was a little late getting here because it was shipped from Canada but Jill was so sweet. She included a note. "I was not sure if you wanted the red hair pin or the more burgundy one so I sent both and one extra...just in case you needed to share with your daughters." Jill Blogs
HERE http://envirocraftiness.blogspot.com/
Here http://scrapncamp2006.blogspot.com/ AND
HERE http://westcoastleslie.blogspot.com/

This is me sending you((Hugs))... Thanks so much!!! I will definitely be sharing. In fact, C is wearing three of them today. "OH, I feel all Valentinesy!" she said.

Sonja

Setting Goals for 2011

2011-01-11T05:48:00.000-08:00

It is once again the time of year when everyone is talking about New Years Resolutions. To be perfectly honest, I never set Resolutions for myself. I know if I did , I would probably set goals to high and then I would not reach therm. I don't like failing - ever.

However, there are a few things I can think of that I would like to see improved this year. So here goes - My New Years Resolution.

1. I want to say "yes" to my children more. I know I am a homeschooling mom and, yes, I am with the kiddos nearly 24 hours every day; but sometimes I get so busy instructing and teaching that I do not stop to just enjoy the children. So I want to say "Yes" to Playdough. "Yes" to "Can you help me do my hair?" "Yes" to "Will you come out and throw knives with me?" "Yes" to, "Could we go get coffee this morning?"

2. I want to have a regular DATE NIGHT again. This past year was CRAZY BUSY and one thing that we have let go of is date night. I am hoping this year, that my husband and I can once again plan to have a date night at least once a month. Last week we ate breakfast together at Chick Fil A and it was a great way to start our day!

3. I want to read my Bible all the way through. I have been doing different Bible studies throughout the year for several years now, but I have never read the Bible cover to cover. So far, I am on schedule and excited about it. My reading schedule for each day is emailed to me and texted to my phone. COOL hah??? OwnIt365 is a free website. A couple of my kids have jumped on board with this plan too. I am very excited - indeed!

4. I want to spend more time lovin' on people who need love the most, whether that means giving of my time or talents, or monetary giving. So many times, I have caught myself so absorbed in my own struggles and daily busy"ness" that I realized I have lost my compassion for others. I hope to go into this new year with Eyes Wide Open and always be looking for ways to be a blessing to others.

We'll see what 2011 has in store!

Sonja

Answering Questions About Homeschooling

2011-01-08T05:34:00.000-08:00

One of my goals for 2011 is to answer a few of those nagging "How do you/Why do you" homeschool questions that I and my children are often asked.

The first question that comes to mind is not really a question but more of a statement, "I don't know how you do it." Hm, that one is a blanket statement which will need to be dissected and answered a bit at a time. So how DO I do it?

My first priority is to be organized. Now keep in mind that being organized means something different for each person. For my husband and our oldest, being organized means that their clothes are all in the same general area and their electronics are on the counter organizer in the kitchen. For our second oldest and myself, being organized means that shirts are hung long sleeve, then short sleeve and in color order. I won't even go into details about the rest of the closet and how electronics must be stored face up and cords must be neatly wound and placed in a separate basket...I think you get the idea.

Loving organization like I do, the first thing I order every school year, is our student(lesson) planners.

Having lesson planners in hand allows me to begin recording goals and subjects for the year. The hardest part of starting a new school year is deciding which books to buy and when to say "Enough Already"... I love books. By setting goals and courses of study first, I find it easier to keep my book orders in perspective and on budget.

We order our planners from FegNus Services.I have been using this brand for 6 years now. We tried different planners our first three years of homeschooling but once I discovered these...I was hooked.

As you can see, we buy one planner for each child and we use a high school planner for our high school students. What is the difference?

This is a typical week of elementary school. The squares are large enough that I can write out each days work for each individual subject. The kiddos can easily find their work for the day and we mark off each subject as it is completed. The notes section on the right is handy for days when we need to do a little extra study or when one of the children is doing well in a subject I can place a reward there. "No Spelling Today! You made a 100%!!!"

The High Schoolers Journal has a section on the bottom right of each week in which I can easily record the number of hours spent on such electives as P.E. or Music. This is VERY helpful when figuring credits at the end of the year. The individual subject boxes are also lined in the Highschool journal, which allows for greater details of the days work.

Finally, each journal has a School Year Calendar at a glance to help me be sure to have the right amount of days. There is a book lending/borrowing page and a field trip log. Really, I can not say enough about these planners. I really like using them and they are great for looking back and seeing what all we have accomplished in the years of schooling at home.

I do realize that everyone's organizational style is different, so here are some links to other Planners that might suit you and your family.
1. The Home Educating Family Publishing
2. Homeschool Plan Book
3. Aaron Publishing
4. The Master Planner
5. Cat in Hat Lesson Plan Book - Found this fun one on Amazon
6. Christian Book Distributors - I found this planner and several others here. We may try this one for our oldest next year. She will be a senior and will probably enjoy having something different...just her own.

VeryVerdant

How Mario Kart Changed Our Lives...

2010-12-29T07:34:00.001-08:00

It's been one week ago tomorrow since they opened "The Box" - the one containing the game they had waited a whole year for - the box containing the one thing that would change our families lives
- the box containing Wii Mario Kart

At our house kindess is the rule. If we say something unkind to or about one another, we apologize. We hold our tongues when something rude is about to come out. We ...well you get the idea. We try to get along, and while this does not always happen, we all try very hard to "be kind one to another."

Until Now...
from the living room I hear,

"Oh, you losers!"

"Take that you..."

"I hope that hurt!"

"I got super powers and I'm gonna use it on you!"

"Haha you got flattened! Your tires are bigger than you!"

"Hey, look! I'm in 1st and 2nd at the same time - 12th place, baby!"

And how do I handle this loud, excited trash talk? Well like any mom wanting to train up her children in the way they should go, I say, "Hey, I wanna play next game!" And believe me, I'm just as bad as the kids.

Look, even the Grandparents are in on it.
Only when they play I hear things like,

"Mammaw, you have to stay on the road!"

"Pappaw, you're going backwards!"

"Hey, who struck me with lightning?"

"Where's the pit crew? I got something on my windshield!"

OK, gotta go, I need to see how the competition is racing today so I can get my game plan on.

A Bunch Of Nothin'

2010-12-29T04:26:00.000-08:00

Mom's surgery went well but recovery has been slow. She still deals with pain and exhaustion. Last week the kids and I went to her house everyday to bake cookies. Mom is not allowed to lift anything heavier than a milk jug so baking and cooking is not on her list of things to do.

The idea was that she could sit at the table and help roll dough or mix ingredients. It was perfect! We enjoyed lots of laughs and plenty of spills. The house still smells good.

On Friday, Christmas Eve, we played Santa. Mom got dressed and road around with us as we delivered cookies because we sure could not handle eating all those ourselves. Don't worry, she stayed in the car so that she was not exposed to multiple flu and virus germs.

NOW, we are doing a bunch of nothin' and it feels SO GOOD!!!
- VeryVerdant

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T17:58:00.000-08:00

From Our House To Yours!

Meet Linda of Pruitt Handcrafts

2010-12-23T07:35:00.000-08:00

I found this shop a little while before becoming a member of Etsy bloggers. I was instantly drawn to the handcrafted items that reminded me of my childhood. Mom would sit for days on end with me and my sister, and we would paint and hand stitch ornaments and gift bags for cookies as well as handmade gifts. They were always well received and soon becoame a beloved family tradition.

It wasn't long after opening my Etsy shop that I was introduced to the blogging world. You know, blogging is great because, well, you never really meet the people behind the blogs, but you somehow feel like you are long time friends or neighbors.
There was already a familiar homeyness about Linda's shop but reading her blog, I instantly felt a connection of sorts. It was not religion, or a face to face meeting it was just a comfortable "I'm an everyday person" kind of feeling that made me want to read more.

I soon learned that Linda is a breast cancer survivor. Having just learned of my mothers cancer and now helping her recover, I am so encouraged to see Linda living a very full life.

I am also drawn to her family. I am a mother of four myself. I love my children. Being a mom is one of the most fulfilling aspect of who I am, but Linda has me beat by a LONG way.
She is grandmother to 25 and counting. What a blessing the holiday seasons must be, how lively, how sweet.

I hope you will take the time to stop by her shop and definitely read her blog and get to know Linda.

Find Linda here
and her wonderful creations HERE

Photos used by permission.