When it Rains. It Pours. Literally.

My heart is so heavy tonight.  

Our life is going on as usual while people's houses have been flooded by mass amounts of rain water, cities have been devastated by tornadoes and many lives have been lost.  

In worldly terms, we would classify the past week as a "rough" one around our house.  My windshield was shattered by baseball size hail.  Our home computer was struck by lightening and much of our "home office" was damaged.  But that is just "stuff".  After seeing all the pictures and watching the videos of all the tornadoes and flood waters, it doesn't take long to put things into perspective.  You do not have to look far at all to have a heart full of thanks.  It literally leaves me speechless to watch videos of the tornado that ripped through Alabama. 

These are just a few of the pictures of our area.  We experienced flooding like I have never seen in real life this past Monday.

We were also it hard with a hail storm.  I was picking Cilla up from Kid's Day Out and just as we were getting into our car the hail started falling.  It was scary.  But, at the same time I was thankful we were not walking in the parking lot when it started.  My windshield was shattered, but that is easily put into perspective when seeing the devastation that so many others are facing.

Here is a picture I took with my phone of the Shiloh football field covered in hail.   

While it was raining outside we were so fortunate to have a roof over our heads and a safe, dry place to sleep.  Here are some of the things we found to entertain ourselves!

Cilla has a new found hobby of dumping out her puzzles and working them all at one time.  Talk about keeping her busy for a while!  Kuddos to daddy for coming up with this idea!

We had a cereal party (rather than a tea party) with our lovies!

Oh...and we tormented, I mean put socks on Katie, our Golden Retriever!

Like I said, we have so much to be thankful for.  My heart goes out to all of those who have been hit by the weather over the past week.  But even more importantly, I am praying for those who have lost someone that they love.

Attention Football Lovers

If your house is anything like mine you probably know that the first round of the NFL draft is tonight.  If you know my husband, you know that he likes a little friendly competition. 

So, over at Holy Turf there is a little giveaway with SEASON TICKETS to your favorite football team on the line!!!  If you can name the first 14 NFL draft picks in order you have a chance to win two Season Tickets to the team of your choice!  What a prize!!!  

Click here for more details and to enter.  

All you do is leave a comment at the bottom of the article!  So, you enter.  Tell your hubbie to enter.  Tell your boyfriend to enter.  Tell your dad and your brother to enter.  Tell whoever, just make sure they are willing to take you as their date if they win!!!  But hurry, you have until 6 pm Eastern Standard Time tonight to get entered!

Bright Ideas

I posted about doing Resurrection Eggs with Cilla before Easter and I had some questions about them.  These are fabulous!  A great teaching tool.  Oh, and Cilla loved opening every egg about 29 times!  Basically, there are 12 eggs and each contains something representing a detail of the Easter story...except for the 12th egg.  It is empty, since the tomb was EMPTY!  There is a book that includes scripture and explains the meaning of each egg.  It goes into a lot of detail, but this year we just kept it simple.  We mainly focused on the cross and how that means how much Jesus loves us.

We were given the eggs from our Sunday School teachers in Waco.  Great gift, huh?!?!  But they can be purchased ON SALE at Lifeway.

Now, I need some help.  

I have been brainstorming about what to do for Cilla's teachers for end of the year "thank you's".  I have come up with a couple of ideas, but I would love to hear any other good ideas!

I want to do something besides food, so here is what I am thinking:

Monogrammed Aprons

"To Do" Frame

A Monogrammed Notepad

Recipe Cards

Any other ideas?

Mmmm, Mmmm Monday: Avocado Corn Salsa

This is a front runner in the summer time salsa department at our house!  I am listening to the rain pour down and the thunder crash for about the fifth day in a row.  I'm wishing for warmer, sunny weather appropriate for eating this yummy goodness!  

Confession:  this is from The Pioneer Woman and has been tweaked a little to satisfy my family's palate! 

Here is what you need for Avocado Corn Salsa:

3 Very Firm Avocados, Diced

4 ears Sweet Corn or 1 can Sweet Corn

1/2 Red Onion, Diced

1 whole Juice of Lime

Lots of Chopped Cilantro

Salt to taste

1 Tablespoon Vinegar

1 teaspoon Sugar
You can also add Jalepeno Peppers to taste, but I opt to leave these out.

If you use fresh corn, slice kernels off the cob, and combine it with all other ingredients in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate before serving.  Serve with pita chips or your favorite dippers!

In Christ Alone

I love Easter.  I do.  I love that it means spring is (usually) here.  I love the flowers.  I love the pretty dresses.  I love time with family.  Most importantly, I love that we celebrate Jesus and that He died for our sins and He conquered death. 
 I love love love this song.  It is one of my very favorites.  I think I post it about every Easter.  As a Christian, there is no more important message than the one that this song talks about.  The words are just beautiful and they give us such hope!  "No guilt in life, no fear in death"...this sinner sure does love that promise!


In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Today is a rainy, gloomy day and Cilla has been a bear- look at that face.  Luckily, today is so much more than that.  I hate to even post a picture because it was a complete failure trying to get one.  She has loved talking about Easter and we have done our Resurrection Eggs several times.  It is something tangible to help explain Easter.  Her little two year old ming obviously can't be wrapped around the depth of Easter, but We have talked a lot about the cross and how it means how much Jesus loves us!
Happy Easter!

“He is not here; he is risen, just as he said.” – Matthew 28:6

Good Friday

The little bunny hops, hops, hops. 

Is that what Easter means?

Is it about the Easter eggs all filled with jellybeans? 

Is it about hunting eggs?

I do that every year.

Does it mean eating chocolate stuff?

I ate my bunny's ear.

Is it about the baby chicks?

They're fuzzy and they're fun!

I saw some Easter chicks for sale.

I really wanted one.

Is it about the my brand-new dress?

And my new Easter hat?

Does it mean wearing shiny shoes?

I really do love that!

NO!  That's not what Easter means.

Easter means much more than that.

It's all about God's Son.

See, God sent Jesus down to earth to die for everyone.

He had to die upon a tree to save us from our sin.

But he was only dead three days, and then He rose again.

Today, He sits right next to God in Heaven up above.

He wants to live inside you too and fill you up with love!

Okay, now I get it.

The Easter bunny is okay, and Easter stuff is fun.

But Easter's not about that stuff...

IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD'S SON!!!

This is from a little book that Cilla has called "What is Easter?"

How cute are these two?!?  Precious, precious babies!!!

Today we had playgroup and my sweet friend, Lisa, hosted us.  She made the most yummy salad that I might just have to share one of these days.  It was seriously, delish and a perfect summer special.  The kids ate lunch, hunted eggs and ate the cutest Easter cupcakes that Sara made.  SO CUTE!  

We also had our friends Josh and Kelli Dougherty, the Dough's, last night.  I first met Kelli my senior year in college when I led her "freshman group".  She might say that we were mentors to her while she was in college, but I just say that she was our friend!  Then she met the awesome J.Dough at Kanakuk and the rest is history!  We love these two and they are such dear friends.

We are SO excited that they will soon call NWA home!  We can't wait to spend lots and lots of time with them.  Cilla had a blast showing them all of her two-year-old tricks!

It was a good Friday!  

Most importantly, we are remembering what the day really means.  It's not about the pretty dresses.  Not the eggs.  Not a bunny.  Not a little lamb.  It's about THE LAMB.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  John 1:29

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Today is just plain ole shallow.

Here are the sparklies that I am loving today!  

I can't seem to get enough of silver shoes!

And I can't forget these super duper cuties.

These and lots of other colors are actually on sale at Totsy today for a great price.  You have to shop fast because they sale out.

Click here to see them

I told you it was shallow.

Fun with Friends

Yesterday we got to spend the morning with two of my long time friends.  My friend, Kelly, had us over to play and she also invited Laurie over.  I always love my time with them!  I don't really remember how I originally met Laurie and Kelly.  But, I do remember it was while I was still in college and attending UBC.  Laurie led a bible study that I was in one summer and they just became friends of mine.  They were always so fun and such examples of what a Godly woman looked like.  I still look up to them, but I love hanging out with them as friends, too!  It just so happens that we all have little girls within months of each other.  So, now we all sit around and share stories of our crazy girls!  

Harper, Sarah Kate and Cilla playing together and they really did play well together.  You never know what to expect when you get a group of strong-willed girls together!

These two are a MESS!  

Cilla had a cookie (because I think it is okay to have cookies for lunch!) and Harper wanted some of it.

So, Cilla thought she should share her cookie with her friend!  It really was cute!

And I can't leave out this precious angel!  First of all, how cute is she?!?!  She is even more beautiful in person!  And yes, she really was this good while the girls ran circles around her and played and squealed!  I can't believe I never got to love on her, but I constantly had my eyes on Cilla.  She LOVED dragging all of Harper's toys out of her room!

Afterward, I needed to make a little stop at Sephora, so we stopped by the outdoor mall here in our area.  I told Cilla if she would be on her best behavior while we were shopping, I would take her to see the fountains.  Whatever works!!!

We had such a fun morning with our friends.  Cilla talked about the girls the entire afternoon.  Thanks for having us over, Kelly!

Mmmm, Mmmm Monday

I get asked all the time for recipes and several of mine have been passed around the blog-o-sphere, so I thought I would start featuring a recipe each week.  

So....today I want to share Honey Onion Chicken with you!

I must give credit where credit is due.  This came from my friend Kimberly in Waco who is a FANTASTIC cook!  She had me over for dinner before we moved while Flint was out of town and it instantly became a favorite of our's and to many of those who have tried it!

I took this to my friend Jenna, after baby Brody was born and since then it has been shared LOTS!  So, you may have heard Jenna talk about it on Twitter or on her blog or you may have had it somewhere else.  But, hopefully it is new to you.  (Jenna, I borrowed your picture since I didn't have one and your plates are super cute, by the way!)

Honey Onion Chicken

1 pkg chicken tenders

1 can french fried onions

2 eggs

lemon pepper (although I am out of lemon pepper so the last couple of times I have made this I just used a seasoned pepper blend and I kind of like it better)

salt

honey

Crush french fried onions (I only do half at a time.  They seem to coat the chicken better that way.)  Dip chicken into egg and into onions.  Put in a greased baking dish.  Sprinkle pepper and salt over chicken to taste and then drizzle with honey.  I like lots of honey, but that depends on how sweet you want it.  Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.  Take foil off, drizzle with more honey and bake for 20 more minutes or until chicken is done.

In the words of Rachel Ray, YUM-O!

Razorfest

On Saturday, we went to Razorfest and Flint stayed for the Arkansas Red and White game!  

It turned out to be a beautiful day and we were in good company with Chris, Katie, Paigey and Avery!

Cilla thought "Tusk", our mascot, was pretty cool!

This, my friends, is what a Razorback looks like in real life!  It is NOT pretty, not one bit!  

Cilla just took it all in.  

She enjoyed Big Red (from a distance!)  She loved seeing the cheerleaders.

And she enjoyed a bounce house they had for the toddlers.

All in all, the day was a success!

There was just enough football to wet the pallet, for all the avid football fans.

The Razorbacks left fans hopeful for next season.  Not gonna lie.  It kind of makes me excited for football season!  Let the waiting begin.

Happy Birthday to Cilla's Poppa

Happy Birthday to the World's Best Dad and Poppa!

We sure do love you and are so grateful for all you do for us!

We hope you have a happy happy birthday!

Love,

Flint, Bek, Sophie, Katie and of course,

Poppa's Stinker Doodle

Fun Filled Day

We started off our Wednesday with BSF which is always a blessing, then we headed over to the park with some of our friends for a little fun in the springtime sun!

This little lady loves to swing!

Cilla's friend, Harper, is in town from Dallas and we have had THE BEST time playing with Harper and Lauren today!

Laci and Cilla.  

Not sure who is doing more "bossing" in this picture!  

Nonetheless, these two love each other to pieces!

Cutie pie Sawyer!  

Sweet boy was surrounded by crazy girls today, but he holds his own.

After a not-nearly-long-enough afternoon nap, we headed down the street to see the horses!  Cilla was way into the horses and Harper was way into the wagon!  Either way, they both had a big ole time!

We got a little taste of what is in our future with these two.  Cilla took Harper for a ride in her pink Hummer!  They were absolutely hilarious!  We just laughed thinking about these two running around together in about 16 years!  T.R.O.U.B.L.E!

Cilla kept telling Harper to hold on tight!  Heaven help us!

After lots of fun and playing we tried to get ready for bed by watching a little TV, but it only ended in lots of laughter and silliness and of course, jumping on the bed!!!

I just love these two and I am so thankful they have each other.  I look forward to watching their friendship grow as they get older!