Artfull Bras

Look at what some clever quilters in South Carolina put together for Breast Cancer Awareness. These Artfull Bras will be on exhibit around the state of South Carolina until October of 2009.

Each quilter named their bra: The top two are Sports Bra and Carolyns Garden.

The bottom two are: Nursing Bra and New Life.

These 4 were my favorites but they are all amazing and creative.

You can check out the other Artfull Bras that are on display at :

http://www.quiltersofsc.org/artfullbras/artfullbras.htm

And please remember to take care of yourself and your girls. Give them the attention they need by annual mammograms and self breast exams. ♥

Hands & Hearts♥♥♥for Him

Hands & Hearts....for Him is a new blog by Susan at PenlessWriter along with other contributors who can see listed when you visit.

I was so excited to see this blog start up. These women have a heart for the Lord and desire to be good stewards of their time, talents and finances. I knew I would enjoy learning from them. I love reading about ways to save money. I'm always trying to incorporate money-saving techniques from all angles....food, clothing, household expenses, gardening, etc.

I'm inviting you to link on over and check out this blog. I know you will enjoy it.

Wordless Wednesday

Sisters

This picture was taken this summer while we were in FL. It is a picture of my two daughters and their Great Grandmother (aka Momma Bernice) and their Great, Great Aunt Melba (on left). Momma Bernice and Aunt Melba are sisters who are well into their eighties now.
In our Sunday School class at church yesterday we began a discussion on the book Siblings without Rivalry. I'm going to look for it at the library today. I'd like to read it.
Have any of you read this book? What is your advice for keeping harmony in your home among your children or with your sibling growing up. I'd love for my girls to still be friends when they are in their 80's. You know since Cain and Abel, the very first notorious siblings on earth, parents have been trying to keep their children from killing each other.

Any ideas?

A Blurb from the Burbs - V

Have you noticed.....huh....huh.....huh..... I changed out my picture. Libby is no longer my stand-in. The picture is subject to change again. We'll see.

I also wanted to give you a little follow up Blurb about saving on your electricity bill.

I got my January 2009 energy bill and we used 1682 KWH over a 30 day period. Last January 2008 we used 2920 over a 27 day period. I have really reduced the KWH by doing a few simple things. I've tried unplugging everything that isn't being used. Like I mentioned in this post Blurb III about phantom load: if these items are plugged in (computers, printers, clocks, TV's, VCR's that blink) they all use power even when they aren't being used.

Another thing I did during in January was take advantage of off-peak and peak hours. I went to my energy company's website and did some snooping. I found out that off-peak hours in the winter for our area is 10:00a.m. to 6:00 p.m weekdays. That means they charge less per KWH for electricity than they do at peak hours. So I adjusted my pool pump to now turn on at 10:00a.m. and run till 6:00 that way it is running mainly during non-peak hours. I'm also trying to run my dishwasher and do laundry during those hours too instead of waiting until night time when you are charged peak rates. Keep in mind that summer and winter peak/off-peak hours are different. Do ya'll think I'm crazy?

So go to your energy company's website and snoop around and figure out what peak/non-peak hours are for your area and study your energy bill month to month and see if a few changes make a difference on your TOTAL AMOUNT DUE.

Storybook Park

Today our country celebrated President's Day so there was no school and my husband even had the day off. So we went to lunch at Panera Bread then we hopped on the free trolley that rides thru the shopping and business district of our community. The driver mentioned Storybook Park. My girls and I did not know this park existed. Buster didn't really care. We got off at the next stop and walked around Market Street, got some ice cream at Coldstone, then we decided to go check out Storybook Park. It's a sweet little area in Town Green park that has this maze-like path that meanders down one side of the park. It has these huge storybooks to stop and read. Each one has a short story with a picture and a moral of the story at the end of each. They are very colorful and fun to read. I also saw this pretty flower blooming and snapped a quick picture. The weather was beautiful. I forgot my camera so I had to use my cell phone camera. There is also a Marine Corp. Memorial and a statue of the founder of our community George Mitchell at this particular park. I took a lot more pictures, but forgot to press "save" after each one and most didn't download to my phone. We had a great day together. Buster read about as many storybooks as he could stand and then took off for the driving range. I'm going to take some more pictures of our community and post some of the art work and parks. I feel I need to redeem it's reputation after the "Orange You Cute" post.

P.S. I'll be changing out the scripture verse soon. The next one will be 4th of 24. I'm suppose to do it on the 1st and 15th of the month. The scripture memorization challenge is great. If you want to join the fun go check out Be Still Beth.

A Legacy of Love

This is a picture of Fern Nichols and me. I'm kind of leaning away from Fern. I have a horrible head cold and would have hated to pass it along to Fern.

On Wednesday I had the privilege of meeting for the first time Fern Nichols. She flew in from San Diego to Houston to speak.
Fern is the founder of Moms in Touch International (MITI).


She shared with us about leaving a Legacy of Love for our children. The way to leave a legacy of love is by praying for them. I can even be praying for future generations of my family right now and those prayers will outlive me.


Prayer is such a powerful tool....from that first prayer of surrender to God when we give our life to Him and know we have no hope for eternity without Jesus and his saving work on the cross... to the daily prayers we lift up interceding for others and offering praise and thanksgiving to God.
As Fern reminded us that God shapes the world through prayer and Intercessors can shape history.



If you are a mom go to the Moms In Touch website and see if there is a group of moms praying at your child's school. There are groups all over the world.


I know you probably pray for your children on a daily basis, but just meeting with other moms and hearing them pray for your child will mean more than you can imagine.


At Moms In Touch they reassure Moms that: When you pray God's Word you pray God's will.

That is why at MITI we use scripture to pray for our children. We simply insert their name into a scripture.

For example: a prayer to be safe from harm....



God Most High, I ask that You would command Your angels concerning ____ to guard____ in all his/her ways (Psalm 91:11)


Me and a couple of my praying mom friends along with Fern:

It was a wonderful day...head cold and all...hopefully I didn't contaminate too many people.

Wordless Wednesday

A Trip to the Nail Salon

Maybe you have seen this on Youtube already, but this girl cracks me up. I had acrylic nails on for several years. I took them off last summer, but if you have ever spent time in a nail salon for a mani or a pedi you can relate to some part of this. The crooked nail thing has happened to me and by the way, we have Tammy Nail here where I live.

"Lettuce" Eat

I am so proud of my lettuce. I started this lettuce from seed back in October in my garage under a florescent light. I moved four plants into a flowerbed in December. This is some tough lettuce. We've had several nights with freezing temperatures and this lettuce is fine. I clipped some off of another plant that you can't see in this picture and ate it with my sandwich for lunch.

Here is a picture of the seedlings and how I got them started. I also planted beans, but not nearly enough. I definitely learned I need to plant bunches of those.
I used toilet paper rolls that were cut in half then folded up at the bottom to start the seeds. When they are ready to go in the ground you can plant the container along with the plant.





When I went outside to take my lettuce picture, I figured Libby would jump off her couch and join me. But she decided to continue with her twenty hour nap. As you can see I have a pink blanket and an old pink pillow for her on the couch. She manages to find her way off of the blanket and on to the couch cushion. She snuggled herself up under some pillows that are suppose to be propped up all pretty but that never happens anymore. She gets them the way she wants them. Boy she needs a bath.




After Moms In Touch I went to Sherwin Williams today and picked up some white paint to touch up the trim inside our house. Hopefully they mixed the right white. I'll know this weekend. Our nights are in the 30's here and the days in the high sixties. Beautiful clear blue sky. We need some rain. Just a few things going on in my little corner of the world.

♥
Joy

25 Random Things about Me

As you know I also do facebook. I was tagged by a couple of fellow facebookers to do a list of 25 random things about me. I figured I'd get some extra mileage by posting it on my blog too. If you have read my facebook note already, please excuse the redundancy.

1. I've lived in 7 states, FL, GA, VA, UT, CA, AL, TX

2. I've been married to Keith for 20 years. He makes me laugh. He's the funniest person I know. We have two beautiful girls together.

3. I love where I live and my neighborhood, but think I would enjoy living in a more rural area and have chickens and goats. yes, I said goats.

4. I am afraid of heights and don't really enjoy boating or being on the water.

5. I've read the Bible thru only once, but I'm in the process again. This time chronologically.

6. I was brought up in the Baptist Church, but not currently a member of a Baptist Church.

7. I've seen in person the following "famous" people: Ronald Reagan, Dan Quayle, Barbara Bush, Dolly Parton, Richard Simmons, Newt Gingrich, Buddy Epson, Jerry Falwell, Jay Leno and Elton John

8. I'm very interested in Bible prophecy. It seems to be happening at a rapid rate.

9. I never considered myself to be a dog lover, but I love my dog Libby. We adopted her 4.5 years ago.

10. Keith and I went to Germany and Austria for our 10th anniversary. For our 20th we went to dinner and the grocery store. We'd like to go back to Europe one day.

11. I have a blog that I started June of 2008. I love blogging. www.joyintheburbs.blogspot.com

12. I am really big on recycling. I embarrass my husband when we are at other people's home because I offer to take all their glass and plastic trash home with me so I can recycle it.

13. I have no rhythm and am an awful dancer (see #6) The change in church membership has not helped at all in that area, unfortunately.

14. I never attended a public school.

15. I love to scrapbook (digitally now) and make homemade cards.

16. I can sew a little. I have a sewing machine.

17. I'm not very athletic. I was when I was younger, but not anymore.

18. I'm very involved with Moms in Touch International. I am determined to pray my girls thru school.

19. I clip coupons.

20. I bring my own bags to the grocery store and look down on the plastic bag user people :)

21. I think Sedona, Arizona is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

22. I've only broken one bone in my body. My foot - back in 2002.

23. I got my tonsils out when I was 23.

24. I don't care for cold weather. It's OK for a day or two, but then I need high 60's low 70's for my winter weather.

25. I won a $1500.00 CD at a bank opening a long time ago. No, I don't still have it. I cashed it in after one year and spent that sucker. On what? I don't remember.

Write your own 25 Random Things about You and post them. Let me know so I can read it.