Talking Random

I was hoping to have some big news to announce this morning...but couldn't get it all together this weekend.  I think you're really gonna like it though.  It involves my first ever giveaway and some changes around here.

I do have some news though.  I was featured over here yesterday with some of my favorite thrifting finds.  You all know I'm a die hard thrifter, so I was excited Mandy included me in her "31 Days of Thrifting" series over at Biblical Homemaking.  Check it out!

 

Steven brought home a practically brand new bread machine from Goodwill and I've been inspired to try new bread recipes.   The one above is a keeper, so I'll share that with you all ASAP.

I made this for dinner a couple nights ago.  Healthy, inexpensive, and delicious!  It's also a blog I read when I want a good laugh.  And I like to laugh.  A lot.   

We had Raisin Bran for dinner last night.  You want a picture of that too???

Lately, I've been listening to sacred music on Pandora and burning candles around here to keep my sanity.

Kids are hyperactive and Stevo and I are at our wit's end as to what to do with them sometimes.  Some days I take them on walks around the neighborhood twice a day just to get there energy out and collect leaves, acorns, and such.  Not working.

I love my church.  Every Sunday all the kids are healthy and I'm able to go, I am re-reminded how blessed we are that we found it after months of frustrated looking.  God is good.  And I'm glad we were patient to find a place that we were not just "ok" with going, but looked forward to going every week.  Nice to be in a place like that. 

I have been getting convicted that I need to share a little more of my heart on here again.  2011 has been a tough year for me in different ways than I've ever experienced.  Emotionally. Security.  It became easier for me to just share photography, recipes, and home making with you all.  Plus, I have haven't figured out where you draw the line here on cyber space.  I know you could get into a war discussing this with people.  My dad swears Facebook is a work of the devil and will not write a text, although he receives them.  That man cracks me up!  The line is different for all of us, whether you blog or not.  Online banking?  Online purchases? Email?  Facebook anybody? 

What I do know is that despite the very personal hurt and pain, I want to remember some of the lessons I learned and remember how God's guiding hand intertwined the pieces of my life this year.  And maybe you'll be encouraged by some of it.  Who knows?

So if you read stuff on here about what I'm learning that don't make sense to you.  That's ok.  for His pleasure is not a gossip site to get the latest. ;-) 
I will write only as much as God gives me liberty to, which means you might not get the whole story. 
I have found this vital when getting tempted to gossip.  "Mary Beth, you probably don't know the whole story." 
I still know that God wants me to write about it.

The girls have been running around like wild indians {getting that energy out again} and I've been working on the outside of the house.  I have more tutorials for you related to that subject this week.  

Went yard saling all Saturday morning with my family.  Missed out on an authentic wash bin similar to this:

You know those emotional problems this year I was talking about earlier, well pretty sure I was experiencing those when the guy ripped my heart out with, "Ma'am, those are sold already.  The guy who got them was pretty excited about it."  Yeah.  No kidding.

And I'm kidding about those emotional problems having to do with yard sale finds gone wrong.  Shoot.  I hope you didn't think I was serious.  

Okay, okay, I'll admit it did somber me a little for the day.

I did find a sweet lady who said she would give me some free old pallets next week.  People are nice out here.  You would like them.   Except for the cops.  You would think in Oklahoma we would finally be living in "the land of the free" but it's worse out here than I thought.  Steven and I plot against them every time we drive around town and watch our speedometers like a hawk, which is even more cause to get in a wreck than speeding ever could be.  

 Like I always say, don't get me started!

I'm stoked about getting the kiddos dressed up for our Halloween outreach tonight.  We're making lots of white chili and I'm taking lots of pictures so get ready to laugh your hearts out tomorrow!

Well, that's all for today folks.