Thoughtful Thursday...

I am hoping each Thursday to leave you with something to think about or a way you can reach out to someone around you. It will look different each week some weeks just a photo, link to another site where you can get involved, fun crafts to share, or my random ramblings.
This week a random rambling... Please stick with me I really want to know what you think!

Saturday (9/11) there were pictures of the Twin Towers posted everywhere and remembrances of that awful day. As I was reflecting on that day I started thinking about the days and months that followed and was saddened by what I began to realize. Do you remember how all the sudden it didn't matter what political party you were with, what your opinion was on "the issues" it just mattered that you were a fellow American? It seemed the country began to slow down and took time to say hello to each other and even attempted to get to know their neighbors. I will not play stupid and deny that the war didn't began to tear people apart but I will say I miss people genuinely caring about each other. My dad often joked about the fact that here in the USA we often ask complete strangers what political party they are with or who they voted for but avoid the conversation on what your faith is. In England where he is from it was the opposite experience people often discussed where they went to church but hardly ever politics.
How do we get back to that place where people are people each unique and valuable? When we take the time to get to know our neighbors? Where we slow down and see what really matters in life? Where we value people over opinions? How do we remember to love and care for each other rather then judge?
I realized I hardly know my neighbors and we have lived here for years! This is where I want your advice or suggestions, What can I do to get to know my neighbors better?

Wonder Full Wednesdays ....

I wonder if when they grow up will they still lean on each other?



What are you wondering about today?

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Tasty Tuesdays
Each Tuesday that I post I will share with you a recipe my family enjoys or one we can't wait to try. Today I am going to share with you one of the things I made for the kids for back to school breakfast. Banana Chocolate chip muffins were a big hit I did however forget to take a picture so you will have to use your imagination or make some yourself :)
They were eaten up so fast and the kids asked again this morning if I could make some more today. I originally found the recipe on another blog and can't remember which one. I have added a few things and changed some to fit out families taste.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

preheat oven 350 degrees

Combine-
4cups of flour
2 tsp Baking soda
2tsp Salt
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 cup butter softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp Vanilla
6 ripe bananas mashed
1 cup mini chocolate chips (the mini chips really are the best but you could use regular but you might need to add a bit more)

Spoon mix into greased muffin tin and bake about 25 min.

My Oldest just entered Kindergarden and I can't believe how big he is getting. He started the year off with a new bunk bed, a loose tooth and his first season of soccer. We celebrated the day before school with special alone time with mom, while Little Miss was with dad. Little Mister and I went to get Lunch at his place of choice. I am looking forward to when his choice is no longer McDonalds. That night we made dinner together as a family and then enjoyed a family rock band night and early to bed.





How was your first week back to school?

place mat pillows

Make It Mondays:
Each Monday that I post I will feature something I have made or would like to make. This Monday is some simple pillows I made for what was going to be Little Misses room but now that they share I have to rethink where I am going to use them. I saw the idea to begin with from another Blog but my talented Mother-in-law made one and inspired me to try it. I found these two place mats at target in the clearance section after Easter for 1.49 each. I already had the poly fil at home so the cost was very low to make. That is my favorite kind of craft, inexpensive!

Step 1 - Rip seam stitching from one end of place mat
Step 2- fill place mat with Poly Fil
Step 3- sew open end closed
Brand new unique pillows!



Look for new things coming to you each day!

outlive your life

Another book review in just a few days. This book however I LOVED!!!! I do happen to love most books by Max Lucado but this one might be a new favorite. The book titled Out Live Your Life is written so well and you can't read it with out wanting to make a difference. Max writes in a way that encourages and inspires you. He tells just how God longs to use the ordinary or average to do mighty and great things. He writes to inspire you to look around you see the needs, see the pain and act. Don't put up that wall that makes it easy to ignore the suffering in this world but see and do something. His examples of people and the differences the have made in lives around them is hopeful and moving. What would it be like to live this life hoping to better the lives of those around you and future generations? What if long after you are gone your love and compassion was still talked about? What if God's work in you is still seen long after you have left this world? To know it only takes a prayer, hear God whisper and act on it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has dreams and hopes of making a difference, to anyone who is tired of just getting by each day, to someone who longs to be more then ordinary to be someone God can do great things trough.

I recently heard of a friend who is begin to do amazing things that will long outlive her life. I would like to share her dream with you. Kelsey Habig has begun the work to open a home for adults with disabilities locally. The website says this about the future plans.

Hopes Journey plans to provide services to individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live on their own and become self-sufficient, while working on job related skills. The clients would be adults with disabilities over the age of 21 with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, epilepsy and other neurological disabling conditions. We will have the flexibility to meet the individual needs and desires of mainstreamed adults transitioning out of high school. The service will be provided at a safe residential community housing. The living style will be in a house with multiple bedrooms, separate men and women’s restrooms and shared living and kitchen space. In addition to helping these clients gain independent job skills, we will also help in the independence of living skills. This would include learning to make meals, doing laundry, cleaning, telling time, reading a schedule, keeping a budget and how to use public transportation.

Please take a chance to check out the website hopesjourney.org and look for a way you can help Kelsey "outlive her life" . What ways can you reach out and outlive your life?

Ammy Update

I must apologize to some of you who have been waiting to hear an update on my beautiful Niece Ammy after her last surgery. I know you have waited a long time and we have not shared much details with you. As a family we all needed some time to process and wait for more answers. We greatly appreciate each and every one of you and your many prayers. As far as her surgery she is recovering great and enjoying her first week at school. The Doctors removed most of the tumor located on her spine. Yes I did say MOST that is why we have been quiet for awhile. We knew bits and piece of what might lay ahead but it was just to hard to talk about with so little answers. Yesterday we met with Ammy's Oncologist and got more information as to what might lie ahead.

Where to begin ... Ammy has a tumor that will not go away with Chemo or radiation so basically the plan is to keep that crazy thing from growing so she does not have to have any more surgeries. The tumor as is now does not hurt her or cause much problem it is however something she will have to check on for the rest of her life thru regular MRIs.
So how do we stop the tumor from growing? The best way at this point in time is a chemo therapy treatment. The treatment is a 6 week coarse that will include 3 different pill forms of chemo and also an injection two or three times in that 6 weeks. This coarse of treatment will be repeated 8 times, so that means it will take about a year to complete. She will be having surgery in a few weeks to get a port put in her chest to make blood draws and injections much easier. Once the port is in place treatment will begin a few weeks after that. The side affects are she will feel sick to her stomach and her hair might thin a bit as well as weakened immune system. She will continue in school and learn to be very good and washing her hands to keep yucky germs away. The chemo is hopefully to keep the tumor from growing any bigger over the next 2 to 3 years. She will be continued to monitored thru MRIs and if new growth happens we will start a new plan.
Ammy's spirit is well and she is such a brave little trooper. Thank you again dear friends for your prayers and support!!!

book reviews

I had the chance this summer to read the book "The Boy who Changed the world" by Andy Andrews. I loved the idea of how a chain of events led to great things. How the story of each boys choice to do good and strive for great things made a way for the next boy and so on till you have the story of how the super seed come about. I liked how the Author never really said one boys achievement ment more then the other but how they all worked together. I wish there would have been a bit more details about each boys life, it was such a sort snip it of each one. My 5 year old liked the book and was full of all kinds of questions. I love books that offer a chance to really talk with my kids. My 3 year old was not that interested but she liked the illustrations. I don't think it is a book that we will read over and over again but one I am glad we took the time to read at least once. This book as a parent helped remind me of the hope I have for my children to do great things that make a difference. It truly is the little things put together that make the big things happen.


I also had the opportunity to read the Butterfly effect also by Andy Andrews. The principle is the same as "The boy who changed the world" . How one persons actions can change the history of the world. The Author uses story from History to show the effects of one persons choice. This would be a great gift for someone who is just graduating or looking for some motivation to do something different with their life. The examples he uses are interesting and a good mini history lesson. A fairly short read that has the possibility to change the way you think about your life. It is not a book I would read over and over as I found it a bit dry at times. It did have some interesting stories through history that show the point that one action by a single person can change the world.

This was a down loaded book copy so I don't have it to give away this time. ou can find the book at local book stores now.