Scrapbook Supplies for Sale

Hey! I just wanted to let everyone know that I have two lots of stamps for sale on ebay. One of those comes with ink. I also have three scrapbook albums on sale. One has pawprints on the front for your precious furbaby. The other two are pre-designed "On the Road Again" albums. Let me know if you are interested and I will send you the ebay item. If you know anyone who is interested, please share this with them. Thanks!!

A trying week....with a bundle of sweetness

Let me start with some positive. Here are a few pics from the TobyMac concert. Again, let me just say... What a fun concert!! I seriously think I could see him in concert every weekend for the rest of my life and not get tired of it. I am so thankful that we went.

TobyMac and the Diverse City Band

Louis Palau

Me and the Husband

As for the rest of my week.... a bit crazy and trying. Monday, no sooner than I stepped in my front door, my phone started ringing. It was the husband. His car broke and he needed a ride home. I won't bore you with the not so short list of things that went wrong with his car. Let's just say it added up to about $700 worth. Not good news. My spending... put on freeze to say the least. What is it about that that makes me want to go out and start shopping. Honestly, I immediately started thinking of things I just had to have. But I was good and I spent no money. Anyways.. thankfully the Toyota dealership gave him a rental so we weren't trying to survive, working in opposite directions with only one car. This would have been a true challenge for us. Anyone who knows us knows that we never ride anywhere together. Honestly, we always take our own cars. It just makes sense for us and we joke that it is why we are still married today. :)

Anyways, so with that looming over us, we have some big decisions to make in regards to church. I'm not sure how much the husband would want me to say about it, but I will say there is a possibility, a fairly large one, that we will be looking for a church home again in the very near future. It all depends on what happens tomorrow. This is hard for me. I totally understand and agree with my husband's reasoning for this. I know that he is trying to be a good leader for our family and I totally respect that. But at the same time I love ISBC. Or at least I love the people there. I have built relationships that I do not want to lose. I have been more comfortable in this church and with these people than any other church I've ever been in. And I don't really understand why God would call us to ISBC and have us leave after only 4 months. Because I do still believe God told us to go there and I don't regret going. I have asked myself, or God rather, on more than one occasion this week why church has to be so difficult. I finally told Andrew last night that it was time we pack up and move to Osceola, after all that is where the best preacher I've ever had is. :) He asked what I would do, what he would do. Well easy... there are schools in and around Osceola and there are computers to be fixed in and around Osceola. That preacher happens to be my father-in-law. I told Drew, the four of us could get a house together. :)

Anyways... so with all that going on, yesterday morning I walked out to get in my car and head for work. I put my school bag in the back seat and then sat my purse in the front seat. I noticed something all in my front passenger side seat. At first I thought it was crumbs or something had been spilt in my car. I walked around to that side of my car and saw what it was. My window had been busted out. My GPS and iPod were gone. Someone had broken into my car sometime in the night. I immediately called Andrew. Then I called the police. Two other cars on our street were hit as well. One was two houses down. They stole an iPod out of his truck too. Then I called my Momma, because that's what I do. :)

My window is all fixed now, but as for my Tom Tom and iPod... they are just gone. I just felt sick to my stomach all day yesterday, knowing that someone was in my car. Honestly, I felt like... I didn't do anything to them so why would they do this to me. I know it wasn't a personal attack against me. They had no idea whose car they were hitting. But still... I held it together through school, but when I got home I lost it. I had myself a nice little pity party. After Andrew got home, I knew I couldn't take it out on him. He didn't do anything. I'm feeling better today. Still hurt, but better. Last night I kept feeling the urge to go check on my car. Part of me feels stupid because it happened right outside my house and I never heard a thing. But I guess I'm not the only one....


With all of that, my week wasn't all bad. Wednesday, Jill and A got to come home from the hospital. Andrew and I went for a little visit Wednesday night. Andrew has always been indifferent about babies. In fact, I've only seen him hold two babies until Wednesday night. He walked in and grabbed A immediately and was just loving on her. It definitely brought tears to my eyes. So sweet. And oh my gosh... she is absolutely precious. I love her so much. I held her for a long time and just stared at her. I fed her too, just too precious. I asked Jill how she doesn't just sat and stare at A and cry all day. I really think I could move in with Jill and Alex. I could just hold A all day every day.


Okay.. on another note... Do you see how WHITE I look in all these pictures? Any suggestions? I've tried flash and no flash along with several different cameras. The result is always the same. I look washed out. I thought maybe it was because I bought only liquid foundation when I bought all my make up. I went back and bought the powder. The above pictures are all with powder. It didn't help. I've tried adding more blush. No help. I'm happy with the way I look in the mirror. I don't feel like I'm that white and no one is willing to tell me any different. I'm honestly to the point where if I look like that I'm not taking pictures anymore. I really want to tan, but can't afford it and I know it isn't good for me. But honestly, I HATE the way I look in pictures. I don't know what to do.

TobyMac & Fasting

I have several things I've been wanting to post about lately. Because of that you may see several post back to back from me. Try to keep up. :)

Saturday night Andrew and I went to a local event called City Fest. This is put on by Luis Palau. It was a Saturday and Sunday event packed with free things for families to do, BMX, Motocross, concerts, climbing walls, and a bunch of other fun things. One of the concerts was TobyMac. It was kind of funny. About a month ago, I was telling Andrew how I wanted to go to a TobyMac concert. I love his new song, City On Our Knees. I was really hoping that he would be at WinterJam again this year. A few days later I heard on the radio that TobyMac was going to be at City Fest. I had seen signs all over the place for City Fest, but hadn't thought much about it. Needless to say when I learned that TobyMac was indeed going to be in town and it was a free concert, I was very excited.

So Saturday night, Andrew and I bundled up and headed to see TobyMac. Yep, it was an outdoor concert. We got there in time to grab some food and then listen to Loius Palau. Let me just tell, that is one funny guy. He is so blunt and just tells you how it is.

After Louis, it was time for TobyMac. Oh my gosh!! What a fun concert! Andrew and I had never seen him in concert. It is very high energy. I have some pics that I will post later. We were jumping and dancing and singing the entire concert. We had to shed some bundles. His band just looks like they are having so much fun on stage. They were break dancing and playing with one another. I would strongly encourage you all to see go see him in concert if you ever have the opportunity.


Now.... I told you I passed out last week while visiting Jill at the hospital. I went to the doctor afterwards he told me to fast for 12 hours one night this week and come in the following morning for some test. I'm fast tonight and going in tomorrow morning. I found myself watching the clock from the second I got home. I kept thinking, I only have three hours, I have to eat. I don't think I've ever eaten so much in my life. Right now it is 8:20 and I want to eat. I'm not hungry. It is simply because I know I can't eat. This is going to be harder than I think.

More later!

Hope you are having a great week.


Love,
E

Scrapbooks

I love to scrapbook. I really believe it is a gift that is given to me from God. It is one of the few things that I actually am confident about. I guess I could be horrible and have the ugliest pages ever, but I enjoy it all the same.

Ever since I started scrapbooking, I have wanted to do it on the side as a little business. I had no idea how though.

I have recently (as in a few minutes ago) discovered that people sale personalized, custom ordered scrapbooks on etsy. So I know that this can be done. I don't know anything about etsy. I'm open to tips on it if anyone has any.

I was thinking I could create a blog of my little scrapbook business. I'm kind of thinking I could do a give-away. If you post about my business, you are entered to win a custom 8X8 album.

This of course is just me dreaming. Who knows if I even have time for this. It kind of makes me wish I didn't teach and could just scrapbook all day every day. :)

Anyways... any thoughts on this idea? Any advice?

Any suggestions on a name for this little business?

One Proud Aunt

I finally got to meet Miss A this afternoon. Let me just tell you she is absolutely the sweetest, tiniest, most beautiful little thing EVER!! Her and Jill are both doing great. Jill should get to come home on Sunday and Miss A will have another week in the NICU.

I cannot wait until we can hold her and love on her. Every time I think about her I get all teary eyed. Her arrival into this world has not been an easy road. But oh my gosh she is SOOOO worth it. I can't even imagine how Jill and Alex must feel.

If you would like to see her, check out Jill's blog.

Now just a few more weeks and I will get to meet my other new niece, Miss M. I know she will be just as beautiful and sweet.

An Adventurous Day

This has been one eventful Thursday. Jill went into the hospital on Tuesday. She was pre-eclamptic and the doctors decided that Miss A was better off outside of the womb than in it. After lots of drugs and hours of labor, they did a c-section at 1:00AM today. Miss A is stable in the Nicu. She will probably be there for 7 to 10 days, until she can eat and breathe on her own. The doctor said she was doing very well though. It is mainly because she came at 35 weeks. Jill's blood pressure is still high, but she is also doing very well. They are all just resting.

Andrew and were at the hospital until around 9:30 last night when we decided to come home and get some sleep. We got up around 5:30 this morning and headed to the hospital. At that point, we hadn't heard anything other than A was here by c-section. We weren't able to see her this morning since she is Nicu. We did get to visit with Jill.

Not long after we were there I started feeling very weak and dizzy. I sat on a stool, looked at Andrew and told him I was very dizzy. I reached for his arm and then fainted. I woke up lying on the floor with Alex standing over me. Gave them all a nice little scare this morning.

Andrew took me to the doctor at 8 when they opened. We didn't want to pay for ER. He said he was guessing that I am hypoglycemic. I have to fast one night next week for 12 hours and then go back in and let them run some test.

I feel much better now. I stayed home from school today, but went this evening for parent teacher conferences. They went very well.

I have tomorrow off and am very thankful. Definitely looking forward to a three day weekend. I think I need it to recover from such an eventful day.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Baby Fever

I feel it coming on. I've been baby dreaming again lately. Before I go any further, Mom... don't get too excited!!

I know it is just because I feel like I'm constantly surrounded with pregnant women. I'm constantly going to or thinking of plans for a baby shower. There are cute little babies everywhere.

Right now my dreams are all about the fun stuff.... announcing the news of a pregnancy, picking out a name, planning a nursery, buying baby stuff, doing fun things with a baby like pumpkin patches.

I find myself dreaming of watching Andrew being a Daddy. Thinking about how excited our child will be when his or her daddy comes home every day from work.

I think about holidays with the baby.

I dream about watching my child fall in love with Christ and sharing Him with others.

See... all the fun stuff. When I think about the other stuff... like no sleep at night I'm not so sure I'm ready for that. :)

I think if Andrew said let's have a kid right now I would be all for it. I'm ready just not ready enough to be pushing him for a kid. Does that make sense?

Either way, he isn't ready. When I ask why, he says he just isn't ready. I understand that. I really do. I just don't know what will happen to make him be ready. What will the difference be?

Those of you who have children that you planned for... how did you know you were ready? Who was ready first you or your spouse?

I'm sure this feeling will pass. Or at least I guess it will. It always has before when I've gotten baby fever. But for now... I'm having fun dreaming.

Drum Roll Please......

Okay so let me just say having a give-a-way is lots of fun. I've been thinking all week about who win Crazy Love. I think this might have more exciting for me than it was for you. :)

It was so nice to read all of your testimonies to the Lord Jesus Christ. I was definitely blessed by this give-a-away. I love that He saves all in such different ways. He saves us at different times in our lives, at different places. It is so cool that no two stories are alike. That in itself is a testimony to God.

While, I really just wanted to purchase you all a copy of this book, I decided that sort of took away the point of a give-a-away like this. I then asked Andrew to pick a number, he chose numbers like 23, 144, 87, etc. Clearly I didn't have this many entries. And yes he knew that! He just wouldn't cooperate.

So then it was on to plan c. I went to random.org. It was more than willing to cooperate with me. And so we have a winner.

Drum roll please.......

And the winner is...




Jill!! Congrats Sister! I will deliver your book very soon.



Hope you all have a great weekend!

Love ya.
E

A Crazy Birthday Give-A-Away

Today marks a very special day in my life. It is my second birthday. I came into the Ball family on August 30, 1983, but I came into Christ's family October 11, 1999. Ten years ago today, I came to a truth that has altered my life and will forever change my life. I still remember it all as if it were yesterday.

My two cousins, Ginger and Shawna, along with my best friend Mandy, and I decided to go see a play at 1st Baptist in Walnut Ridge. The play was called Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flame. Mandy and I had already seen the play with our youth group. It would be Ginger and Shawna's first time. It was so crowded when we got there that we couldn't sat together. Mandy and I found two seats together and Ginger and Shawna went off to find two seats together.

The play showed groups of people, coworkers, families, and friends. In each case part of the group would be saved, and part not. Jesus would come down and take the saved, and Satan would come get the others. Let me just tell you... this play.... very scary.

It made me realize that Jesus doesn't save youth groups. He saves individuals. Going to church and being good wasn't enough.

At the end of the play when it was time to make a decision, I told Mandy I had to go. She went with me to as my supportive best friend. When we got down to the stage, there was Ginger with Shawna.

I love that Shawna and I shared that incredible moment together.

So... today I am 10. And oh do I have a long ways to go in this journey. I'm thankful that God doesn't give up.

Tuesday on the 13th my dear sweet husband will have his spiritual birthday. He was saved when he was 4. Great story about bathtime with his brother. :) I am so thankful and blessed to be married to a man who loves God. A man who does his best to be a good godly leader in our family.

In honor of my spiritual birthday, I'm going to host my first give-a-way. Our life group is studying a book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Incredible Book! It is making me fall crazy in love with my Lord again. I really want to go buy everyone I know a copy of this book. I can't put into words the things God showed me in the first chapter alone. After reading it, I was left to just sit in awe of my awesome God.


To enter in this give-a-away all you have to do is give praise to our God. Leave a comment sharing how God has worked in your life lately or how you came to know God as your Lord and Savior. If you are not a blogger, be sure to leave your email so that I can get in touch with you.

You can also enter by posting about the give-a-away on your own blog. Just leave me a separate comment saying you did so.

I will take entries up until midnight central time on Friday the 16th.

Disappointing Advice

Well I must say I was a little disappointed in all the cleaning advice I recieved. You girls really let me down. I was really hoping that you all would tell me you paid someone to clean. Then I could have taken that to Andrew and used the age old adage of "Everyone else is doing it." HA!

But no. You are all adults who clean your own house. Yuck.

So here is what I've been doing this week in the cleaning department. I just do something every day when I get home before I sat down. Some days it has been the dishes, somedays laundry, some days the floor. I just do something.

Monday I also asked a few teachers at lunch. One of them has become my accountability partner. She has asked me every day this week what I did the day before. That has really helped. I feel like I need to be able to tell her something.


On the husband hoemfront. He is coming home tomorrow. Yippee! It will be late because he is stopping in Memphis to have dinner with his dad. Things haven't exactly gone smoothly in Tennesse this week. He has had a rough frustrating week. I am hoping that he won't have to go back on Monday.


Plans for the weekend just including resting and enjoying having my husband home. I also plan to go to the paper sale Saturday. I will post about that later and show you all the wonderful deals I've already gotten and will get on Saturday.


Hope you all have a great rest of the week.

Fruits

The husband left this morning to go back to Tennessee for the week. We all know how well I don't handle him being gone.

It is a rainy Monday.

I started off the day running late.

My students have been wild today.

I have a killer headache.

And a to do list that is a mile long to go with it.

Yet... I find myself in a good mood today. I find myself full of joy. I find myself being extremely patient with students. I find that I'm not bummed about the husband being away, although I do miss him already. :)

There can only be one explanation for my joy despite the list of negatives. That explanation is that God is alive and working in me right now. I've been trying to do my best and slowing down and just spending time with Him. Last night it hit me, the fruits of the spirit are showing up in my life as a result. I'm not trying to be patient on my own, yet I have patience. I'm not trying to be loving on my own, yet I have love for others.

It makes me want to spend even more time with Him.

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" Galations 5:22

Cleaning Hater!!

So Andrew and I did our usual thing today for company. We scrambled around at the last minute trying to get everything cleaned and ready to go. It never fails. We always wait until the last minute. This would be no big deal if we cleaned on a regular basis. But we don't. Andrew and I live like pigs most of the time.

It is really sad. When our house is clean, we always say "Man, I love our house when it is clean."

So I'm determined. It is time to become an adult. An adult who cleans. I have to tell you, I hate cleaning. I just don't enjoy it. When I do get in the mood to clean, I want to do a very thorough job. By the time everything is out and ready to be put back all nice and neat, I'm tired and want to quit. HA!

I've decided that I just need to create a cleaning schedule. If I just do one or two things each day, it won't be so bad. Right?

Anyone else out there hate cleaning? What do you do?

Anyone have a cleaning schedule?

How do you do it? What tips do you have for someone who does not enjoy at all.

I'll let you know what I come up with and how it goes.