Home with the Boys

We've Moved!!!

2010-04-05T20:11:00.002-05:00

If you don't get automatically redirected, you need to head on over to our NEW SITE!!!

Home with the Boys is now here!

Please update your bookmarks and get connected over there!

Exciting Day!

2010-04-05T14:09:00.004-05:00

The Easter photos will have to wait a few days, lots of things going on here today that I want to share...

#1 - Today I started the "Get Dressed" Challenge over at Sarah Mae's blog (one of my absolute faves, by the way!). I LOVE this type of accountability and the whole idea - I already feel way more productive and put together even after only one day! Want to join me?!

#2 - Also started a new online Bible Study with my new friend Stef over at Layton Family Joy! I love the way it is designed - and again with the accountability! Check out the On Topic Bible Study and see if you are interested in joining us!

#3 - Tonight is a BIG night for the blog! Some of you may already know why, but if you don't, you'll have to check back this evening for the "moving" news!!! I can't wait!!!

Book Review: An Absence So Great

2010-04-02T22:16:00.003-05:00

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

An Absence So Great by Jane Kirkpatrick

Summary:
Inspired by the engaging stories told through her grandmother’s photographs taken at the turn of the century, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick provides a portrait of the tension between darkness and light in the soul of a young woman pursuing her professional dreams.

Despite growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is still at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those ill with mercury poisoning.

Jessie gains footing on her dream to one day own her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep those painful memories from seeping into her heart, and the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

My Thoughts...

This is the first fiction book I've been asked to review on the blog - very exciting for me! I love a good fiction book! I love to read in general, but there is just something about getting lost in another time and place when you read really good fiction.

And really good fiction to me is a book you don't want to put down. Where the characters stick with you. You can picture being there.

I felt this within the first few pages of Kirkpatrick's book.

The book is beautifully written, but I must say that my favorite thing about it is the historical setting. It's not glamorous or exotic - in fact, it's set right here in the Midwest - but just going to another time period draws me in. Gender issues and economic changes round out a thorough picture of the turn-of-the-century.

In addition, the book is based loosely on real people and photographs which makes it even more intriguing. Kirkpatrick weaves a wonderful story though her grandmother's photographs, which are included in the book as well.

Even without the setting to fascinate me as it does, the story itself is captivating and worth a read!

For more information about or to order this book, visit the Random House website.

Author Bio:

Jane Kirkpatrick is an award-winning author of sixteen historical novels, including A Flickering Light, the first part of Jessie Gaebale’s story, and three nonfiction titles. Known for her unique insights into the exploration of community, family and faith of actual historical women, the Wisconsin native and her husband have called their ranch in Oregon home for the past 25 years.

Good Friday: Lead Me to the Cross

2010-04-02T07:32:00.003-05:00

A Glimpse of Joy

2010-04-01T17:02:00.006-05:00

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy...

Psalm 34:5

Joy in everyday life...thank you Jesus.

For more glimpses head over to Jennifer's beautiful blog!

What's in the Bible Theme by Big J

2010-03-30T16:42:00.005-05:00

Congrats to Beth for winning the "What's in the Bible" DVD giveaway!

In honor of her win, Big J decided to do a little singing for you...

A Beautiful Night

2010-03-27T20:52:00.003-05:00

Last Sunday night, I was blessed in many ways.

First of all, I attended a Selah concert with a very dear friend (THANK YOU to my hubby for keeping the kids at home!), and heard the most beautiful voices and music live. Their arrangements of old hymns were gorgeous, especially "It Is Well With My Soul," which my hubby sang at his grandmother's funeral last year. And they finished it all off with "You Raise Me Up" and "Amazing Grace." I was in tears several times throughout the concert, but we also had plenty of smiles watching Allan play the piano! You can tell he loves what he is doing!

The second blessing was getting to see a friend who I go all the way back to elementary school with! Jess and I hadn't seen each other in years, but have kept in touch through our blogs, Twitter and Facebook. Didn't even know she and her mom would be at the concert, so it was a beautiful surprise! So good to see you Jess!

And the third, and biggest, blessing of the night was this lady...

Angie (wife of Todd from Selah) is a beautiful woman of God who has blogged her way through the heartbreaking loss of their baby girl Audrey. Bring the Rain has been a place of healing and inspiration for thousands of women and Angie was at the concert to speak about their experience. It was amazing to hear her share in person and cry along with her.

And cry we ALL did as they sang the song Selah wrote just for Audrey, along with a slideshow of the months before and hours after her birth - so powerful...

Angie claims she is not a gifted speaker, but trust me, she had a completely captive audience - crying, laughing (something about a deranged gopher...) and praising the Lord for His faithfulness and comfort - and for the little baby girl they are expecting later this year!

I had the privilege of meeting Angie afterwards and had such fun chatting with her - about our shared love for Seeds and getting to see each other again at Relevant in October!

If you haven't read Audrey's story - or Angie's blog at all, for that matter - I strongly encourage you to head over there now to see God at work in this beautiful family.

It was a beautiful night.

Birthday Giveaway #5: Stitches by Sara

2010-03-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Oh yeah - this is the FIFTH giveaway this week! You can enter the previous ones here: #1, #2, #3, & #4.

Sara, who blogs over at Happy Brown House, is a kindred spirit.

A former kindergarten teacher, she decided to stay at home after having her son. As a creative outlet, and a way to earn some extra money while staying at home, Sara started her Etsy shop - Stitches by Sara. You will find her crafting away during naptime and after bedtime! Busy lady!

Wait til you see some of the CUTE stuff she makes...

Personalized pillows...

Crayon rolls...

Market totes...

Coffee cozies...

And that's not all - key fobs, children's birthday shirts, tutus, monogrammed baby items, and more! All personalized gifts with a unique touch!

Did I mention she is hoping to go to Relevant as well? This is her way of earning the money to go!

In honor of Friday, the day of the week I most need some good coffee (Monday is a close second), Sara is giving away one of her adorable coffee cozies like the one she made for me...

I LOVE IT! Can't wait until I can go grab a cup of joe and use it!

How can you win your own? Leave a separate comment for any or all of the following...

-Follow Sara's blog

-Follow Sara on Twitter (@HappyBrownHouse)

-Follow me on Twitter (@homewiththeboys)

-Become a fan of Happy Brown House on Facebook

-Tweet OR post on Facebook - if tweeting, include the direct link to this post, @homewiththeboys & @HappyBrownHouse

-Write a blog post about it with linkbacks

And for three extra entries, make a purchase from shop :) The hard part will be deciding what NOT to buy! The more the better - get Sara to Relevant!

This giveaway will end Friday, April 2nd at 9:00 p.m. CDT, when the winner will be chosen by random.org.

Thank you to the lovely Sara for providing my beautiful cozy and this giveaway!

Happy Birthday to Me!!! Giveaway #4

2010-03-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

It's a whole week of giveaways to celebrate my birthday! You can enter the previous three giveaways here, here, and here!

Yep, today is my actual birthday! {Insert your beautiful singing here!}

And what better way to celebrate than with ANOTHER giveaway from a fellow Relevant attendee?!

Megan, the blogger behind Half-Pint House, is good friends with Monica (from yesterday's giveaway) and together they are crafting their way to Relevant - trying to sell 100 items each!

So what does Megan make? These...

Her handmade zippy bags are major cuteness! AND they are monogrammed! AND each one is made to order by Megan herself! Like this super fun one she sent me...

I love the color and the details!

And Megan wants to put together a special one just for you! You can go to her blog to check out her ideas, pick the fabric (all 180+ choices!!!) you like and let her know the monogram you want - and help her get to Relevant!

Since I know you're going to go buy one for yourself, why not win one for a friend?

Oh yes, Megan is giving away one of these personalized zippy bags to ONE OF YOU!

So it's time to get your entries in and here's how (separate comments please folks!):

*Subscribe to Megan's blog - Half-Pint House
*Follow Megan on Twitter (@MeganDunham)
*Follow me on Twitter (@homewiththeboys)
*Tweet about this giveaway - please include the direct link to this post, @MeganDunham & @homewiththeboys OR Post about it on Facebook

*And for three extra entries, you can head on over to Half-Pint House and order a zippy bag!

This giveaway will be open until Thursday, April 1st at 9:00 p.m. at which time the winner will be chosen by random.org!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Megan for providing me a zippy bag for this review!

Birthday Week Giveaway #3: Easter Garland

2010-03-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks for joining my Birthday Week Giveaway Celebration! You can enter giveaway #1 here and giveaway #2 here!

Monica is another one of the wonderful ladies joining me at Relevant and crafting her way there! I just love the name of her blog - The Homespun Heart - isn't that beautiful?!

Monica makes lovely "Names of Jesus" garlands for both Easter...

and Christmas...

We already have our Easter one hanging above our front window and Jeremiah asks me daily to read it! Love that! I encourage you to head over to Monica's post to learn more about the care and thought that went into creating these.

Monica is giving one blessed reader one of her handmade Easter garlands, just like this one...

And just in time for Easter! How perfect!

So how do you enter? Any or all of the following ways...

*Subscribe to The Homespun Heart
*Follow my blog
*Follow me on Twitter
*Tweet about this giveaway - please include @homewiththeboys and the link to this giveaway - OR post about it on Facebook

*And for three extra entries, order your very own garland from Monica - only 4 Easter garlands left, but Christmas garlands can be ordered as well!

At last count, Monica was only 34 garlands away from her goal - let's get her to Relevant! You can follow her progress and find out how to order here.

This giveaway is open until Wednesday, March 31st at 9:00 p.m. when the winner will be chosen by random.org. Please make sure there is a way to contact you if you are the winner!

Thank you so much to Monica for providing garlands for this review and giveaway!

Gather Inspirit

2010-03-23T20:05:00.000-05:00

I have had many women talk to me recently about starting a blog. Some are worried about the time it will take or that no one will be interested in what they are saying. Whatever it is, I sense hesitance from many of them.

And maybe it's because there isn't really a place for new bloggers to really feel supported and encouraged.

Or there wasn't - until now.

I am so excited to let you know about Gather Inspirit, a new site dedicated to Christian women bloggers - big and small. And I am so honored to be a part of the Gather Inspirit team!

Rather than rewrite everything this site is about, I want you to hear the words of the woman who started it all, Chele...

We are a group of nine ladies from various walks of life. We all are mothers, writers, bloggers, and encouragers seeking to expand our personal God-given ministries by reaching out through an incredible combined website. Our vision is simply to inspire, encourage and uplift all bloggers in their journey and in life. We believe that if you put the Lord first, all other things will fall in place. He will show us the way even in blogging.

Our foundational Scripture is “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truths and teach me for you are God my savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalms 25:4-5 (NIV)

When Chele shared this vision, how could I not be on board with it?! I really believe it will be a valuable resource to all Christian women bloggers.

And to help connect all of us out there in blogland, there is a fabulous forum as well. Women have already started connecting there and I love to see that happening!

Whether you are new or experienced, big or small or even just thinking about blogging, this site is for you and we hope it will be a blessing!

Birthday Week Giveaway #2: Heart and Soul Reflections

2010-03-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is giveaway #2 of my birthday week celebration! If you missed the first giveaway, you can enter here.

I am so excited about the rest of the giveaways this week because they are each from ladies who are going to the Relevant Conference with me!

And each of these women is selling handmade goods to get herself there! I love handmade!

Today's beautiful giveaway is from a lovely lady - Cherie from Heart and Soul Reflections! We met through Twitter and are now both part of an amazing project that I will share about later today!!!

Anyway, I just fell in love with Cherie's pendant necklaces - made from washers!!!

How fun is that?!

Each one is unique and eye-catching...

Isn't that fun and funky?!

And Cherie is giving away this sweet red pendant necklace to one of you!

Here's how you can make it yours...

*Follow Cherie's blog publicly

*Become a fan of Heart and Soul Reflections on Facebook

*Follow Cherie on Twitter (@MySoulReflects)

*Follow me on Twitter (@homewiththeboys)

*Tweet about this giveaway - please mention @MySoulReflects and @homewiththeboys and include the link to this giveaway!

*Post about it on Facebook

And here is a special deal - if you order something from Cherie's Etsy shop (which you can find from her blog) during this giveaway, you can get 3 extra entries!

Let's get this girl to Relevant!!!

This giveaway will close Tuesday, March 30th at 9:00 p.m. CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org. You must leave a separate comment for each entry!

A huge thank you to Cherie for providing me a necklace to review and giveaway!

What's in the Bible?: It's Here!!!

2010-03-22T07:00:00.004-05:00

We are HUGE Veggie Tales fans around here, so when I heard about Phil Vischer's latest project with Tyndale House, I was definitely interested!

A few months ago, I was sent a preview DVD of this project and immediately, the whole family fell in love with "What's in the Bible?"

And that was just a few minutes of preview!

I, of course, jumped at the chance to review the first two DVDs.

"What's in the Bible?" is a project very near and dear to Vischer's heart - in fact, it has been ON his heart since he started Veggie Tales. His goal behind this DVD series is to take the time kids have in between church activities and fill it with humor, entertainment and Biblical knowledge. Great combination. For kids and parents.

I stuck the DVD in and my kids were instantly quiet and tuned in. And then they started singing along with the theme song. And laughing. LOTS of laughing. From me as well.

The interesting thing about this series is it is for kids but it presents a WEALTH of Biblical knowledge. Many things I didn't know that my almost four-year-old goes around reciting now! This series doesn't dumb anything down - just makes it fun and entertaining to learn.

And the music.

The music ROCKS. The kids walk around singing songs from it all the time. And how great is it to hear their little voices singing about Genesis?! We LOVE that song!

In true Phil Vischer style, this DVD entertains everyone from my toddler, to the elementary kid who caught a few minutes while his mom and I chatted, to his mom who stopped talking to me to hear the puppets talk! I love how it appeals to all ages!

It really is fabulous.

Just take a look for yourself...

Did I mention there will be 13 DVDs in this series?! And ours is one family who wants to own every single one! How about you?

Well, I can help get you started!

Thanks to the generous folks at Tyndale House (who I love), right here today, I am giving away the first two DVDs to one lucky reader!!!

It's all just the start of my birthday week celebration with one giveaway every day!

So here is how you enter...

Just leave a comment telling with whom you would watch "What's in the Bible?"

And you know I will give you extra entries so here they are...

*Follow What's in the Bible on Twitter (@whatsinthebible)
*Become a fan of What's in the Bible on Facebook
*Follow me on Twitter (@homewiththeboys)
*Publicly follow this blog
*Tweet about this giveaway: Check out this giveaway from @homewiththeboys & @whatsinthebible! - http://homewiththeboys.blogspot.com/2010/03/whats-in-bible-its-here.html
*Post about this giveaway on Facebook

That's a lot of extra entries! But make sure you leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry or it won't count! Please include your e-mail address or a way to contact you if you win.

This giveaway will close Monday, March 29th at 9:00 p.m. CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org.

Thank you so much to Tyndale House for this awesome giveaway!

I was provided with the DVDs for this review by Tyndale House. All opinions are my own.

Another Family Friday!

2010-03-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

My parents made it down our way last weekend and we had some more family fun!

Reading with Grandma...

Coffee with Grandpa...

And a nice stroll around downtown...

It was so wonderful to have a leisurely weekend with them!

We also enjoyed a FABULOUS dinner at Outback - appetizer, steak, AND dessert! - to celebrate my birthday a little early!

Oh yeah, did I mention my birthday is next week?

And while there is no giveaway TODAY, there just might be one every day next week to celebrate! Get those typing, commenting, posting, tweeting fingers ready!

And have a fantastic Friday!

A Day in the Life of a Med School Student

2010-03-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

My wonderful hubby took time out of his spring break to write this insightful guest post. Hope you enjoy! I know I did!

I'm sure that many of you have been wondering exactly what medical school is like. Well, maybe you haven't, but the beautiful and intelligent normal writer of this blog asked me to write about it, so here goes...

5:15 am - Good Lord, what in the world is that thing in my room playing music? Am I dreaming? What time is it? Do I have a test today? My alarm clock, I wish, 5:15, and no. Good.

6:00 am - The drive begins. I have an hour commute to med school each day, during which I listen to Dr. Edward Goljan, a world-renown pathologist, lecture about a variety of things which I am trying to keep lodged in my brain to prepare for the life-altering test that is USMLE Step 1 (boards) coming this June.

7:00 am - Arrive at school, meet up with a few guys that I study with who have become de facto best friends, due in part to the fact that I spend more time with them than I do my wife (unless you count hours spent asleep).

7:55 am - Head down to the lecture hall. Lecture begins every morning at 8. Some days we get out at noon, other days we have an hour for lunch and then 2-3 more hours in the afternoon. Thankfully, today is a day we finish at noon.

8:13 am - I mistakenly allow my mind to follow a thought process, and while it relates to medicine, it has now cost me 30 seconds, during which the lecturer has likely said something important. Crap.

9:50 am - Thankfully, we get breaks every 50 minutes so that we don't die from a brain explosion. People often describe medical school by saying that it is like trying to drink from a fire hydrant. I would say drinking from Niagara Falls might be more appropriate. There is simply just so much information. Our brains learn to quickly categorize: long term memory, common sense, short term memory that could be on the test, and things that I will forget within the next 5 minutes. During this break I break open the first Diet Mountain Dew of the day, feeling thankful that a caffeine withdrawal headache has not yet set in.

10:21 am - It is amazing at the variety in lecturing ability. It should go without saying that just because someone is a great physician, it doesn't mean that they are a great teacher. (By the way, it also certainly does not mean that they will write great test questions - but that is a comment for another day.) This applies to all specialties. One of the lecturers for this core (we study during second year by organ system - currently we are on genitourinary - kidneys, ovaries, testes, you get the idea) is a pathologist and is a fantastic lecturer. Another lecturer is also a pathologist and is just awful.

10:42 am - My phone is blinking. It is a text from my buddy that sits two seats away who is telling me that our current lecturer appears to be running for the award of Rotten Apple. (For the record, there is no such award, but we do vote on a Golden Apple teaching award, and we think there should be an award for the worst as well.)

11:00 am - The dreaded hour has come. Pharmacology. I know what you're thinking - this should be easy now, it's merely memorization. It's not really biochemical pathways, pathophysiology of disease processes, clinical presentations, or anything like that. You're right. But it is so incredibly boring. We learn how the drug works, its therapeutic uses, adverse effects, drug interactions, etc. But I am convinced that they go out and search to find the most boring people in the world, convince them to become academic pharmacologists, and then lecture to us. Torture. My friend immediately to my left starts each pharm lecture with a game of sudoku. Just in a futile attempt to stay awake.

12:30 pm - Now that we've eaten lunch, it's time to study. At the risk of divulging my study secrets, I will just stay that I study in a group of 4 married guys, and all of us have kids. We study hard, because we want to get home to our families. For those of you that have never met me, I am a little bit organized. Suffice it to say that I am the one who makes our study schedule. Broken down by every 30 minutes of time we are at school.

2:24 pm - Starting to fade. We take a bathroom break, not really just because of the caffeine (which is a diuretic, by the way - which explains why you have to go more frequently), but also because just getting up helps get the blood flow moving again, especially to the brain.

3:13 pm - I wonder if some other memories, knowledge, birthdays, and whatever else are being pushed out to make room for all the medical knowledge I am trying to force into my brain. You can tell me I'm wrong, and I probably am, but the fact is that with all the research that has been done, we still don't really know how memories are stored. Don't get me wrong, I can tell you all about the Papez circuit (look it up, it's fascinating), the limbic system, and the amygdala (all of this should fall under YOUR category of forgetting this in the next 5 minutes), but we still don't know how memories are stored. So for now, I'm keeping my hypothesis that new information goes in, old stuff falls out.

4:30 pm - Finally, done for the day. Drive home, listening to more pathology.

5:30 pm - Best part of my day - my boys rush to hug me at the door, a kiss from my beautiful wife. It's definitely all worth it.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2010-03-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

March is my favorite month.

Spring arrives.

My birthday comes.

And today happens.

The day we get to celebrate this beautiful country...

(The Blarney Castle: Cork, Island - built by my ancestors!)

and this man...

St. Patrick was an amazing man.

Do you know his story?

Because it really makes this a wonderful day to celebrate even if you aren't Irish. Unlike me, of course :)

Back to St. Patrick...

Patrick was kidnapped and taken to Ireland at a young age. He was forced into slavery there, but escaped after several years. After he returned home, he became a priest and felt a strong call to go back to Ireland and spread Christianity among the Irish. His efforts were very successful, including converting the ruling class which trickled down to all people through their example. He is also said to have brought the written word to the Irish.

Can you imagine going back to a place where you were held captive to help them out? To tell them about Jesus? That is incredible.

I am very proud of my Irish heritage! Can you tell?!

St. Patrick's Day is such a fun day to celebrate for us. And the other reason is this...

In Ireland, ten years ago, on this day, this wonderful lad and I started dating.

That's right - we were in Dublin, Ireland when we started dating! On St. Patrick's Day! Crazy, huh?!

Maybe even crazier that it's already been 10 years!

But it's been the most wonderful ten years! I thank God for where we've been and where we are right now - I love you honey!

So happy March 17th to all!

And I pray this Old Irish Blessing for each of you...

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Tuesday Tunes

2010-03-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

Due to the reappearance of Not Me! Monday and my desire to continue to share the music we love with you, I now present...

Tuesday Tunes!

And to kick off our Tuesday Tunes, I wanted to share a verse to encourage each of you this week - and to share with your kids, thanks to Seeds Family Worship!

Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. ~Psalm 55:22

Isn't that a lovely promise to stand on?! We will be memorizing this verse this week and resting in the assurance that God will sustain us through whatever may come! He is amazing!

Now, everybody sing...

Winner Announced: Fun, Family and Food Friday!

2010-03-15T21:40:00.001-05:00

Time to pick another winner!

The random winner of the $25 of Tastefully Simple products is...

#6 - Julie!

Congrats! Please e-mail me so I can get you hooked up with some yummy food!

And if you didn't win, you can head on over to Stephanie's site linked below and order something delicious for yourself! If you spend $50 or more, you get free shipping!

And if you live in the area, she also has some great deals going right now if you host a party. Just mention that you read about it here on the blog!

Thanks again for this great giveaway Stephanie!

*****

Happy Friday all! So glad it is here!

A few things to share today, so the post is a little long, but there is some extra FUN at the end, so don't miss out!

And we're ready for some FUN around here because Stephen's spring break starts today! WOOHOO!!! So excited for a week with him home - lots of FUN things planned!

*****

Last weekend we met up with a fellow med school mommy & her kiddos and Stephen's parents for a FUN day at the zoo!

Yes, you may see a little snow on the ground, but it was warmer than it had been in a LONG time and it was so wonderful to be outside. And when the wind did pick up, there were lots of great indoor exhibits to warm up in!

Big J calls this the "Big Zoo" and I would agree! Not enough energy in those boys (or this mommy) to get through everything in one day - as evidenced by Big J asking to ride in the stroller and then falling asleep!

Little J was more than happy to go for a walk while big brother snoozed, whether with Grandma Mo or Daddy once he joined us after studying!

If you couldn't tell, penguins are a favorite in our house and we all got to pet one! So FUN!!!

It was a whole day of FUN and FAMILY and we were so happy to get to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Mo - thanks for making the drive!

And thanks to Natalie and her kiddos for a yummy breakfast and FUN friends to hang out with! Glad we're in this med school thing together :)

*****

To add to the FAMILY part, Grandma and Grandpa Mac are headed our way today to spend the weekend with us! So glad both sets of grandparents aren't too far away to make these quick trips either way! Should be a FAMILY FUN weekend!

*****

And finally the FOOD!

My friend Stephanie is a Tastefully Simple Senior Consultant and I think I have gained a few pounds off of this product from her alone...

Oh, the possibilities with a beer bread mix in the house...mmmmm....

Back to the FOOD!

To celebrate the new spring catalog, Stephanie is generously giving away $25 in Tastefully Simple products to one of you!

That's a lot of beer bread!

And I know you want some, so here's how you can enter...

Visit her Tastefully Simple site and let me know your favorite product!

And for some extra entries, you can...

*Become a fan of Tastefully Simple on Facebook.

*Share about this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter. If tweeting, please include @elmusic4kids in your tweet!

Comments are open until Monday, March 15th at 9:00 p.m. CST! Please leave a comment for each entry. Winner will be chosen by random.org.

Thank you Stephanie for this yummy giveaway! Stay tuned for some special deals from her when the winner is announced!

To each of you, have a FUN, FABULOUS weekend!

Not Me! Monday

2010-03-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Why did I ever stop doing these? It feels SO good to look back through the week at laugh at ourselves! Thanks MckMama for hosting this carnival!

Let's start with today...

I did not just sit back, watch and laugh as Little J made farting noises on an unopened fruit cup. I was not slightly proud that he was able to figure out how to make the noise and then repeat it over and over again. I obviously am NOT learning what it is like to be the mother of boys.

I am also not known to respond to my husband's or sons' clothing needs, such as clean socks or underwear, by just going to get that ONE item out of the dryer. No, I never leave the rest of the clothes in there because I am too lazy to fold them at the time, even though I had to go downstairs anyways. That would be counter-productive and I just do not operate that way.

And in preparing for a fast that started yesterday, I definitely did not gorge myself on a huge meal at a steakhouse the night before, including appetizer, meal AND dessert. That would have just made today harder, so of course I did not do that.

Lastly, I did not plan a date for us that consisted of shopping for a dress for me and grocery shopping. That sounds lame. I would never do that.

That is just not me.

Review: The Handmade Marketplace

2010-03-12T05:00:00.000-06:00

The Handmade Marketplace

By: Kari Chapin

From: Storey Publishing

Retail: $14.95

Disclaimer: Mama Buzz and reviewers received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes

Turn your craft into a successful business! Even the most expert crafters may find it challenging to market and sell their wares, but with Kari Chapin you have an experienced guide at your side. Learn to determine your cost of goods, set prices, identify the competition, and understand the ins and outs of wholesale and retail sales. Explore the various sales venues available, including independent craft fairs, Web sites such as Etsy, and traditional stores, and learn to maximize your visibility and sales in each one. Want to start your own Web site? Chapin shows you how to style and prop your crafts for photography and explains how the most popular Web marketplaces operate. You’ll find everything you need to turn your talent into profits.

What a great resource for the world of crafters out there hoping to make a living, or just some spending money! I found some very helpful advice for the online store I am managing for a friend.

This book offers tips for every aspect of a handmade business and features some wonderful contributors from Design*Sponge, Etsy, Craft and CraftyPod, just to name a few. And the book has a fun, artsy look and feel to it!

From branding to marketing and everything in between, author Kari Chapin doesn't miss a thing in helping you make the most out of your talents and creations - in your community and online!

This book is also available on Amazon for $10.17.

Thank you to Storey Publishing for providing this book for me to review!

I Choose to Praise

2010-03-11T07:00:00.000-06:00

So many storms in people's lives around me right now - overwhelming schedules, broken relationships, cancer, losing loved ones, financial woes and so on.

All attacks of the enemy.

Your storm may not seem as "big" as someone else's storm, so you may try to "handle it yourself." No need to bother anyone else when their troubles are obviously worse, right? And they need prayer more than you do. Right?

WRONG.

If the storm in your life is big to you, it is big enough to disrupt, destroy, deplete.

And whatever that storm may be, you have a choice.

I have a choice.

I can feel sorry for myself. I can let the anxiety, grief, fear, stress pile up.

I can let the enemy win.

Or I can praise.

In the middle of the storms of life, I choose to praise the One who is ALWAYS with me, BECAUSE He is always with me. And He is SO much bigger than that storm.

Storms will come and go, but He will not. He is our constant help...

I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

Join me in praising Him today, no matter your circumstance...

WW: I Think I'll Go For a Walk Outside Now

2010-03-10T00:00:00.001-06:00

Not a Natural

2010-03-09T08:00:00.001-06:00

I am not a natural at this housekeeping thing.

I love to do things at home - cooking, crafting and the like.

But the cleaning and organizing does NOT come naturally to me.

To my husband - yes. To me - no.

It has definitely been my desire to improve in this area, but my actual progress in the area has had its ups and downs. More of the latter. You get the idea.

But I had never really committed to pray for this area of my life before. My solution - TRY HARDER. And that was working really well (note the sarcasm).

Hello?! Hadn't I heard this verse before?!

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.Psalm 37:4

Instead of trudging through the daily tasks of cleaning and maintaining my home, I should be committing EVEN THAT to Him and taking delight in what He provides for me to do.

And THEN He will give me the desires of my heart.

I would love to say this post is to tell you how much I adore my daily chores now.

But it's not.

In all reality, I just had these revelations this past week, so I am still in the process of turning it over and changing my attitude.

However, I had a small victory this week.

There are just certain things I usually don't notice or choose to do something about right away - probably things some of you "naturals" would cringe at.

The other night, as I was heading to bed, I noticed dust - lots of dust - on one of our wall vents. Normally, I would have walked on past and not missed a beat. But that night, I WANTED to clean it. So I did. It felt good.

So, change, it is a-comin'.

Slowly, but surely, He is giving me the desires of my heart.

One or two little messes at a time.

Bella Tunno: Giveaway Time!

2010-03-08T22:50:00.000-06:00

WINNER ANNOUNCED!!!!!

Congratulations to entry #17 - Rebecca! You were chosen by random.org as the Designer Diner winner! Please e-mail me to claim your prize!

****************************

Hold on to your hats, mommas!

Especially if you've never heard of Bella Tunno!

You're going to LOVE this!

Bella Tunno has the most fashionable accessories for your little ones. I love how they put it...

Bella Tunno is a baby and children's NECCESSORY (necessary accessory) company dedicated to the balance of fashion, function and philanthropy.

And for proof of just how fashionable they are, this is what we got for the boys...

The Play Smock in "Preppy Boy"

and the Designer Diner in "Budding Artist"

Aren't these fabulous?!

We had to give them a try, starting with the play smock! Jeremiah loved it right away because it was green - his favorite color! See how proud he is!

And we used it for letter practice in shaving cream!

He got good and messy, but nothing on the clothes!

And it cleaned up super easy! The fabric is very durable - high quality materials all around here!

And I can say the same about the Designer Diner...
It's a portable placemat AND chalkboard all in one! The Designer Diner also includes a pack of chalk that fits in a detachable pouch. And it all rolls up so neatly to fit in a diaper bag or purse!

For the real test, I rolled it out for Joshua while Jeremiah played in his smock.

My finicky little boy started coloring right away...

He was very excited about his work!

This could definitely keep him entertained while waiting for our food at a restaurant. The chalk cleaned off very easily with a napkin.

So let's review: Fashionable, durable, enjoyed by the children, easy to use.

And on top of all of that...

Bella Tunno is committed to donating a portion of EVERY sale to the Matt Tunno MAKE A DIFFERENCE FUND. The main focus of Bella Tunno's charitable efforts is drug and alcohol-related education, prevention and rehabilitation programs.

Bella Tunno rocks.

The smocks and diners are just the tip of the iceberg: bibs, parent pods, headbands - you really just need to check out their site for yourself!

AND...

Enter the giveaway!

Oh yeah, Bella Tunno is giving away the Designer Diner of your choice right here!

To enter, just visit Bella Tunno and leave a comment here with your favorite item or design!

For more entries, do the following and LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH...

1. Become a fan of Bella Tunno on Facebook HERE
2. Following Bella Tunno on TWITTER (@bellatunno)
3. Signing up for Bella Tunno's mailing list HERE.
4. Follow this blog
5. Follow me on TWITTER (@elmusic4kids)
6. Tweet or post on Facebook about this giveaway - tweet something like this...

Enter to win from @BellaTunno with @elmusic4kids! http://homewiththeboys.blogspot.com/2010/03/bella-tunno-giveaway-time.html

This giveaway will close at 9:00 PM CDT this Monday, March 8th. The winner will be chosen by random.org. Please make sure there is a way to contact you if you are the lucky winner!

A HUGE thank you to Bella Tunno for providing these products for our family to review! We are loving them!

Music Monday: The Hubby's Turn

2010-03-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

I'm not the only one who likes music around here, so this Music Monday is dedicated to my hubby, who quite enjoys this song (he cranked it in our minivan on date night last weekend - ha, now that's a picture for you!)...

Love you honey!

Introducing My Relevant Sponsor...

2010-03-06T09:00:00.002-06:00

Seeds Family Worship

If you have followed this blog for any amount of time, you know how much our family LOVES Seeds. We honestly listen to it EVERY DAY and all of us go around the house singing their Scripture-based music! (Did you know you can listen to it ALL online for FREE?!?!?)

Seeds + Home with the Boys = Natural Fit

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be working with them in this way (can't wait to share more...patience Erin...) and I want to take this opportunity to tell them...

THANK YOU!!!!!

Thank you, of course, for sending me to Relevant. I am so incredibly blessed.

But more than that, much more than that, thank you for bringing the Word of God into our home and our hearts in a new, refreshing way.

What you do for the Kingdom,
and families,
is a beautiful thing.

We Are His Reflection

2010-03-04T08:00:00.001-06:00

Every Sunday, the sermons at our church are so challenging to me. I LOVE that.

This week, our lead pastor touched on Matthew 7:12...

Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

Of course, most of us know this as "The Golden Rule." It is repeated by parents all over the world, countless times a day, usually encouraging better sibling relations! I know, I've used it for that very thing.

Back to where I was going...

During the sermon, it was mentioned that we are supposed to "look like our Father," just as children often resemble their parents. And this thought came to mind...

We are to continually strive to be more like Jesus, but the majority of that needs to be how we ACT and not what we SAY.

We are not God, but we ARE His reflection here on earth.

People aren't going to look at us and say, "There is God." But they should be able to look at us, and what we do, and see the resemblance.

Imagine you are at a lake in the mountains. When you see the mountain's reflection in the lake, you don't think that is the actual mountain. It is a little blurry, not perfect, the mountain is MUCH bigger than the reflection...but you CAN tell it is the mountain being reflected. You know the source of the image.

And that's how it is with us.

We're not perfect. Our lines can get a little blurry at times. God is MUCH bigger than us.

But people should be able to look at the body of Christ and say "I recognize God's reflection there."

And the root of it all is found in Matthew 7:12.

Who, or what, are you reflecting this week?

Wordless Wednesday: Devotions with Daddy

2010-03-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

Relevant 2010

2010-03-02T12:30:00.000-06:00

I am so thrilled about attending this conference, I had just had to share with you!

Relevant is a Christian women bloggers' conference with a beautiful message:

Blessing your family, engaging your world.

In the host's words...

Relevant is a place to connect kindred hearts; to enjoy sweet and fruitful fellowship; to engage one another in sharing, inspiring, and learning, and to figure out how to integrate our lives fully with our faith and family…all the while glorifying Him amidst this blogging tidal wave.

I want to be a part of that.

And late Sunday night, I got my ticket!

If you are a Christian woman blogger, you have to check out this line-up of speakers...

Relevant Speakers:

Angie Smith (Bring the Rain)

Ann Voskamp (A Holy Experience)

Sally Clarkson (I Take Joy)

Crystal Paine (Money Saving Mom)

Kristen Welch (We Are THAT Family)

Melissa Michaels (The Inspired Room)

Jen Schmidt (Balancing Beauty and Bedlam)

Serena Woods (Grace is for Sinners)

Kimba (A Soft Place to Land)

Sarah Pinnox (Real Life Sarah)

Alyssa Francis (Kingdom First Mom)

Bonita Lillie (Encouraging Words for Writers)

Isn't that amazing?! A bunch of ROCK STARS I tell you! And so many other lovely women attending as well!

And I only get to go because one of my FAVORITE companies in the whole world is sponsoring me to go!!! More on that later...

Now I want to know - who am I going to see there?!

Wow! You DO Love Gussy! And a Winner!

2010-03-01T21:15:00.003-06:00

155 comments?!?!

I guess you ARE in love with Gussy already! And with good reason!

The blessed winner of the $25 shop credit to Gussy's shop (as chosen by random.org) is...

#84 -

Raylene Nicole, who said...

I want her laptop bag!! I like the black one!!!

Well, now you have something to go towards that adorable bag! Go get it girl!

Congrats Raylene! Please e-mail me to claim your credit!

Thanks for all of your entries! Another FABULOUS giveaway is coming up this Friday! Stay tuned!

Music Monday: Oh No, Canada

2010-03-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

My good friend is from Canada.

But I won't hold that against her :)

In fact, this is my way of saying, "We should have won that hockey game, but no hurt feelings. I still love you."

She lives here in the US with her American husband and their son, Big J's good buddy.

But her family still lives in Canada and...

her brother is a genius.

You must see what he did here...

I. LOVE. IT.

And the party really IS here in the U.S.A.

(And can you believe I had never heard this song until I saw this?!)

Are you in love with Gussy yet?

2010-02-26T08:00:00.004-06:00

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

Now this girl is inspirational.

Best known as Gussy, she started sewing only a year and a half ago and already has a signature style that has caused so many to fall in love.

She calls it the "Gussy ruffle" and she puts it on everything!

Pouches...

Wallets...

Laptop bags...

Even notecards...

How adorable is this stuff?!?!

I'll take one of each please!

And to top it all off, Gussy has a beautiful heart and love for Jesus.

No wonder her business is taking off like a rocket!

So many reasons to be excited about Gussy, the last, but not least, being...

A Gussy giveaway RIGHT HERE! RIGHT NOW!

The prize: $25 shop credit to Gussy's shop!

I know you're dying to know how to enter, so here we go!

To enter, first visit Gussy's shop and let me know your very favorite item!

Then earn extra entries by...

1. Following Gussy's blog

2. Following my blog

3. Following Gussy on Twitter

4. Following me on Twitter

5. Tweeting about the giveaway -
Enter to win $25 shop credit with @GussySews from @elmusic4kids at http://www.homewiththeboys.blogspot.com/

6. Posting about the giveaway on Facebook

7. Blogging about this giveaway (leave the URL)

For extra entries, please leave SEPARATE COMMENTS for each or you will not receive extra entries. (Sorry, that was the teacher coming out in me!)

An e-mail address must be included in your blog profile or comment so I can contact you if you are the blessed winner!

This contest will run until Monday, March 1st at 9:00 PM CST!

Get your entries in now!

And THANK YOU Gussy for this fab giveaway!

One Body

2010-02-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/papazimouris/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

I have been connecting with many wonderful new people lately.

Through church, MOPS, blogs, Twitter...

They are moms, wives, writers, crafters and so on.

And the majority of them are fellow sisters in Christ.

I lay in bed last night thinking about this:

I read wonderful, uplifting, challenging posts, quotes and tweets daily from these women. Quite often, they are life-changing for me. God is using these women in powerful ways in their sphere of influence.

And I have never once wondered about their denomination or church affiliation.

TOTALLY how God wants it, in my opinion.

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Sure we have our differences - but we share the most important thing in common.

We are ONE BODY in Christ.

And I, for one, am enjoying the support and encouragement that comes with being part of that ONE BODY.

Wordless Wednesday: MY Cheese Crackers!

2010-02-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

The Worst Offenders

2010-02-23T07:00:00.003-06:00

The sermon at our church this Sunday was all about judgment, based off of these verses...

If you judge other people, then you will find that you, too, are being judged. Indeed, you will be judged by the very standards to which you hold other people.

Why is it that you see the dust in your brother's or sister's eye, but you can't see what is in your own eye? Don't ignore the wooden plank in your eye, but criticize the speck of sawdust in your brother's eyelashes. That type of criticism and judgment is a sham! Remove the plank from your own eye, and then perhaps you will be able to see clearly how to help your brother flush out his sawdust.

Don't give precious things to dogs. Don't cast your pearls before swine. If you do, the pigs will trample the pearls with their little pigs' feet, and then they will turn back and attack you.

Matthew 7:1-6 (The Voice)

There is a lot to digest in there and a lot of points were made in the sermon, but I want to focus on one area.

And that one area is this: We MUST avoid a self-righteous attitude.

And as women, I think we are the WORST OFFENDERS.

Yes, I am making a general statement, but I am going to back it up with some honest confession here.

How many times have I watched a mom fail to discipline her child the way I would have and judged her for not handling the situation the "right" way?

How often have I heard another mom talk about her favorite soap opera and wonder how she could watch that trash?

And how many times have I judged another mom for giving their child pop at such a young age?

Does the Bible tell us ONE WAY to raise our children other than to train them up in the Lord?

Is the 11th commandment "Thou shalt not watch soap operas?"

Does the Bible teach us to not give our children sugary drinks until age 5?

No, no and no.

And I can guarantee, the minute I stood there judging another mom for something like this, one of my children was probably running off to get in trouble and I was missing it because I was focused on someone else.

LOG IN MY EYE.

I cannot get this quote from the sermon out of my mind...

"Every time we judge, we push God off the throne and assume His position, when in reality, there are NO VACANCIES in the Trinity!"

Yikes. Now there is a word picture for you. And if I really think about it, I don't actually want that kind of power. I feel much better letting God handle that.

Now, some people will take the verse "Do not judge" to the extreme and spew that line only any chance they get.

No, we are not to judge people based on "extra-Biblical standards," but if you see a fellow believer falling into sin, we are not to sit by and be idle.

Our pastor referred to it as "Biblical evaluation." And the difference between judgment and Biblical evaluation is all about the heart.

Do you see a sister in Christ struggling in the area of gossip? Is your desire to help her and build her up in Christ? Then approach her about it. Do you want to point out her sin to make you feel better about yourself? Go to the Lord and get the plank out of your own eye.

Like I said, this is a lot to chew on, but it is worth the time. I see more and more women that are withdrawn from other women because they don't feel like they are "good enough." It is almost always due to extra-Biblical standards that have been imposed upon them - either by themselves or by other women at some point in their life.

And those scars are hard to remove.

But not impossible. We serve a BIG God.

Women - let's provide empathy and support to one another. Share your failures and successes without jealousy or judgment. Pray for one another.

Know that it is a happier place to lean on one another and lift each other up than to push each other down - even if it is just in our own mind.

"Hear No Evil" Winner!

2010-02-22T21:08:00.002-06:00

Yep, it's that magical time when www.random.org picks another giveaway winner!

Thank you for all the comments - you would all love this book!

By the way, I lent my copy to a friend and she texted me tonight to say that she laughed out loud through the whole first chapter! I think I did through the whole book!

Anyway, the random winner of "Hear No Evil" is...

#20 - Bobby

I love his musical memory:

Bobby said...
My favorite musical memory is of my college job as a server at Johnny Rockets, a 50's type diner where the servers sing and dance. I have no idea how I even got the job, being a horrible dancer and even worse singer, but I nonetheless found myself disco dancing to "Stayin' Alive" while customers pointed and laughed. While this was certainly not my favorite period of personal history, I always smile when I look back and think about my horrendous Johnny Rockets performances. :)

So fun!

Congrats Bobby! Please e-mail me your info and I will get the book sent to you right away!

More giveaways coming soon so stay tuned!

Fun Site to Browse!

2010-02-22T15:30:00.000-06:00

I had never heard of CSN Stores before, so when I found out about their site, allmodern.com, I was in for a treat! I was especially intrigued that on this site that seemed to be furniture-related, they had lots of fun things for the kiddos! Things like some adorable toddler beds shaped like boats and fire trucks - both of which my boys would go crazy for - and other unique furniture and toys!

I love the modern look and feel of everything, and I am anxious to give the boys a shot at this toy and see how they use it in their creative play...

Stay tuned!

Music Monday

2010-02-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

Been singing this song to myself a lot lately - hope it encourages you as well.

If you like what you heard here - we LOVE Seeds Family Worship and just bought all five CDs! - and want to get some for yourself, you can get 30% off your purchase at the Seeds Store from now until February 25 by entering the code ERIN2010!

Thanks for sharing the love with us Seeds!

What's Up with the Boys?

2010-02-19T06:00:00.001-06:00

Our handsome boys.

Our crazy boys.

Our LOUD boys.

Our precious boys.

What are they up to these days?

Big J...

*Is signing "I love you" in the above pictures. These pictures were part of our Valentine's cards!

*Is obsessed with Buzz Lightyear. But you could probably tell that by my WW post this week. I actually used the phrase "Buzz Lightyear is downstairs watching Buzz Lightyear right now" this week. Wow.

*Is in swimming lessons and liking it for the most part. He hates floating on his back, but he LOVES jumping off the side into the pool. Strange, because none of the other kids like that part! I shouldn't be surprised though, because he yells "To infinity and beyond" as he jumps into my arms. Once again with the obsession.

*Walks around the house singing a song about Jonah ALL the time. Or should I say, when he's not pretending to be Buzz. And he is very picky about how the song is sung. He is three and is already concerned with dynamics. He also was giving "voice lessons" to his three-year-old friend at the the piano the other day and tried to explain the correct way to sing the song. Must be in the genes.

*Is the best snuggler - we sneak in a nap together every once in a while - and tells us he loves us out of the blue. It's a beautiful thing being a parent.

And as for Little J, he...

*Is blowing you kisses right now.

*Loves Buzz Lightyear as well - but he hasn't told me how much.

*Copies just about everything his big brother does. I'm just waiting for him to fly off the couch.

*Loves the freedom of going up and down the stairs as much as he wants. I love this freedom as well.

*Wants to know what EVERYTHING is. Testing my patience, but in a good way. We love watching him learn!

*Is obsessed with pulling things off the shelf. I have lost track of the number of times I have had to put the ALL of the DVDs or ALL of the books in their room back on the shelf. I would have him help, but toddlers aren't great at making lots of objects fit back into a space very well. We've tried.

*Gives us the best hugs and smiles - the dimples in those chubby cheeks just light up my day!

And now writing this post has made me all mushy, so I'm going to go give them each a big mommy squeeze.

Happy Friday!

One Week Ago

2010-02-18T12:27:00.002-06:00

Things looked really bad one week ago today.

My friend and former student Savana was in a horrible head-on car accident.

On Friday night, I went to the hospital thinking I was saying goodbye to her.

But that night, Savana's prognosis started to turn around.

In the past week, a Facebook fan page was set up to pray for her and a Caring Bridge page was established to update us on her progress.

There are over 2,000 people on the fan page and her updates have been viewed over 14,000 times. People have been praying, including some of you. It is amazing.

And I am so happy to share the latest update from her family with you...

Wonderful news! This morning Savana's mother was sitting by her side and she asked Savana to squeeze her hand if she could hear her. Savana squeezed her hand. This is just incredible. The staff is going to change the PIC line. Savana does have a fever again. Please keep up the prayers. A week ago this morning Savana's life was forever changed. It has changed me as well. How about you?

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

*****

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.

Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust.

Psalm 40:2-4

*****

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Hear No Evil: Review and Giveaway!

2010-02-17T14:01:00.004-06:00

Christian non-fiction is hit-or-miss for me.

I've reread Blue Like Jazz three times, but many others have been tossed aside before I'm halfway through!

Hear No Evil was not one of the tossed aside variety - I couldn't put it down!

Hear No Evil, by Matthew Paul Turner, is a light-hearted, but honest, look at the intersection of faith, music and life for the author. Everything from growing up fundamentalist to his calling to be a Christian Michael Jackson. The book follows his journey from childhood, through college and into fatherhood.

I laughed out loud throughout this entire book. At the image of Turner's family covering their ears at Sea World when Michael Jackson come over the speakers. At his reference to the I'd-rather-be-dating-Jesus Pentecostal women. At God's voice telling him to rewrite the lyrics to George Michael's "Faith" to make them holy. Even his deep love for Amy Grant. I seriously could go on and on.

And in the midst of all this laughter, Turner sneaks in some great spiritual truths and deep conversations. One of the most memorable for me was a conversation with a friend who had just confessed a hidden sin to Turner. I love this excerpt:

His face blank, Shawn looked down at the table. "I've made God look pretty stupid, haven't I?" He wiped a tear from his eye with a napkin and tried to smile. "A slob even. I've made God look like a slob."

"I guess we've all made God look like a slob at some point," I said, tracing a finger through grains of sugar on the table. "But I don't think we do that by being human. I think we do it when we pretend we're not."

Wow. That has really stuck with me.

The humor and honesty of this book really reminds me of Blue Like Jazz, and of course, I loved the musical theme of the book. It is a fabulous read.

I will be passing my copy on to a friend tonight.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

And thanks to WaterBrook, I am passing a copy on to one of you as well!

To enter, just leave a comment about your favorite musical memory from growing up - Christian or not!

For extra entries you can...

1. Tweet about this giveaway - leave the link!

2. Follow @JesusNeedsNewPR (Matthew Paul Turner) on Twitter

3. Follow @elmusic4kids (me!) on Twitter

4. Become a follower of Home with the Boys

5. Post about it on Facebook

Up to six entries per person! Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and include a way to contact you if you are the lucky winner!

Contest closes Monday, February 22 at 9:00 p.m. CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org.

Wordless Wednesday: To Infinity and Beyond!

2010-02-17T00:08:00.002-06:00

Jewelry on a Mission: Now ONLINE!

2010-02-15T23:10:00.004-06:00

Not too long ago, I posted about a friend's mission to help out a community in Mexico through the skills of some its citizens.

Ana Patricia Jewelry is an amazing thing.

Did you know that between 80% and 100% of EVERY sale goes directly back to the community to some of the very projects I mentioned in the previous post? THAT is an incredible figure.

Great jewelry. Great cause. Perfect combination.

But up until now, it was only available in this area.

Good news world: Ana Patricia Jewelry now has an online shop!

Nothing big, but enough to get you involved and help you look great in the process! And I have the pleasure of managing this store! I love being a part of this!

Currently, there are ten items and sets up for sale on a first-come-first-serve basis. With handmade jewelry, each piece is one-of-a-kind, so once it's gone - it's gone!

I would love to have you go check it out and let me know what you think!

You can also:

*become a follower of the shop to be notified when a new item is for sale

*become a fan on Facebook to hear all of the latest Ana Patricia news!

*and follow Ana Patricia on Twitter as well to be in-the-know!

And there is a possibility of a giveaway at some point... You wouldn't want to miss that, right?!

Let me assure you, this isn't a new, unestablished endeavor. Nancy, Patti, Jon and the crew at Ana Patricia have been running this "business" (doesn't seem like the right word for this group so focused on the Lord and helping pull others up) for several years now and the community has benefited greatly from it.

Won't you get involved too?!

Now have fun shopping!

Music Monday: Tear Down the Walls

2010-02-15T14:36:00.002-06:00

I would say this is somewhat of an anthem at our church right now and I cannot stop listening to it and singing through it in my head.

So powerful. So inspiring. Truly the cry of my heart.

The lyrics are below as well if you want to follow along.

Tear down the walls see the world
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this

And I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this
Fire burning deep inside my heart

Look to the skies hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life there is love
There is hope and this is real

Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart

This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You

Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You

Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You

Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart

This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You

Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You

Prayer Request Update

2010-02-14T21:46:00.002-06:00

Savana continues to hang on, which was not expected 48 hours ago. God is not done there yet.

The swelling in her brain needs to continue to decrease, but there has been a little movement and some other encouraging signs. She is definitely not out of the woods, though.

There is now a website set up to follow her progress. If you are interested, you may go to her Caring Bridge site to get the most up-to-date information and how to pray for her.

I believe strongly in the power of prayer and thank each of you from the bottom of my heart for lifting Savana up. Each of you are such a blessing to me!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Faith Like a Child: UPDATE

2010-02-13T13:46:00.000-06:00

UPDATE: Please continue to pray for Savana as they really need the pressure in her head to come down. When there are more details, I will write a new post to fill you in. If you have a prayer chain at your church, would you please pass her name along? Thank you again.

Thank for those of you who have been praying for Savana. You can read what happened here if you haven't already.

The outlook for her from a medical perspective is not good at this point. I was in tears as we drove home from MOPS this morning. Jeremiah asked why I was sad.

Me: "Savana is still hurt really badly. We need to keep praying for her."

Big J: "It's ok, Mommy. God is fixing her."

Me: "That's right, He is."

Big J: "What is wrong with her?"

Me: "She has some bleeding in her head."

Big J: "Maybe she needs some band aids."

If only a band aid was enough.

But his words touched my heart.

Lord, please help me to have faith like a child.

Urgent Prayer Request: UPDATED

2010-02-11T17:18:00.000-06:00

UPDATE: Savana is still in critical condition, but they have been able to stop the swelling for now. She is currently in a medically-induced coma to help with that. I will let you know when I hear more. Thank you for your continued prayers.

This is a picture from my last year of teaching.

Love these girls.

Savana, on the far right, was Dorothy that year. Gorgeous voice. She was also in our youth group at the time. And now she has graduated and is a fantastic youth sponsor alongside us.

This morning, she was in a head-on collision and is currently in critical condition.

She has bleeding in the brain and several other serious issues that are complicating things.

I am asking any of you that read this to please pray for this lovely young woman.

Please pray for miraculous healing and strength for her body, for guidance for the doctors, comfort and peace for her family, fiancee, and friends, and in any other way you feel led to pray.

Thank you so much and I will try to keep you updated.

Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus. Acts 4:30

Love Your Heart Winner!

2010-02-10T22:03:00.002-06:00

I told you it would be a short contest!

And I am here to announce the winner already!

Each one of you made me want to send you a copy of this book, but alas, only one winner this time. But don't fret, I have some WONDERFUL giveaways lined up in the future!

Anyways, the winner as selected by random.org is...

#6 - Corina, who said...

I would love to give this book to Jeff to read to Mylee. There is just something about the bond between a daughter and a father, just like a mother and her sons, especially when they are the one staying home and taking care of them from 6wks on. *Corina

Congratulations Corina!

Stay tuned for more fun giveaways in the very near future!

Love Your Heart: Review...and a little surprise!

2010-02-10T13:30:00.000-06:00

Love Your Heart by Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Ages: 4 - 10
Price: Hardcover $16.99

To see a flip version of the book, visit here.

The second book in Tim McGraw’s My Little Girl series is a heartwarming story of a little girl’s selfless act of kindness.
Tim McGraw and songwriter Tom Douglas once again join forces to write another book about the precocious Katie and her dad. Katie has many talents, but she wonders which one will win her school’s talent show. With the help of Dad and her faithful dog Palio, and after several amusing mishaps, Katie finally chooses one talent that includes Palio. But at the talent show, she decides to drop out of the contest to help her friend, showing kindness is the best talent of all. Katie’s proud dad reassures her that she did the best thing and that while he loves many things about her, he loves her heart most of all.

Tim McGraw is: dad of three daughters, husband to Faith Hill, Country music superstar, Grammy Winner, American Music Award Winner, People’s Choice Winner, highest grossing tour in history (with wife, Faith Hill), and has sold more than 35 million albums. Yet, beneath all the accolades beats the heart of a dad who immensely loves his family.

Tom Douglas is a singer-songwriter who graduated from Oglethorpe University and received an MBA from Georgia State University. He is the writer of hits "Little Rock" by Collin Raye, "The Gift" by Jim Brickman, "Love's the Only House" by Martina McBride, and "Grown Men Don't Cry" by Tim McGraw. He and his wife have three children.

A little strange to be reviewing a girls' book on a blog entitled "Home with the Boys", isn't it?

Stick with me...especially if you have girls...you'll be glad you did!

Let me first say that this is a gorgeous book to look at! The illustrations are colorful and full of life. And we all know how much good illustrations can draw a kid into a book!

Even though it is a story about girls, the message of kindness is one to be shared with all children. Obviously, with a girl main character, it will appeal more to them, but my boys didn't mind a read through of it!

What I love about this book is the father-daughter relationship that McGraw has lots of experience with! How sweet that he is doing this project with his girls in mind!

The price may be a little much for a children's book, but it is beautiful and would be treasured by any girl!

And here's a chance for YOUR little girl to treasure it!

To enter, just leave a comment below about the girl or girls in your life that would treasure this book! Only one entry per person this time around!

I would love to try to get this book to you by Valentine's Day if you win, so this is going to be a short contest - get your entry in NOW!

The giveaway will be closed TONIGHT (February 10th) at 10:00 p.m. CST!

Good luck!

Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. Thank you to Thomas Nelson!

Please forgive...

2010-02-09T14:12:00.003-06:00

I realize I have had a lack of pictures lately.

My deepest apologies.

Between snow, cold temps, slick roads and illness, we haven't been out of the house much.

Or out of our pjs.

And while we've been having fun cuddling, playing and trying to stay warm, there aren't many photos to document us in our homebound-state.

I am trying to remedy that - more pictures of our everyday life.

Even if we ARE in our pjs.

Music Monday

2010-02-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

We listen to a LOT of children's music and I hardly get a chance to listen to my favorite stuff, so I have decided to start trading off with the kids - one CD for them, then one for me. Sounds fair right?

So I want to know...

What are the last five non-children's CDs you have listened to?

Here is my list:

1. Plumb - Beautiful History
2. Hillsong United - Across the Earth: Tear Down the Walls
3. American Idol Mix CD from last season
4. Mercy Me - Undone
5. Hillsong United - All of the Above

You Alone

2010-02-07T06:00:00.001-06:00

Thank you Lord, that your love went deeper still...

My Former Self

2010-02-05T15:45:00.000-06:00

Have I ever mentioned what I used to do before I was "home with the boys?"

I thought I should touch on that. Wouldn't that be fun?

First of all, I have a bachelor's degree in music education.

Yep, I was a music major - hours of practicing, recitals, conducting lessons, ensembles (like marching band, as I mentioned before) - that was college for me!

And after graduating, I took a job in a small town as an elementary music teacher.

There I am in my early teaching days. Directing a Christmas program.

Music programs were a big part of my life back then - five a year plus assisting with the high school musical. Lots of planning, organizing, rehearsing, painting sets like these...

But I loved it. Halfway through my time there, I started doing a Veteran's Day program every November with the fourth and fifth graders...

Every year, we invited veterans and military men and women from the community to attend and honored them with song. It was one of my favorite parts of my job. The gratitude and pride those men and women exhibited was enough to make me cry EVERY time. So cool.

Another highlight of every year was helping with the high school musical. This year was my favorite...

We always had a fun "reveal" party in December to let the students know what the spring show would be. "Seussical" was a particularly fun party...

I don't think I could teach high school students, but I LOVED working with them on the musical. We always had a blast.

So what else filled my time as an elementary music teacher?

Directing my after-school elementary choir...

(Yes, that is me wearing reindeer antlers as we carol at the nursing home - I was full of Christmas spirit!)

Choreographing and coaching the flag line...

Taking the fifth graders to the symphony...

Putting up bulletin boards...

And organizing the elementary talent show, coaching some junior high volleyball and teaching piano lessons here and there, just to name a few other things.

Yes, I was busy.

But that was part of teaching in this small town and I LOVED it there. The town, school district and community hold a very special place in my heart. I was spoiled with fantastic administration, wonderful teachers around me and very supportive and involved parents.

When I decided to stay home, I had people asking if I had received a better offer from another school district. I told them that was impossible. Sure, I could have gotten more money and less responsibilities somewhere else. But I can't imagine myself teaching in any better place than where I was.

I am fortunate enough to substitute in this district every once in a while and be reminded of what a great place it is.

No, I do not want to go back to full-time teaching, but if I ever did, I would want to go right back to being my former self...

Our Little Perch

2010-02-04T13:40:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Big J's first day of swimming lessons! (His class is the Perch class)

The boy loves the water, so that was not a problem at all.

Following directions, however, was not on his agenda at first. Until mommy mentioned a snack afterwards if he did all he was asked to do...

Works every time :)

He was blowing bubbles, learning to float on his back and tummy, and fearlessly jumping off the side into my arms...all because of bribery. Proud mommy moment.

His buddy Z is in the class as well...

Just to reiterate, Big J is the short one, but he IS one week older - I swear.

In the class of five kiddos, four of us knew each other, which always makes it fun. And easier for us moms to wear our bathing suits in front of each other. (Sorry, no pictures of that - you're welcome ladies!)

Speaking of bathing suits, did you see the length of Big J's shorts here?

He insisted on wearing the new swim trunks I bought for this summer. I guess as long as they don't fall off, it doesn't really matter.

At the end of class, all he wanted was to know how soon we could go back (good sign) and "A towel, please!!!"

I think our fishy is ready for next week!

Wordless Wednesday: Spelling Lesson

2010-02-03T06:00:00.001-06:00

Thanks to "Toy Story," Big J is suddenly interested in spelling :)

Review: Words that Rhyme with Orange

2010-02-02T06:00:00.001-06:00

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Ross King for this review.

Words that Rhyme with Orange, Music CD for children

Age Group This Book/Product is for: 2-12

Put out by: Ross King of Ross King Music

Price: $12.00

Buy Cd and listen to a sample

Purchase at itunes

Purchase at Amazon.com

Note: Ross King Music is independent and “self-produced, which means this product in only available online and not in stores.

From my post yesterday, you now know that I have a background in music. More to come on that later this week. But hopefully that information will give me a little more credibility as I review this children's CD by Ross King.

We are a music family. And the kiddos LOVE listening to "their" music in the van as we run errands and such. We usually end up stuck on one CD for several days as it plays over and over again, much to their delight.

The CD that has been in our van for the past few WEEKS is Ross King's "Words the Rhyme with Orange."

King's CD is an eclectic mix of children's songs - from manners to silly songs and touching love songs to our kiddos. There is a little bit of everything. And it is all very clever and entertaining. Some song titles include:

Happy to Be Me
Lionmonkeybacondonkey
Learning My Alphabet
The Sound of Whining

And our personal favorite...
Don't Do It - a song about not eating your boogers

Don't you love that?!

When it comes to children's music, there is the truly annoying, the tolerable, and the stuff even adults enjoy. And judging by the fact that my hubby and I have been singing songs from this CD around the house, I would say it falls into the last category.

The songs are very catchy - constantly being sung by Big J - and well-sung, and there are even some instrumental tracks as well. Such a wonderful combination of music put together by King!

This is truly a delightful CD that I believe any family would enjoy.

Thank you so much to Ross King for providing our family with this CD!

We're With the Band

2010-02-01T13:56:00.006-06:00

As you all know, we're big Husker fans around here.

But what you might not know is that my husband and I met at the University of Nebraska.

In the marching band.

And I am very proud of that.

Yep, that's us. By the time this picture was taken, we were both drum majors (conductors) for the band and we were engaged.

If you've never been to a college football game, the drum majors usually have to do some sort of pageantry during the pregame ceremonies. Ours involved walking from the corners of the field to the middle "N," leaning back and kicking our legs as high as possible as we walked.

Thankfully I have no pictures of this. And yes, it was as painful as it sounds.

We also conducted the band on the field and in the stands for every home football game.

Lil' Red decided to help me out here.

Marching band was an amazing experience. I played clarinet for three years before becoming a drum major. Stephen was on trombone before three years as a drum major. It's a miracle that we ever got married - brass and woodwinds don't often mix :)

We traveled all over the country to bowl games, including the National Championship at the Rose Bowl. We even made it to Ireland to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin. We started dating during that trip. On St. Patrick's Day. Isn't that cute?!

So when we go to games now, sure I take pictures of the team and the crowd - because the Sea of Red is an incredible sight - but I always have to take some pictures of the band to remember the days of...

playing the National Anthem...

forming the Nebraska "N"...

spelling out HUSKERS...

making the "tunnel" for the team to run through...

and playing "There is No Place Like Nebraska" after a touchdown...

all in front of 80,000 people.

Oh and by the way, the first time I ever went to a game was also the first time I ever stepped foot on the field as a member of the marching band. I couldn't hear anything over the roar of the crowd. I didn't play my instrument through all of pregame. I didn't want to miss my spots on the field. Talk about intimidating!

And totally awesome. Every minute of it.

This and That Thursday

2010-01-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Once Thursday rolls around, it seems I always have odds and ends I want to share, so why not just have "This and That Thursday?!" Works for me!

*****

No, I did not watch the State of the Union last night. I usually don't. I always get bored or mad. So I have no opinions to share on it. You're welcome :)

*****

Two of my blog posts were featured as part of the Hidden Valley Lessons Blog Carnival this week over at Hidden Valley Simplicity! The articles are meant to encourage moms - head on over to check out the other posts as well!

*****

If you've been here for any length of time, you know how much I love Seeds Family Worship! And they are spreading the love over here this Valentine's Day!

Until February 25th, you can receive 30% off any purchase at the Seeds store by using the code ERIN2010! How awesome is that?!

Seeds CDs would make a great Valentine's Day present for the kiddos, and every CD comes packaged with an identical CD to pass along to a friend! I love that!

*****

Let this be an encouragement and reminder for the rest of your week...

"I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:1-6

God bless!

Wordless Wednesday: Arrgh, Matey!

2010-01-27T13:55:00.003-06:00

Girls Night Out: Craft Time!

2010-01-26T17:00:00.001-06:00

In what is quickly becoming a monthly event for some girlfriends from church, we gathered last night for a girls craft night and it was fabulous!

We had a few snacks and then got to work, chatting all the while, of course!

Some define themselves as crafty, others not so much, but the chance to hang out with other women will make us do anything, right?! In the words of one mom there - "I just need some adult interaction!"

And everyone had a blast!

Sewing...

using Mod Podge...

and stenciling...

to come up with some CUTE stuff...

Our projects for the night included these fabric magnets from Make It and Love It...

experimenting with fabric flowers like these...

and my favorite from the night, these adorable monogrammed canvas bags from Ashley Ann at Under the Sycamore...

Regardless of level of "craftiness," fun was had by all and another night is already in the works for February!

Any projects we just have to do? Please share!

A BIG thank you to the hubbies for making this possible by watching and feeding children, etc. We love you guys!

Not Me! Monday

2010-01-25T06:00:00.001-06:00

About time for some laughter around here! Thanks to MckMama for hosting this carnival - it is too much fun!

It was not me who decided to not count calories yesterday because I didn't feel like it. And it was not me who decided to eat whatever I wanted all day. Nope - I am more disciplined than that.

And it was not me who got a little giddy when I realized we had reached 75 followers here on the blog! I wouldn't care about something like that. Or that one of my favorite bloggers is following me now and we chat like good friends vie e-mail and Twitter. Nope, not me. That would be lame.

Lastly, it was not me who started wishing for a little girl after making this hat for a friend's daughter...

But it WAS me who quickly reminded myself how full my hands are right now and how I am totally good with waiting until medical school is over for more children!

Did you hear that God?!

I am perfectly happy making these for other people!

What didn't you do this week? Feel free to confess here - we can all laugh about our imperfections together! Doesn't that sound nice?

Titus 3:14

2010-01-23T08:09:00.000-06:00

"Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others..." Titus 3:14 NLT

What urgent needs could you meet for someone else today? Remember a time someone did this for you?

Please share your ideas so we can spur each other on as the hands and feet of Christ!

Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

2010-01-22T16:45:00.000-06:00

I have heard wonderful things about Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson to review several months ago and started reading right away, hungry to know more about God’s design for the marriage relationship.

The book is based around Ephesians 5:33 – a wonderful verse about the roles of husbands and wives – giving love and respect, respectively, if you will!

Unfortunately, something tripped me up. My reading stalled quickly. That "thing" was an emphasis on critical wives. I do not disagree this is a major problem in our society. However, from my perspective – and my husband would agree – my disrespect towards him is NEVER verbal. And this is where I had a hard time relating with the book. I put it down for a while.

Recently, I picked it up again, asking God to reveal truths beyond the nagging wife scenario. Although still slow going, I was able to read the book, replacing the verbal disrespect with my own acts of disrespect and their effects on our marriage. God spoke to me in this way through the book.

Dr. Eggerichs hits the nail on the head with his “Crazy Cycle” described in the book and I think the concept could relate to so many hurting marriages – whether the disrespect and lack of love is in word or deed.

Love and Respect is fairly repetitive and tends to talk more about the husband's need for respect than the wife's need for love, but that may be what some need to really get the message of how important BOTH are to a marriage.

This and That

2010-01-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

Big J, his friend Z and I played a little Chutes and Ladders yesterday. Not super fun to be honest. More like super frustrating. But it was a learning experience for all.

For them: the number you spin is NOT the number you land on - it is the number you count to your next spot.

For me: relax and have fun, even if they don't get it.

I got this bottle for $2 at Hobby Lobby on clearance last fall. Not usually a yellow person, but I kind of like it. What do you think? Any great ideas of what to do with it?

After living in our house for 3+ years, we finally put something up on this wall in our living room. I'm quite fond of the pics and arrangement. Nothing special, but the kiddos are always smiling at us from the wall!

The boys (my two plus Z) snuggled up to watch Buzz Lightyear and they were just too cute to NOT take a picture. They look like they cold all be related!

My wonderful hubby and Big J brought home flowers the other day just because - with my fave, gerbera daisies...

These make me smile too :)

My friend Renee and I got crafty yesterday and each put one of these together...

I'm ready to make several in many colors - too fun!

And last, but not least, this verse really inspired me today and I hope it does some of you as well...

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders... 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV)

God bless and have a great weekend!

I'm a Knifty Knitter!

2010-01-21T14:38:00.007-06:00

This product was sent to me by Provo Craft to review for this blog. I was not compensated in anyway for the review and all opinions are my own.

Ok, I'm not really a knitter. I can do very basic crochet and that's about it.

But I LOVE the way knitted and crocheted stuff looks. It is gorgeous.

So when Provo Craft asked if I would be interested in trying their Knifty Knitter looms, I immediately said YES!

And this is what they sent me...

Oh man, was I excited. The box arrived on a Friday night right before we left for a party.

We got home around 9:30 and I was ready to knit.

After only a few hours, I finished my first project, a newborn hat for a friend...

I couldn't believe I had just made that! And it was incredibly easy!

Now, I will not go into exactly how it works because there are a million and one tutorials online that do a much better job explaining than I would.

But I will tell you this - it does not take much time, it is very simple to figure out and the results as fabulous.

I am addicted.

In less than two weeks I have made two newborn hats (blue loom), a hat for my oldest son (red loom)...

A hat for my sister (green loom) to match the scarf I gave her for Christmas...

Two "baby sacks" like this one for my photographer friend...

(Here one is in the process)

And this yarn is for some of the projects to come!

I really can't tell you how much I am enjoying my looms. Sure, it takes time, but I like to keep my hands busy and this is perfect for me!

There are lots and lots of patterns online and I am excited to try some new stitches in the coming days and weeks.

In addition to the round looms, Provo Craft also has long looms - ideal for scarves, blankets, etc. - and a flower loom - adorable creations from that. I am looking forward to trying the whole variety of looms in the near future!

So where can you get them?

There are different places - Amazon, eBay, and so on. But I found this link to a "variety pack" of sorts that looks perfect! It does not include the newborn hat size loom or largest round loom, but it has everything for kid and adult hats, scarves and flowers. This would be a great place to start and you can always add additional pieces as you wish!

If you've ever been interested in knitting at all, but the needles have scared you off (like me!), the Knifty Knitter is perfect for you!

A HUGE thank you to Provo Craft for sending me this product to review!

Wordless Wednesday: Rambunctious Boys

2010-01-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

The Busy Couple's Guide to Sharing the Work and the Joy

2010-01-19T15:30:00.001-06:00

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Tyndale House for this review. I will only write my honest opinion in all reviews on this blog.

The Busy Couple's Guide to Sharing the Work and the Joy
by Kathy Peel
Price: $16.99
Publisher: Tyndale House

Kathy Peel is founder and CEO of Family Manager, a company that trains women in the art of family management. She has written 21 books, selling more than 2 million copies. Her latest works are The Busy Couples Guide to Sharing the Work and the Joy, The Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy, Organized Home (winner of the 2009 Gold Mom's Choice Award) and Desperate Households. She is AOL's Kids & Family Coach, and she contributes to many publications, including FamilyFun, Parents, Woman's World, Family Circle, and HomeLife. A popular speaker and media personality, Kathy's Family Manager makeover stories have appeared on programs such as Oprah, The Early Show, The Today Show, and HGTV.

I must admit - the title of this book both excited me AND turned me off a little when I first saw it. So I was intrigued. Throw in the question on the back of the book - "Are you married to your housekeeping opposite?," and I was ready to read.

Yes, I am married to my housekeeping opposite. I am the messy one. My hubby is the neat and organized one. We're still working through that one.

And I was intrigued because #1 - "sharing the work" is not really what we're going for here and #2 - "sharing the joy" sounds fabulous!

I am the one staying home and my husband is in the middle of medical school. Of course, I am going to be doing more of the work at home and THAT IS HOW I WANT IT. Not that he doesn't do anything around here, but I do not expect him to do laundry, clean the house, cook, etc. He takes wonderful care of our finances, cars, house, etc. (CLARIFICATION: My husband is better than me in all areas of cleaning and organizing and he is very helpful - doing dishes when he can, cleaning the bathtub which I hate, etc. Just wanted to make sure I give credit where credit is due. He rocks.)

And after reading, that is the point of this book. Communication. Playing to strengths and weaknesses. Having a plan, but being flexible.

"Sharing the work" looks different for every couple, so this book has lots of workbook type features for couples to sit down and figure out their situation together - questionnaires, schedules, lists and so on.

And lots of advice from both the author, Kathy Peel, and her husband Bill. Little tips are here and there throughout the book. Lots of personal experience is shared. And faith is at the center of it all.

The book is all about "creating a smoothly running, low-stress home" and who doesn't want that? I WANT THAT!

Now, I will admit that some couples have this all figured out - so if you consider yourself an organized family, you probably don't need this book.

But for those of us figuring out life with young children, who want to eliminate time-wasters at home, who want reduce stress in everyday family life - this book is valuable and worth the low price - only $12.23 on Amazon!

Next month, our MOPS group is focusing on marriage relationships and I am jotting down several things from this book that I can't wait to share with the moms!

And now I'm off to eliminate some of the stress in our home!

Thank you to Tyndale House for allowing us to review this book!

Yes, I Tweet

2010-01-17T17:21:00.002-06:00

So, some people think I'm a little crazy for being on Twitter.

I'm here to explain myself and my love for tweeting.

I first signed up for Twitter to enter a contest. Didn't win that one, but contests are a great reason to be on Twitter. Let's see, a few things I have acquired through Twitter contests include...

*A Land's End sweater
*Matthew West's book Give This Christmas Away
*Read and Share Christmas Story Book and DVD
*What's in the Bible preview DVD
*The Voice New Testament
*and a $100 Land's End gift card!

Sweet, huh?!

But contests are not the only reason I love Twitter.

For those who know me well, I like to be "in the know." I like to know the latest news - be it sports, news, great deals, new gadgets, mom advice - whatever. I enjoy being the person who people go to for advice and ideas. Twitter is the place to be to be "in the know."

I have connected with some amazing mom, writer, crafter, blogger tweeters and so on. And there is some great inspiration to be had on Twitter as well - strong men and women of faith sharing insights, wisdom and Scripture with the whole Twitter world.

Which brings me to prayer. I have seen AMAZING prayer chains on Twitter. Imagine praying for someone across the country and being able to get updates anytime on how to be praying for them. The power of prayer is truly incredible, even if you have never met the person you are praying for in "real life." The body of Christ is reaching out on Twitter and I love being a part of that.

I could go on and on about why I love Twitter, but I decided to ask a few of my tweet buddies why I love it and here is what they said (in 140 characters or less of course)...

I've "met" amazing people I otherwise wouldn't. Also, awesome news stories, advice, deals, giveaways, etc.

I think Twitter is great 4 the quick connection; maybe someone needing a homeschool resource, on spot discussions

Using twitter helps provide that sometimes on the spot connection some need; I've discovered a lot of great& useful blogs

A lot of it is in the moment right now which for most busy moms helps

If you tweet already, you can click on the button in the right column to start following my tweets. Please @ me so I know you came from the blog!

If you're not on Twitter, I will say it is probably not for everybody. There are definitely people in my life who would not enjoy it or use it very often. But then again, everybody needs a good laugh and there are plenty of those in Tweet Land!

So tweet away and join the fun!

Coming Soon: What's in the Bible?

2010-01-13T14:19:00.003-06:00

So I heard via Twitter that Phil Vischer (creator of Veggie Tales) and Tyndale House were teaming up to create a DVD series for kids called "What's in the Bible?"

Sounded fun.

And then I won a preview DVD, so we popped it in the other day.

The kids were glued to it. And wanted to watch the less-than-10-minute DVD over and over again!

Phil Vischer's goal is to get the Bible into kids' lives OUTSIDE of church activities. And based on my kids' reaction, they would want to watch this every day!

Fun puppets, cute cartoons, catchy songs, and of course the trademark Veggie Tales-type humor - kids laugh, but adults think its hilarious - all combine to make this something to look forward to! I especially love the guys in seventies-style tuxedos singing about the book of Samuel. Awesome!

The "What's in the Bible?" DVDs launch from Tyndale House in March 2010 and we cannot wait!

Thanks to Tyndale House for sending me this DVD! We are excited!

Blog Hop: 2010 Best Wishes

2010-01-12T14:00:00.002-06:00

As we begin 2010, I pray that each of you would…

find your home to be a sanctuary...

"There's no place like home..."

realize how much you are loved by your Creator...

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9

find joy in the midst of the everyday...

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Psalm 5:11

and experience the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ...

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:22-24

Blessings and prayers for an amazing 2010!

Getting Crafty Again!

2010-01-09T13:55:00.003-06:00

I am in love with this wreath.

I first read about the idea on Lindsay's fabulous blog.

I headed to the Dollar Store, picked up a $1 Bible - yes, a Bible was destroyed in the process, but it makes the wreath more meaningful to me! - and a $1 wreath form and went to work!

In all reality, this wreath doesn't take that long to make (a little tedious), but Christmas got in the way for me this year!

All I can say is - IT IS FINALLY DONE!

And I love it!

Don't you?!

Thank you Lindsay!

Fantastic Followers Friday and an Award!

2010-01-08T14:32:00.003-06:00

I want to take this opportunity to say that I have the some of the best followers in the blogosphere!

Seriously, a comment from one of you totally brightens my day! And for that I want to say...

THANK YOU!

Some of you comment more regularly than others, so I feel like I know you better, but all of you rock! And I would love to get to know ALL of you better! So why not leave a comment today and tell me more about yourself? Wouldn't that be fun? I thought so.

And I would also like to say that I can't believe I am almost at 70 followers! Honestly - never thought I would get past five or ten - including family. Amazing.

One of my followers, Nicole from A Munchkin's World, is a friend from college. She was lovely enough to pass along an award to us here at Home with the Boys! The Lemonade Stand Award is an award for a blogger who shows great attitude and gratitude. Thank you so much Nicole! And welcome to the blogging world!

And now I get the honor of passing this award along to some of my faves! Since I put more restrictions on my computer time, I don't get as many chances to read other blogs, but there are several that really inspire me on a regular basis.

Some of these blogs are too big to even care about this award probably, but that doesn't mean they don't deserve it all the same!

So my nominees would be...

No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane

Like a Warm Cup of Coffee

Our Front Door

Living with Lindsay

Called Out One

It's Almost Naptime

Studio JRU

Mad in Crafts

Chatting at the Sky

A Soft Place to Land

These are all beautiful women with inspiring posts - some crafty, some faith-building, some funny, some all of the above, all magnificent. Please check them out when you get a chance!

The Lemonade Stand Award

The rules for accepting this award:

- Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
- Pass the award onto 10 bloggers.
- Link the nominees within your post.
- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

What About Mii? I Mean, Me?

2010-01-07T15:35:00.000-06:00

Maybe I've been playing a little too much Wii lately.

Or maybe not.

I posted earlier this week about my priorities for 2010. But I forgot one.

And that is me.

Because if I don't take care of myself, my other priorities will seem like work. Like burdens. Not the true blessings they are.

In the past, I have fluctuated between no time for myself and being very selfish with my time. Neither was a good situation for anybody, of course.

So what does making myself a priority in 2010 look like?

-Working out more. Right now that means time on the Wii - boxing, playing tennis, etc. And let me tell you, I am sore! Good feeling. I do have to look good in a bridesmaid dress by August!

-Eating better. I did not say the word diet. I hate diets. I just want to eat healthier food and everything else in moderation - even cookies. Cookies are allowed - just not too many.

-Reading for fun. I like to end every evening reading some good fiction. My current book is The Begotten by Lisa T. Bergren. Met her at MOPS Convention and she is lovely. And we're Twitter buddies. I couldn't put the book down last night. Thank goodness the kids slept until 9!

-Taking time for things I enjoy - being crafty, baking, blogging - but not obsessing over them. Christmas is over - no present deadlines. My family will not starve if I don't try that newest recipe TODAY. I hope my blog readers will still be here if I am gone for a day or two. Right?! But all of these things are fun and give me great joy, so I'm making time for them.

So along with my other priorities this year, I am taking care of me. And it's feeling pretty good.

Will you join Mii?

Oops, I did it again...

Wordless Wednesday: My Crafty Side

2010-01-06T14:15:00.000-06:00

Here they are - pictures of some of the gifts I made for Christmas this year!

My Word for 2010

2010-01-05T14:00:00.000-06:00

I've read some wonderful posts lately declaring a word of the year to live by.

I absolutely ADORE this post about HOME.

As well as this one about SELF-DISCIPLINE.

But I can't just steal their ideas for my 2010 word, even though I would like to...

So my word for 2010 is...

PRIORITIES.

Not just making a list, but living them out. Every day. For all to see.

It's not for show, but I want people to know by my actions where my priorities are.

I want my schedule during the day to reflect these priorities and for my family to reap the benefits from this.

And while I have several things that make my priority list, my main focus will be on these four...

1. God
2. My husband
3. My children
4. My home

In that order.

And that has meant a few changes for me.

I am spending more time in the Word - by myself and with the kiddos.

I am not opening my computer before noon.

I am saying no to more things outside my home.

I am playing more with my children.

I am enjoying my time at home much more.

I am getting a whole lot more done.

All good things. Great things.

I'll need that whole self-discipline post to help me out as I tend to start things strong and finish weak (or not at all), but I know God will honor my daily decision to put Him first and my family next. I can do all things through Him, right?!

So here's to PRIORITIES in 2010!

How about you? Word for the year? Resolutions? Please share!

Blog Hop: Christmas Pictures

2010-01-05T09:00:00.001-06:00

Finally - some Christmas pictures!

I could do several separate posts based around all of the snow pictures from our Christmas break, so I'm just sticking to Christmas festivities - making a birthday cake for Jesus, opening presents, and the like.

Welcome to Christmas with "Home with the Boys" and family!

It's Been Fun...

2010-01-04T14:00:00.000-06:00

Thanks for playing with us for the past two weeks Daddy! We've loved every second of having you home! We knew school would have to start again sometime, but we know you'll play with us every night, so it's all good! You're the best!

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!

One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2

2010-01-04T13:40:00.000-06:00

Title: The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2
by Carla Barnhill; illustrated by Elena Kucharik
Age range: 3-6 years old
Publisher: Tyndale
Price: $14.99 (hardcover)

Disclosure: Mama Buzz and reviewers, received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Jeremiah is at the age where he is starting to ask more questions about God. I love that he is wanting to know more and "figure it all out."

The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2 has been a wonderful starting point for these discussion for us. Each day has a Bible verse, a short devotional and a cute rhyming saying to help sum up the lesson. Here is an example from today...

January 4 - Fantastic You

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31, NIV

Have you ever felt like nobody likes you? We all have days when we feel ignored or picked on or left out. But do you know who thinks you're amazing every single minute of every single day? God does!...

When God looks at me, He likes what He sees.

Isn't that precious? This devotions book is geared at children ages 3 to 6. Each devotion is short - only one page, so no attention span problems here! And the illustrations are adorable!

I asked Jeremiah what he thought of this book and he said, "It's good!" So I asked him why he liked it. His response?

"It's cool."

Quite the endorsement from a 3 1/2 year old!

As for my recommendation: I think this is wonderful daily reading material with your preschooler. It is WELL worth the $14.99 price tag to have these meaningful, spiritual moments with your little ones!

Thank you to Tyndale for providing this book! Our family loves it!

Ringing in 2010

2010-01-01T21:23:00.005-06:00

Disclaimer: I know I haven't posted much about our Christmas yet, but I just had to share this since it is the beginning of a New Year! The Christmas highlights will come - I promise!

We had a fabulous time ringing in the new year with wonderful friends last night! Haven't stayed up that late in a LONG time! And of course, the kids were up extra early, but it was all worth it. Such a fun night!

And while the adults were downstairs playing Beatles Rock Band (AWESOME!)...

and Wii Sports (hilarious times)...

six children ages four and under were asleep upstairs...

It was a New Year's Eve miracle! Aren't they precious?!

Happy New Year to all of you and may God bless you beyond what you can imagine in 2010!

Our Christmas Letter...if I had written it.

2009-12-29T22:00:00.000-06:00

That's right. Stephen got a hold of the blog again. This is what our Christmas letter would look like if I had written one...

Our family is like the heart. Forgive me, but I'm a med student. So you're getting a med student analogy.

Joshua is like the right atrium. The right atrium receives blood from the entire body, taking basically everything that is given to it. Joshua has this problem as well, as he has to deal with his rambunctious big brother, a sometimes crabby daddy, and an overworked mommy.

I (Stephen) am like the right ventricle. The right ventricle takes the blood from the right atrium, and pumps this deoxygenated blood to the lungs for the future needs of the body. I am always thinking about the future - what the needs of our family will be, what we need to do now to plan for the future. Also, as a med student, I am often "deoxygenated." Like the right ventricle.

Jeremiah is like the left atrium. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood back from the lungs, and delivers it into the left ventricle to be pumped to the body. Further, the left ventricle is often the source of problems, such as blood clots (which will pass through the left ventricle) or increased pressure (backing up on the right ventricle). Jeremiah is like this in that he can cause problems for both mom and dad.

Erin is like the left ventricle. The left ventricle is the workhorse of the heart, providing for the needs of the entire body. Erin is definitely like this in our house, managing the needs of our entire family, always making sure we have what we need. Further, she deals with the problems of the other three chambers, making sure our family runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

I love you, Erin. You too, Big J and Little j.

Merry Christmas from Home with the Boys!

2009-12-25T16:39:00.000-06:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Safe and Sound

2009-12-24T22:52:00.002-06:00

On this Christmas Eve, when we want to be focusing on our Lord Jesus Christ, we were doing just that.

Only not in reference to His birth.

His mighty name was uttered many times in prayer on a road trip that took us almost twice as long as it normally does due to weather.

Nasty weather.

Stephen says it was the worst drive of his life.

The interstate was closed in the middle of our drive, but we were able to continue on to our destination.

And the Lord was with us every step of the way.

Calming our nerves. At times, even calming the winds.

Guiding us home through blizzard conditions that easily could have sent is into the ditch.

Along the way, we even saw two different lit-up crosses we had never seen before - signs of hope in dire circumstances.

The children were calm for the most part, which was a blessing in itself.

And now, this Christmas Eve, we are safe and sound and stuck - giving the Lord all of the glory for getting us here.

And ready to focus on Him as the reason for the season. As our Savior.

Merry Christmas and God's blessings to each of you!

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:4-14

Not Me! Monday

2009-12-21T11:36:00.003-06:00

I think it is about time for a Not Me! Monday! It has been too long!

It was not me who was a little relieved to only put up a small three-foot Christmas tree this year. No, I was not even a little pleased that I didn't have to get all of the ornaments and lights out this year. And it is not me who has become quite fond of the tiny little tree in our living room.

It was not me who both called and sent a lengthy e-mail to the customer service of a company who failed to honor a mistaken price they had listed on their website and CANCELLED our order, resulting in us having to scramble at the last minute to find a different present for one of our children. No, I was not at all fired up by the whole situation and and I did not tell pretty much anyone I came in contact with about it. That was not me.

It was not me who let my children play in the children's section of a small store while I shopped last week. And it was not me who came back to this section to discover that my youngest had pulled CDs off of an entire half of a shelf. And to top it all off, it was not me who had to pay for two pieces of candy my oldest son opened and ate in the store while I was trying to check out. Nope, not me.

And it is not me who is completely THRILLED to have my hubby home for a 16-day break!

Ok, yes that is me and I think there are two boys who completely agree!

Check out more true confessions over at MckMama's site today!

6 Times in '09

2009-12-17T10:00:00.000-06:00

It's time I spoke up for something about which I feel very strongly.

Blood.

No, I'm not a vampire. I have not even read or seen anything from Twilight.

I mean donating blood.

Did you know...

...every 2-3 seconds, someone needs blood?

...on any any given day, an average of 38,000 units of red blood cells are needed?

...blood must be available to the patient at the instant it is needed?

...donating blood only takes one hour of your time every 8 weeks?

Many people donate blood in times of disaster, but what about the man in the hospital right now needing a transfusion during surgery? Or the little girl who lost a lot of blood in a car accident last night? They need blood too. And they can't wait.

I started donating blood as soon as I was old enough - 17 is the current age limit - and a blood drive was held at our school. The whole process didn't bother me one bit, so I figured I'd just keep doing it as often as I could. Didn't hurt me and helped lots of people. Good deal.

I continued giving through college, after we got married, while I was teaching and only stopped when I was pregnant. Darn babies have hampered by giving in the past few years! Only kidding, of course.

But - not being pregnant and all - I was happy to be back giving this year. And every eight weeks, we head to our Community Blood Bank...

We get lots of smiles when they see us coming. We are quite a sight making our way in.

The workers are so friendly and accommodating for a mom with two small children. This week, Katie was the one taking my donation...

...and taking pictures of me...

...and getting the information I wanted for this post. Thank you Katie! You rock!

Here is the whole process of donating one pint of blood...

The actual blood donation part of your visit takes about ten minutes, but from registration...

to the cookies and juice afterwards...

...you'll be there about an hour. I even get free lunch out of the deal!

I bet you're wondering "Didn't you say your children go with you? What do they do during all of this?" Great question.

This is what they do...

They eat. They entertain the workers and other people donating. And they love it.

I told Big J we were going to the blood bank a day ahead of time and he asked me all day - "Are we going now?" "No, tomorrow buddy." "Maybe tonight?"

One time, I left the kids with a friend to make the whole process a little less frantic. The first question I was asked when I walked in the door - "Where are your kids?" And the last thing said to me before I left - "Make sure you bring those kiddos with you next time!"

I guess they enjoy the kids too.

To be honest, I like giving blood because it is something I know I can do to help someone, but if it weren't for workers like Katie and Dale (one of the kids' favorites), I don't know that I would keep going back so regularly. So I want to thank all of the workers at our community blood bank for making it such a wonderful experience for all of us...

And I give them some of the credit for the fact that I reached this milestone...

I know some of you might get creeped out by the whole thought of donating blood. And that's ok. It's not for everyone. But if it doesn't bother you or you've never given it a shot, call your blood bank. Make an appointment. NOW.

Each time you donate blood, you may be saving up to three lives.

There is no easier way to make a life-saving difference in someone else's life.

Thank you to the Community Blood Bank for providing me with statistics for this post and allowing me to take pictures at their facility.

In our area, there is currently a critical need for O negative blood donations.

To make an appointment to donate blood in your community, visit your community blood bank or the American Red Cross.

Wordless Wednesday: Cookie Art!

2009-12-16T09:15:00.000-06:00

Conversations with Big J

2009-12-15T21:17:00.003-06:00

Conversation #1:

In the car on the way home from church...

Big J: Rylan was baby Jesus today.

Us: Oh yeah, in Sunday school?

Big J: Yep.

Us: Who was Mary?

Big J: Emma.

Us: Who were the wise men?

Big J: Mr. Jon and Mr. Sam.

Us: Who were you?

Big J: Jophus.

Conversation #2:

(As relayed to me by our MOPS childcare workers)

A bunch of Big J's friends are crawling around like kitties...

Worker: Big J, are you a kitty too?

Big J: No, I'm a whale.

Worker: Oh really?

Big J: (pointing in his mouth) Yeah, see Jonah?!

I love that kid.

Potluck Survival Guide

2009-12-15T10:00:00.000-06:00

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by:

Five Star Publications for this review.

Potluck Survival Guide by Cherie Kimmons

Price: $18.96, regularly $24.95 - go here to order

I love cookbooks.

No, I really LOVE cookbooks.

I know I can find millions of recipes online and I do use the internet quite often to find them, but there is nothing quite looking looking through a cookbook.

I was thrilled to get this cookbook - really so much more than a cookbook - to review!

Potluck Survival Guide: Care and Feeding of the Athletic Supporter by Cherie Kimmons is a manual for feeding large groups of people - athletes, adults, kids, anyone! The book is full of tried and true recipes and tips for hosting any gathering - even feeding the kids at the ballpark after a game!

Now, my children are not old enough to be involved in organized sports yet, but this book actually makes me excited for the day I have a team dinner at our house or organize the band potluck.

I could make a whole post on the yummy recipes in the Potluck Survival Guide, but I will just name a few that peaked my interest:

*Nana's Garlic Brisket
*Flank Steak Pinwheels
*Chicken Paella
*Fried Bread
*Nutty Cereal Snack
*Apple Pockets

Now, an experienced soccer mom might say that the ideas in this book aren't anything new - but that's not the point. For someone like me who is new to this style of cooking for the masses, this is EXACTLY the book I need.

I love the suggestions for food bar ideas - Baked Potato, Chili, Waffle, Sundae, etc. - as well as buffet tips and guidelines for feeding athletes. There are basic recipes with lots of listed variations and helpful notes on every recipe page.

One of the most useful sections to me is the "Numbers Game" - a guide for calculating the amount food based on the amount of people! How many times have I tried to figure that out, only to be WAY off in one direction or the other?!

The only downfall to this book for me is the lack of food pictures. I really enjoy seeing a picture of what I am making, and while this book is very colorful and well illustrated, it does not include pictures of the recipes.

Other than that, I find the Potluck Survival Guide to be a very useful tool for any large event involving food! I cannot wait for the next church or MOPS potluck to try something out! Maybe even over Christmas with my family!

Thank you to Ms. Kimmons and Five Star Publications for including me in this review tour!

I Heart Faces: Pets Only

2009-12-13T23:54:00.004-06:00

I've been taking a little break from the photo challenges at I Heart Faces, but this week was too tempting!

We don't have any pets, but my hubby's parents have four dogs. And the boys just adore them! And so do we :)

This was taken over Thanksgiving and I just love the look on Little J's face as he looks at Oliver, the oldest of the "boys"...

I wonder what each of them is thinking...

Be sure to check out more pet photos at I Heart Faces this week!

A Coffee Confession

2009-12-12T16:07:00.004-06:00

When people used to ask me if I liked coffee, my answer was always...

"I don't like regular coffee, just mochas and lattes, and usually just once a week or less."

Not so anymore.

I have now become a coffee addict and I blame several things for this...

1. It's been cold here. Coffee is warm. And yummy.

2. I have found several recipes for making mochas and lattes at home, which makes them more accessible. And cheaper. Bad combo.

3. I recently discovered several creamers in very yummy flavors at the store - Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Apple, etc. Now I can actually use my coffee maker at home and have the mocha taste with just one pour - too easy.

4. A Caribou Coffee was just put inside a grocery store I drive by frequently. I love Caribou Coffee. But before, both Caribous in town were quite out of the way so the temptation was low. now it is high - very high. They even gave me a punch card. Darn you Caribou.

For the record, I usually only have decaf, so no caffeine addiction here.

Just coffee.

That's right - my name is Erin, and I am a coffee addict.

Thank you for listening.

Have a nice day.

Snow Days!

2009-12-10T12:32:00.005-06:00

Well, it started snowing here on Sunday, we haven't left the house since Monday morning and it is FREEZING outside. This is third day in a row school has been cancelled, but not for Stephen - apparently medical school NEVER closes. Thankfully, he has made it to and from safely every day - praise the Lord!

Yesterday afternoon, I finally decided to brave the weather for a little bit and take the boys out in the snow. Like I said, it was freezing, but I'm glad I did because Jeremiah had such a good time (except for the one picture below where he got some snow in his coat!) and did NOT want to go inside. Joshua wasn't crazy about it - he just stood in the middle of the sidewalk the whole time - but he did love watching his brother make and throw snowballs!

Wordless Wednesday: Wedding Wednesday!

2009-12-09T09:03:00.004-06:00

Highlights of wedding dress shopping with my little sis!

Yes, she found her dress! No, it is not shown here!

5 Reasons I'm Proud to Be a Husker Tonight

2009-12-06T23:16:00.005-06:00

We may not have won the Big 12 Championship on Saturday night, but I am so proud to be a Husker for many reasons, among those right now...

5. I'll start with the totally non-football related. My hubby and I went to the Huskers first-round NCAA tournament match Friday night and watched those ladies take the match in a sweep! There is nothing quite like sitting fifth row at a match in the Coliseum! They followed with another sweep the next night and are headed to the Regionals in Omaha next weekend! Love that Husker volleyball - you ladies rock!

Now on to the football...

4. In this article, Nebraska fans are referred to as "too nice and polite." I didn't know that was an insult. I believe we are also referred to as dull, but Mr. Kelso, I will take dull over rude (as you were) any day. I am quite proud of our fans and how they represent themselves, thank you very much. (On a side note, I'd like to hear what this "writer" has to say after the game!)

3. We made it back to the Big 12 Championship! That is always something to be proud of!

2. Our defense - known as the Blackshirts if you hadn't heard - was stellar Saturday night. I was in awe. They continually shut down one of the top offenses in the nation and played their hearts out all night. NINE SACKS?!?! Amazing. The Blackshirts alone deserved to win that game, but alas, it was not to be. So proud of those young men.

And the #1 reason I am so proud to be a Husker right now...

Ndamukong Suh.

No, I did not just switch languages on you.

Suh is the 6'4", 300-lb. defensive tackle who made Colt McCoy's life a nightmare Saturday night. 4.5 sacks, 12 total tackles. He was on fire. He has been the whole season. And not too bad last season either.

And now, with just cause, he is a serious contender for the Heisman - the award for the most outstanding college football player in the United States.

This year, that was Suh. Whether he wins it or not.

For all these reasons, and many more, I am SO proud to be a Husker.

Matthew 25:40 (and some fabulous jewelry!)

2009-12-03T08:24:00.008-06:00

And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 25:40

Every once in a while, we stumble upon something that inspires. That uplifts. That shows the goodness of humanity.

This is one of those things.

I met Nancy when I taught her children, but I didn't really know much about her amazing story until this past year.

I'll let you read about it in her own words...

While on a mission trip to Mexico 9 years ago, I met a then 15-year-old girl hanging around the park waiting for her mother. Her name was Patti, she went and stood beside me and with leftover wire the women had been using for crafts, Patti stuck a piece of wire in her mouth and out came a beautiful flower. I recognized there was something special about that flower, went and got an interpreter and suggested that Patti try to make jewelry.

That was 9 years ago. Today Patti, her brother and aunt are creating beautiful one of a kind jewelry, not with their teeth but with jewelry making tools, spools of wire, and beautiful gemstones.

It was not only my dream that Patti would never go hungry, but that she would improve the quality of her family’s lives. By selling her jewelry, learning a trade, working hard, and by being an example and serving their own people in the community, they have definitely achieved this dream.

With the sales of the jewelry, they have first of all been able to feed their families. They have bought a stove for their parents. They have purchased an old car, which many don't have, so it has basically been used for a taxi, especially for the elderly in the community.

They paid for their grandfather’s funeral. They put new bathrooms in their elderly grandmother’s home and aunt’s home which previously were using dangerous outhouses.

Old...

and new...

They paid for two of their brothers’ weddings and Patti was able to get a new guitar. She gave her old one to a cousin who wanted to learn and now Patti gives lessons to others in the church. Most importantly, Patti graduated last month with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Her sister-in-law is now in college.

It is my vision that Patti will be able to help all the young people in her family go to school. At a very early age, they have to pay for their education and if they can't there is nothing for them to do.

She told me that they loved me because for the first time I gave them hope. I have been way more blessed than they ever thought about being! There is no other way to put it but that this whole project has been a God thing, I couldn't have dreamt it up and I have been way more blessed then them! I went on a mission trip and came home with a full time job!

We might not be able to change the world but helping one person has certainly changed many lives in one community.

Isn't that an incredible story?!

Nancy has a plaque in her house that says...

"Never look down on someone unless you are helping them up."

She has really lived that out and the result is Ana Patricia Jewelry. Take a look at these gorgeous pieces...

Seriously, I want all of it! Patti and Jon are exquisite artists!

And Ana Patricia has added purses and other accessories to help benefit the families in Mexico as well - they are all fabulous!

Tonight I am headed to their holiday open house and I can't wait to see all of the new pieces they brought back from their trip in November!

If you are interested in more about Ana Patricia Jewelry, you can become a fan on their Facebook page or shoot me an e-mail (link in the right-hand column) and I can provide you with contact information!

Or better yet, if you are in our area, head to the open house today!

Nancy, you are an inspiration and a perfect example of doing what you can to help! God bless you!

Wordless Wednesday: 6 Years of Christmases Together

2009-12-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

2003 (Our first Christmas!)

2004

2005 (pregnant with Big J!)

2006 (Big J is here!)

2007 (pregnant with Little J!)

2008 (J Squared!)

Let the Christmas Season Begin!

2009-12-01T21:20:00.002-06:00

Well, our decorations are up and the Christmas countdown has begun! Christmas music playing all day, presents being made, parties being planned - it's the most wonderful time of the year - REALLY!

No Christmas tree this year - don't have one and no room to put it up anyways! - but I'm feeling ok about that right now! Didn't have to deal with the mess and lights and unpacking the ornaments! Yes, I LOVE having a Christmas tree, but not putting it up reduced my stress level significantly!

Once again, we are using this Christmas countdown and Advent calendar that we used last year. It was wonderful and there are enough ideas to follow the same plan and do tons of new activities! I love it and so does Jeremiah! You really should check it out!

You can also head over to my recipe blog for some great edible gift ideas!

And so, I will leave you with our verse for the day...

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

24 days!

What I would say...S got a hold of the blog again

2009-11-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that Erin's sister recently got engaged. Well, I have a sister, but she is already married. I have no brothers, and my sons are a long ways away from getting married. This is all to say that I have advice to give, and no one to give it to. So consider this my post, as I give advice, even though it's my sister-in-law and her fiancee. Below is my advice for marriage. Some of it I have gained from friends, some I have learned the hard way, and some of it I learned from my amazing wife. Below are the top 5 things that every married person should know.

1. Your wife/husband comes first. Always. Aside from God, once you get married, there is no one more important. NO ONE. Not your job, your friends, your parents, not even your kids. This may seem easy, but it's not. Life pulls in so many different directions, but your spouse always comes first.

2. When you fight (you will fight), you have two options. Talk to God, and talk to your spouse. Do not talk to your friends, your parents, or anyone else. Now this may seem harsh, but trust me, it does not help to talk to someone else, because they will take sides. Taking sides is not good.

3. You will probably lose some of your friends, and this is okay. My best friend told me when I would get married that I would lose my female friends. I told him that was ridiculous. But trust me, this is a good thing. You don't want the temptation to talk to a close friend of the opposite sex when you have problems. See #2 above. Keep close friends of the same sex, and make time for both of you to see your friends. It is vital to have best friends besides your spouse.

4. The wedding is about her. Completely. She will want everything to match, everything to be perfect and wonderful and like a fairy tale. You will not remember these details by the next day, but you will remember that she was happy. This is the most important thing.

5. Never talk about your wife/husband negatively in front of anyone. This may be the most important thing you can ever do. Not in front of your parents, not in front of your spouse's parents, and not in front of your friends. This will create trust issues for your entire marriage. Erin knows I will never talk about her negatively, and even though I have messed up many things, this is one thing I will never do.

I love you Erin.

Congrats Megan and Nick. Now listen to your brother-in-law.

With Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T10:27:00.001-06:00

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.
Psalm 100:4

I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones!

Wordless Wednesday: My Mom, the Early Years

2009-11-25T10:34:00.002-06:00

A Toast!

2009-11-21T12:48:00.002-06:00

We love our toast around here.

Of course, PB & J is the good old stand by - but only for Jeremiah at this point.

So what do these guys like on toast these days?

For Joshua it's apple butter, something I just discovered last year and fell in love with. So did Little J...

And Jeremiah's toast repertoire has just expanded with the discovery of...

Nutella. Thank you Kimmy and MckMama (who happen to live in the same state...crazy) for introducing us to this new treat. Big J, the chocolate lover, is eternally grateful.

The Ultimate Cloth!!!

2009-11-20T13:00:00.000-06:00

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by the makers of the Ultimate Cloth for this review. I was not compensated for this review - just asked to give an honest account of my experience with this product.

What is the Ultimate Cloth?
The Ultimate Cloth is eco-friendly solution for homes as well as a money and time saver. The Ultimate Cloth is a brand new technology – in fact, it is the only cloth to receive a new patent in the last 25 years. The Ultimate Cloth is a simple, green and effective one-step cleaning process. The Ultimate Cloth cleans any hard surface – glass, wood, granite, stainless steel and many more – with just water! No longer do you have to use harsh chemicals in your home, nor do you need spend hundreds of dollars per year buying them. The Ultimate Cloth has been lab tested to remove 96% of bacteria, without the use of chemicals. And, can cut 50% off your cleaning time. The Ultimate Cloth is truly the ultimate in green cleaning.

When you read that, what do you think?

I must say, I was very skeptical. But I figured if they were willing to send me one to try, it was worth a shot.

My Ultimate Cloth arrived in a padded envelope a few weeks ago - just a white piece of cloth - didn't look like anything special. I waited until my cleaning day to try it out.

On cleaning day, I followed the instructions - rinsed it with warm water, wrung it out really well and went to work. Not expecting much, to be honest.

I started with the bathroom sink. It tends to get a film on it from hairspray and kids splashing soap and water all over while washing hands. The cleaner I have right now is ok, but the sink never quites shines when I am done.

Until now! I think my jaw hit the floor when I saw how shiny my bathroom sink looked after wiping it down with the Ultimate Cloth! I wanted to call someone right away - why am I getting so excited over a cleaning product?!

Ok, the sink was one thing, but how about the bathroom mirror? You know the problem - streaks left on these or little pieces of lint from the rag or paper towel. When I first wiped the mirror, I was worried. I had rinsed the cloth out and squeezed out the water in between as recommended. Little beads of water formed everywhere on the mirror. Great. So I wrung it out a little more and wiped it down again. Similar effect. I was disappointed...until I looked back a few seconds later and the mirror looked gorgeous and clean! No streaks or spots!

By now, I wanted to try cleaning everything in the house with it.

So I did!

Front glass door where little hands make it all sticky looking for Daddy to come home - beautiful!
Front of the stove where food drips down every time I cook - awesome!

Even the kitchen and bathroom floors! The people at Ultimate Cloth gave me the idea to use it like you would a Swiffer pad - only you can wash it and reuse it!

And all of this with only a small to medium amount of effort! Not too much scrubbing to be honest!

By this time I was looking at how much it would cost me to get more because I want some for the cars and to give as gifts!

Cleaning took me so much less time that Friday...and the next Friday...just like it will today! And the only cleaner I got out was for the toilet bowl, the shower and dusting!

My only complaint is that even after following directions and washing it with bleach to disinfect, it still looks a little dingy. But it still cleans like magic!

I highly suggest giving one a try and here is an easy way to do it!

You can receive a FREE Ultimate Cloth!

All you need to do is follow Ultimate Cloth America on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

They will reveal how to get the free Ultimate Cloths via Twitter and Facebook.

How exciting!

But even without the free offer, I still think the Ultimate Cloth is a wise investment - only $6 a cloth and a five-year warranty! And they have bigger ones available for bigger jobs!

Check them out and let me know about your experience with them!

The Ultimate Cloth, $6

http://www.ultimateclothamerica.com/index.html