Digital Scrapbooking Giveway

 I hope you have had a chance to check out the digital scrapbooking software from My Memories.  Thursday is the last day to enter the giveaway.  What can you win???

You can win

To read more about the giveaway, just visit the original giveaway post. 

Don't miss out on your chance to win this fabulous software.  The original price is $39.97 and you have the chance to get it for free!!!!

Flash Mob in the Church Parking Lot

Who says Christians can't have fun?

GIVEAWAY: My Memories Suite

When my oldest son Colin was born, I started scrapbooking. I spent countless hours cutting, pasting, and designing scrapbook pages to document his life. When Carson was born, I spent less hours cutting, pasting, and designing. Now that I have three children, I never scrapbook.  I still have all of my "stuff," but to drag it all out and have the time to sort through it all...well, I just don't have the time.  If you are like me, and still want to capture special memories, you can with digital scrapbooking from My Memories Suite.

 

I will be giving away a FREE My Memories Suite Scrapbook Software to one of you lucky readers courtesy of My Memories.  

 

You can make scrapbook layouts, photo books, cards, videos,and so much more.  You don"t have to worry about cleaning up your papers and scissors before the kids get to them.  With digital scrapbooking, you can save what you've been working on and come back to it later.  I love it!

 So, are you ready for the details?

You now have the opportunity to win your own FREE digital scrapbooking software from My Memories!  How?  All you have to do is visit their webpage and check out what they have to offer. Come back here to my blog and leave a comment about your favorite design(s) from My Memories.  The contest will end on Thursday, September 1, and I will announce the winner Labor Day weekend.

Not only is My Memories giving away free software, they are also giving a discount to my readers! The coupon code provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!  When you make a purchase from My Memories use this coupon code: STMMMS34203.  Not only will you save, but I will get a little something as well.

As you see, I have made a few things to begin with.  It is almost addictive!  I love the fact that there is no cleanup and I can reuse the papers and embellishments! 

So, head on over to My Memories and check out all they have to offer.  You can check them out on FaceBook and Twitter as well.  My Memories also has a blog.  Don't forget to come back here and leave a comment about your favorite design(s) for your chance to win! 

Happy Sunday

At my house, we are so glad that Jeff is home. Thank you for your prayers after the earthquake. Thankful he made it home before the hurricane. Continue to pray for those folks as well.

Tomorrow is an exciting day here on my blog. I will be announcing an awesome giveaway. Be sure to check back.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! Attend an evening church service of your choice.

Ready

I am almost ready to post my giveaway. I have had LOTS of fun preparing. Stay tuned.

At my house we are ready to head to the airport to get Jeff!

I am so ready to see him!

I am also ready to get rid of this cough....uuhhggg.

I am ready for the weekend!

PRAYER REQUEST

Please pray for Jeff and the other chaplains in Baltimore, along with all the residents.  If you haven't heard, they have had an earthquake.

A new beginning

Things around these parts are the same, but we have a new beginning in parts of our lives.

With Jeff being ordained, we are waiting to see what God has in store for us through the military. The Chaplain board should be meeting soon and then we will know more. There may be a spot available near his current unit.

With me and the big boys in school, I am seeing changes in them, changes in me. Colin....I am seeing him in a new light with him being in my school. Carson is getting bolder (a liitle good, a liitle bad). He loves kindergarten but has developed quite an attitude. I guess it is hard being good all week at school so you can go to the treasure box! I've always said I will deal with attitude if they behave elsewhere.

Carter loves daycare. Loved it enough he brought some of it home with him...double pink eye, double ear infection, and a stomach bug! This is the first time he has been sick! A blessing really.

As one of my new students says (everyday as I am teaching), "God is good!" The rest of the class replies, "All the time!"

Gotta love it!

I do have news! I will be having an awesome giveaway very soon. A little hint.....digital....scrap booking.....photo books....pretty cool! Be checking back.

Jeff's Ordination Service

Sunday evening was Jeff's ordination service at church.  It was a beautiful service.  He gave his testimony and read some scripture.  The church then voted to ordain him.  Our sweet friend Leslie sang and our wonderful pastor preached.  After that, the deacons took part in the laying of the hands portion of the service.  Now we must wait for the Chaplain board to meet to approve. 

I am so proud of my husband.  He is such an amazing man and I just can't believe how God is using him!

Back to School Memories

When I was a kid, I loved going to school. I loved the back to school shopping where I got new clothes and a new lunch box. I was really into the girly school supplies; you know, anything colorful with feathers or sparkles on it!


I’ll never forget going to Wal-Mart one year and holding my new lunch box in the checkout line. My nose starting bleeding!

I always like coming home with my new clothes and modeling them.

As a teacher, one of the sweetest back to school memories I have is receiving a note from a parent. It let me know that she had been praying for me and our school year. I taped it to the pullout on my desk and read it several times throughout the year.

This year, I will have two children in school. Carson will be starting kindergarten and Colin will be a fourth grader at my school. I will be able to take Colin to school for the first time this year. That is special for me because Jeff has always done it.

When Colin started kindergarten, the guidance counselor emailed me during the day to let me know that he saw Colin and he was having a great day. That was such a nice thing for him to do.

I would love to hear some of your favorite back to school memories.

Continuing His Journey

The journey to the Army Chaplaincy began more than 3 years ago. Now we are getting closer to what God has called our family to do. Last night was Jeff's interrogation at church. He "passed!" Next Sunday night will be his ordination at church.

Our journey began when we decided we wanted our children raised in church. After we were married, Jeff and I attended church occasionally. We attended our current church on holidays and went to a mega church a few times as well. When Colin was almost two years old, we began attending Calvary more regularly after being invited by a coworker. We were welcomed there with open arms, and Jeff and I were soon saved within days apart and then baptized together. We began attending a Sunday school class our pastor's wife began for a growing group of young couples with children. Soon we were teaching as well. When I was pregnant with Carson, Jeff was chosen by the church to serve as a deacon. He was ordained in January of 2006. With this came a call of doing more for God.

Since high school, Jeff has always had a desire to join the military. He took the ASVAB as a junior, but never did anything else. Upon graduating, Jeff attended WKU and earned a degree in geography. He worked at a local company, went into business for himself, and is currently employed as an engineer at a local factory. Out of all his work experience, Jeff has never felt like he was called to do those things. Eventually he felt led, more than ever, to join the military. And that is what he did. It was one of those things where I joked with him, "FINALLY!". I had always expected it, but joining was just a matter of time. In November of 2009, during my third pregnancy, Jeff took his oath of office and became a 2 Lieutenant for the US Army Reserves.

Last summer, he attended CHBOLC at Ft. Jackson, SC. It was an awesome experience for us both. We both got a taste of military life: him training to serve God and country, me raising three children and running the household on the "home front" while supporting my Soldier.

Through much of the last 3-4 years, Jeff has taken seminary classes through Liberty University. In May of this year, he finally graduated.

After his ordination next Sunday, the final paperwork and steps to becoming a chaplain will be completed. Then we wait for the Army's decision.

Jokingly, I told Jeff this morning that it feels awkward not being pregnant at such a life changing point in this journey!

Through all we have been through, I am well aware that God had a hand in each step of this journey, making it HIS journey. We are only being obedient. It isn't always easy. God never promises that through any thing He requires of His children. However, we have felt His love and guidance along the way. He has held our hands and lit our path. He has blessed us in ways that are simply indescribable.

I know people wonder how we do it all and why we do it all. IT isn't about us. IT is about HIM. My family was chosen to serve. Who are we to not be obedient to the call of the Lord? He blessed us with life, so we owe Him our lives.

Serving is exciting and scary. I am anxious to see what God has in store for us!

Book Review: God's Love Letters to You

God’s Love Letters to You is a 40-day devotional written by Dr. Larry Crabb. Each day’s devotion begins with scripture and then a “love letter from God.” At the end of each letter is a reflection and then a prayer section.

I wasn’t sure about reading a devotional for a book review, but I absolutely loved it. I would like to have had space in the book to write my reflections, but I quickly acquired my own journal to do so.

Each day, I felt as if God was truly speaking to me in the letter. Sometimes the letters were very blunt and straight to the point, however, there was still the love of God contained in each letter. The reflection section really challenged me to think about the scripture and my biases. It also challenged me to truly search my heart. As for the prayer section, I was able to admit my weaknesses and acknowledge God for who He truly is.

Because of the strength of the letters and how they touched my heart, I truly believe that Dr. Crabb sought God’s guidance in writing this devotional. I am eager to read more of his works.

I highly recommend this book to anyone in search of a powerful devotional.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Carson

For those that don't know, Carson had to have out patient dental treatment yesterday.  He had several cavities and needed a crown over a defective tooth.  This kid brushes his teeth like crazy so I felt terrible that he had so many problems.  We had actually planned to do all this spring break, but cancelled because Jeff was supposed to go to Japan.

Carson did an awesome job.  He was so brave and never acted scared.  I think it tore me up more than him.  I appreciate all of the prayers and texts of those checking in on him.  God is Good.  All the time!

Are you hot?

We are.

What's the temperature where you are?  I checked the heat index on http://www.weather.com/ for my town and it was 113.