We're beyond excited!!!!

Tote has been gone since last Tuesday on a missions trip to Mexico.

It.has.been a.long.week!!!!!

Plus, this trip was following a week long trip to Florida.

So, I think I'm ready for a day off!! =)

Anyway, he was scheduled to arrive at 11pm but was able to catch an earlier flight!!!!!

I just checked and his early flight is scheduled to arrive early!

How awesome is that?!?!

With his original flight I was, obviously, going to put the boys to bed before he got home so they'd have to wait to see him till morning.

But, now he's supposed to land at 8 (the boys bedtime) so I'm going to keep them up so they can see him tonight.

I realize that this could be disastrous since we're all tired and a bit cranky from a long week, but if he comes in the door and they hear him that would be worse!

We're so excited!!!

Please pray for Santiago!

This is my handsome nephew, Jackson

Jackson is my brother, Scott's son. 

Scott and his wife Laura along with their 3 kids Jackson(7), Makayla(6), Avianna(2) are missionaries in Colombia.

Their best friends in Colombia Alfredo and Juana's son Santiago was just diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 

Santiago is 4 years old. 

Their family was planning on relocating to another city along with Scott and his family to begin a church plant there. 

I don't know what plans will need to change because of all of this.

Please, please pray for Santiago and for his family. 

He also has a sister, but I don't remember her name.

Pray also for Scott, Laura and their kids since they are so very close to this family and being home on furlough it's hard for them to know that their dear friends are going through this and they're so far away.

Please pray Jackson. 

Santiago is Jackson's best friend and Jackson is such a sensitive caring boy. 

I hate to think how hard this must be for him!

I have never met this family, but my heart is aching for them and also for my family whom I love so much and hate that they are going through such a hard time!

"I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears."

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them, he delivers them from all their troubles.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.

Psalm 34:1-4, 8-10, 15, 17-19

Who doesn't love a deal?!

We went to a children's consignment sale in Philly today. 

They had so much stuff! 

Some things like clothes were overpriced in my opinion, but I got a deal STEAL!!!

I got this twin size bedding set for Caleb. 

I've been thinking I'd like to have something like this for him, but we just couldn't possibly afford it. 

I realize that he's still in a crib, but I've just been thinking ahead and r

eally wanted something like this for him. 

(Sammy already has a bedding set of our Mexican Soccer Team, CHIVAS!!! 

Aguante las Chivas!! =) )

So, a few days ago I was looking at some sets online and thinking about what 1 or 2 pieces 

(quilt and sham or quilt and curtain or something) 

we could get and then I would do the rest in some generic bedding stuff like solids or stripes. 

The set includes the quilt, sham (shown at the top), 3 pillowcases, top and bottom sheets and the bed skirt!!!

Here's a (not so good) picture of it:

This is a close-up of the pillow case which is the same as the sheets (top & bottom) and the bed skirt:

So, I know you're dying to know how much I paid for it. 

Well, the price sticker was very messy, but I thought (and was hoping) it said $30. 

I decided  if it was more than $30 I'd pass it up. 

The lady (bless her heart!!) said it was $20 for the WHOLE SET!!!! 

YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I was so very excited!! (And I still am!!)

-------------------------------------------------------------

The other good deal that I got was the Bolt movie. 

The Wise King (hubs) was going out of town yesterday and asked me to pick up a copy of this movie since it was released yesterday and was on sale. 

(He took Sammy as part of his Christmas gift to see it in the theatre and they really liked it. I hadn't seen it yet)

So, first thing in the morning, like the good blogger that I am =)

I opened my blogs and one of them gave a coupon to save $5 off the movie plus a $4 mail-in rebate! 

YAY!!! You must know that my husband is the deal finder in our family, as much as it kills me to admit it!

He just seems to find a deal no matter what he's looking for!

So, I can't wait to tell him how much I saved on the movie!

This is my new door decor for spring. Please, try not to be jealous of the mini blinds!!

I got the tin hanger for 95 cents at a thrift store!! The ribbon was $1 for the entire roll and the flowers were 50% off ($1 each). Making a grand total of $3.95 with ribbon to spare!!

So, do we like it better with or without the willow(?) shoots??

And should I use the extra ribbon to make a hanger for it?

HAPPY SPRING!!!!!!!

 (Now if the weather would cooperate it'd actually feel like spring!!) =)

Thankful Thursday

I have about 10 minutes before it's Friday so I'd better make this a quick one!

I'm thankful for...

...my hard-working husband who's away in Florida this week.

...the boys being very good so far since Daddy's been gone (we're only on day 2 though so let's not hold our breath! Just kidding!!)

...my brother, sis-in-law, nephew and 2 nieces that are coming tomorrow!!!!!!!! Yipee!!!! We haven't seen them in almost 3 years! Their youngest was just a few weeks old and they've never met Caleb so we're all very excited!!!

That's all for today. Please try and survive until next week's edition. I know it'll be a great one since we'll have had an entire week with the fam and Daddy will be home by then!!! =)

Let's pray for Little Miss Hannah

What a beautiful little baby! Let's pray that they find a cure soon and that Hannah can beat this disease!!

I wish I knew how to embed the youtube video, but it's not working so here's the link.

Caleb Says

Welcome to the 1st edition of Caleb says! =)

I never want Caleb to stop saying "feiku (thank you), mommy!"

It's the cutest thing ever!!!

He's been singing a lot lately. I'm going to try and video tape it.

One of my favorites is "wa wa wa elmo's on" 

I guess he thinks that's what the song says since as soon as we hear it we say "elmo's on!"

Sammy **Sings**

Like the true Eagles fan that he is, Sammy started singing the Eagles fight song....

but he either didn't remember the words or just wanted to give it his

own creative touch.

"Fly, Eagles, Fly

to North Carolina"

Thankful Thursday

"I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose." - Woody Allen

I've had kind of a frustrating day.

Maybe not quite frustrating, just crazy busy.

Ok, a little frustrating too! =)

I've decided, though, to focus on the good things and not worry about the not so good things.

So, I was thinking about all of the things that I'm thankful. 

Obviously the list of the things I'm thankful for would be way too long to put on here, but I thought I'd share some of them with you.

I'm thankful for....

*sunny days

*little boys kisses

*whispered i love yous at bedtime

*singing in the car

*telling seriously lame jokes to Sammy who happens to think they're hilarious!

*winter time when I don't have to shave my legs 

(tmi, sorry!!) =)

*biting into a pepperoncini and the spicy juice squirting up my nose 

(ok, maybe not so much, but it made me laugh!)

*putting clean, folded laundry away that was just worn the day before 

(that's an awesome feeling!!)

*looking around my house and wishing it were cleaner/neater/more organized, 

but knowing that my kids are loved and they know it!!

*skipping with Sammy 

(and then being told by his father that I'm not allowed to teach 

him that because he's a boy!) =)

*looking at our needs and wondering how they'll be met and knowing that God ALWAYS provides!

*dreaming of spring!

*being a mommy!

*God's grace and peace when things are a little crazy in our lives!

my amazing/wise/hard-working/loving/God fearing husband!!!!!!!!

There are so many, many more!!

Maybe I'll try and make it a weekly thing to post a few things that I'm thankful for. 

I need it to keep me grounded! =)