Some Things are so Overrated

For instance, stainless steel appliances. Sure, they look great and they do add value to your home, but they are highly overrated. They smudge so easily and cost upwards of $200+ more per appliance just to have a stainless front. Every single time you touch them, the fingerprints look awful. If we weren't planning on selling in about 4 years, I would be perfectly content with white!

Front loader washing machines. Again, they look amazing. But they harbor skanky water in the door rim. They don't really clean any better than traditional washers and they cost LOTS more. The pedestals cost over $200 each, and you totally need them, unless you are REALLY short. I will not be buying them again, that is for sure. If it hadn't been for the great deal we got on repo units, no way would I have forked out the cash for these.

Granite counter tops. We don't have these, but based on horror stories I have heard, I am thankful this was one status symbol I didn't buy into. They crack and dull easily. You can see fingerprints very easily. They need sealed twice a year and they are WAY pricey!

It is unfortunate our society has become obsessed with status symbols that seemingly represent that you have money. Our parents were so content years ago with much less. They would get their broken appliances repaired and make them last. Now we just dispose of everything and get a new one.

What overrated item did you purchase that you wish you hadn't? I'd love to have your wisdom!

50? No way!

My husband cracked through the glass ceiling of the 40's and burst his way into the fabulous 50's! We had the blessing of having his Mom and Bill in town and got to surprise Keith with their knocking on the door unexpectedly. It was not easy keeping it a secret for two weeks. It almost slipped several times, but we pulled it off and it was great fun.

I really wanted to throw Keith a party, but he really did not want one, so instead, I asked friends and family to send a birthday card. I collected all of the cards and put them into a box for him to open like a gift. We had much fun opening all of the cards and then passing them around. Some people shared pictures, some shared long lost stories and some just shared a lovely Bible verse. I know Mom and Bill enjoyed reading the cards with us and watching Keith open a few gifts. The guys all pitched in and got him some really nice sun glasses. It was nice to see them spend their own money on somebody other than themselves.

It may not have been a bash to end all bashes, but what matters most is that we shared it with the people we love. Happy Birthday, old man! I hope you enjoyed it!

The Perils of having a Green Thumb..

I have no idea how or why this happens, but I can take a dying, shriveled up plant and bring it back to vibrant life. My flower garden is constantly over producing flowers (not a bad thing). The problem ensues when I try to get rid of a plant that I no longer find desirable. I cant kill it. It will keep coming back and back and back. You get the picture. I also seem to have an abundance of babies. You know how your plants drop seed, and then next year you might get one or two of them again? In my garden, there are many babies from last year. It is great, because it's like getting free plants. I also have to thin my plants and prune them regularly. I guess I am just a very fertile person, or perhaps all of you gardening friends have the same problems and maybe I am not as special as I think I am.' Either way, several sweaty hours have been spent working the beds this week, and I am still not finished. I also see several transplanting projects for the fall. I have a very bad habit of planting something and then it gets ginormous and I need to thin things out again. It's a jungle out there!

Unfortunately, my vegetable garden didn't get the memo about my magic thumb, and I barely got anything out of it. Several stalks of corn shot up, but I never got any ears. My potatoes were a total flop, which was very sad for me. I had high hopes of putting 100 pounds of potatoes in a dark room. My kids would have so loved to have an abundance of spuds. I would have been their hero for about five minutes. Oh well, I will try again next year, for sure!

I hope you are getting many lovely flowers to brighten your day, and the butterflies that go with them. I also hope when you are enjoying them, you give thanks for He whom made them. God bless your gardens!

My New Love

Costco. Love it! We just got one last summer and it is fabulous. It has been almost a year now of buying lots of different products they carry, and I haven't had too many that we didn't like. For those of you who have had a Costco in your life for a while, you are very fortunate, and those of you who don't have one yet, I weep for you. I thought I would give a review on some of the items we have bought - it might entice you to try these items as well:

Costco organic salsa - we ate the 24 quarts that I canned last summer, by February. I never buy salsa. Very rarely do I like bought salsa. Until now. Costco's salsa tastes very close to the kind you would get at On The Border or Chili's. It has the same consistency and just the right amount of heat.

Wild Flower Seed mix - You should see the variety I have growing in my flower bed. Some of the flowers, I have never seen before. It was easy to plant and I have a full bed of flowers growing!

Vanity with attached granite countertop - great price, nice details and exceptional quality!

Frozen organic veggies - you just can't beat the price on all of their frozen veggies!!

Kirkland bar soap - In our family, we get these strange bumps on the back of our upper arms, unless we use expensive soap. No more! Kirkland's bar soap has my skin smooth and soft, without leaving me dry. This is an accomplishment!

Kirkland facial wipes - again, love them! My face is having fewer break-outs and is SOFT!

Mineral Make-up - I just bought this yesterday and have only used it once, but I think for the price, it is a terrific deal. I liked the coverage and it didn't give me a shine like some other brands.

Supplements - I think they have everyone beat on supplement choices and price. I am thrilled that I can get certain vitamins and such at such a great price.

Kirkland shampoo/conditioner - This stuff is amazing! Cheap, cheap, cheap but high quality ingredients. No SLS or parabans. Mostly organic. And cheap....

Kirkland jeans and polos - GREAT price and very nice stuff. The jeans look great and for $14 a pair and five guys to clothe, WINNER!

Some things we did not like: Kirkland macaroni and cheese (YUCK), Quinoa (Yuck again).... that may be it for now.

Customer Service - They really know how to treat their customers!

I am sure there are more goodies I am forgetting to mention, but these are a few things that really just thrill me! We do about 80% of our grocery shopping at Costco now. I hope they prosper and are here to stay!

What are some products you have bought from Costco that you love??

Discrimination 101

Ok, so let me get this straight: we have paid for 100% of our sons' education over the last twelve years. We have not accepted one penny from anybody (not that anybody has offered) to pay for all of our books, supplies and software. The states of Louisiana and Georgia have collectively saved well over $200,000 over these twelve years of our home education. Now that we have a college ready student, he is not eligible for any state sponsored scholarship funds until he has completed 30 college credit hours. Basically, the states and the teachers' unions want to discredit home schoolers any way they can and make it as challenging as possible for our students to obtain funds that are readily available to public schooled students. I wish I could see the logic in this, however, I only feel violated and discriminated against. Where's the ACLU on this subject? Why it perfectly acceptable to discriminate against a block of society that outscored and outperformed all other blocks of educated children? Home schoolers out score public school kids in almost every subject. Whatever. Like always, we will man-up, play by the rules and HOPE scholarship funds will be available for us in a couple of years.

Blog Fog

I have been experiencing major blog fog. Especially now. I have contemplated blogging about a whole host of topics over the last few weeks, ranging from leftist hypocrisy to spring time gardening. I have had many opinions I would have loved to voice or recipes to share, but the nasty tornadoes have simply made me realize there is nothing truly worth blogging about in a catastrophe. There is a time to put your opinions on a shelf and come together with those in need and be as helpful as you are able. And the single most important part of it all that we are trying to teach our sons, is it's not about you. You should not go around boasting of how much money you gave or how many hours you put in on a job. It is about giving glory to God for equipping you to do His work. My mom was the best role model I had for this, and I am thankful to give her the credit for my desire to teach the guys the same important values. Matthew chapter 6 gives very clear advice on this subject. Live it in front of your children, don't simply preach it. Read these scriptures with your children.

So many people have lost their homes, their businesses and some have lost their lives. Our little town of Ringgold is a shambles. But having lived in Louisiana with bookend hurricanes Andrew and Katrina, I know we will rebuild and we will be stronger. Our character will be tested at times and our patience will be lost at times, but we must always return to our roots of faith, hope and love.

There are so many lovely and perfect Bible verses to help in times such as these. I like the Psalms during trials and then always end up in the Gospel when I have come out of the fire. All trials do lead to the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ. But if you find you are still trying to come to terms with this, the Psalms were written for such a time as this.

Please continue to pray for Ringgold. There has never been anything catastrophic like this around here before and they are in deep shock. This is my favorite place I have ever lived and it hurts to see Ringgold suffering.

Up on The Mountain

Yesterday, we spent the day with some of our very special friends from Louisiana. We miss them so much, but thankfully, we get to see them every few months! They own a couple of rental cabins on the brow of Lookout Mountain, in Mentone, AL. The drive to go see them is so beautiful, you hardly notice it takes an hour. Bruce grilled some burgers and we had lots of fixings. I made my annual bunny cake that I have made ever year since I was 10 or 11. He has gotten less fancy, but he still tastes quite good and the kids love the tradition.

Michelle is blessed with two 14 year old twin boys and is expecting a precious little girl in July. She has the cutest little baby bump and I can't wait to see baby Julia!!! We had a blast shopping for baby pink things and still enjoying the laugh that this little unexpected blessing presented a few months back. Ian and Evan will surely love having a little sister to spoil, and if nothing else, they get some valuable baby care skills!!! God bless you and your family, Michelle.

Keith and Bruce took all the guys to a couple of water falls down the road while we shopped, and I just have to share the gorgeous pictures. I want to go back up there soon! Enjoy the pictures and let's plan a trip there next time you come visit!

God bless!