News from Northrop Grumman

CRAM Team Brightens Holiday (December 7, 2010)


Julie Lichay

Sixty men and women temporarily located in Huntsville Alabama, undergoing training as operators of the Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) systems for the Army and soon to deploy to Afghanistan, selflessly opened their hearts to nearly one hundred foster children in Alabama. Members of the C-RAM team, residing in a local hotel while attending pre-deployment training, noticed a new Christmas tree that had been put up in the lobby, fully decorated with paper ornaments from local Alabama foster children each wishing for just one simple Christmas gift. Members of the entire deployment group—quietly and unprompted—each proceeded to take several ornaments from the tree, secretly replacing them with gifts requested by the foster children. Not only did all of the team members generously buy multiple gifts to the one gift each child had requested, many of them even bought “big ticket” items ranging from video games, MP3 Players, X-Box Units, or a complete children’s wardrobe, with their own money.

Ms. Lee Marshall, founder of the Kids to Love Foundation, a 501(c)(3) foundation whose ultimate goal is to find “forever families” for children awaiting adoption, gratefully accepted the gifts on behalf of the foster children. Marshall, a former foster and adopted child, herself, began the foundation in 2004, and has made it her mission to advocate on behalf of foster children everywhere, to find them permanent, loving homes. Thanks to a group of sixty generous personnel who will soon deploy to a war zone, a large group of local foster children will have one of the happiest and most memorable Christmases ever. What will stay with the children long after their presents are forgotten, however, is the fact that a group of complete strangers with the Christmas spirit deeply rooted in their hearts, took the time to reach out to them with unconditional love and share their blessings with them by “adopting” them with kindness and generosity this Christmas.

Tough Love

One of the complicated things in my life and my past is I know what tough love is. I know there are times when my own children need it. It is really hurtful to receive and give. Its hard being a parent when all your trying to do is love... sometimes it has to be tough.
I had to be tough with one of the kids today and I am not very happy about it but hopefully it will make a positive outcome. My "adopted" mom used to post the Mean Mommy Poem on the fridge to remind me. Boy am I thankful I know now what I didn't then because of her.

I just wish they would understand like I understand now that it's okay
My song to them Innocent by Taylor Swift

Mean mommy Poem is here and here

Military Monday's Thankfulness Edition

I am sure thankful that both of my "soldiers" are home this year. I know my husband is home potentially forever. But its not just the military I fear will take him back but thankful to know that my family is safe this year. A pretty healthy (we just got over fighting a bad cold) and happy family all stateside this year is a major milestone for me. Its the first time we are all on one continent at the same time. Even if there is miles apart between Alex, Mackenzie and the rest of us. I am truly grateful for the oceans that aren't! It also makes me appreciate all those who do have loved ones overseas. No matter the continent or country... Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany or Anywhere.

My family or Rick's family of origin may be away or on another continent. They are all close to my heart. I have faced some challenges dealing with my families and my beliefs. This year my mother was alone for the holidays perhaps I hope she was with friends that love her. I wish I could be there for her. In any case I hope she had the best possible holiday I wish her the best. This week she is also celebrating her 54th birthday. I hope she is blessed & has many many more. My heart is troubled with our families but it makes me hold my family of choice (Rick and the kids) closer.

I cherish my friends. Last year I spent my Thanksgiving with a complete feast with my neighbors. They are from Texas so they are away from family living here for the first time last year. We prepared a feast and shared it with this year. I told them this year I would dog sit for them so they could go home for the holiday. I told them we were perfectly happy eating at Ruby Tuesday for Thanksgiving due to the nearly month long Cold virus. They ordered us a feast and it was a total surprise! It was beautiful and yummy! I am grateful for the Culley family for taking care of us.

Bailey sulking he knew his mommy & daddy were leaving







William waiting on food



Skylar. I actually didn't dress them up this year. Skylar wanted to wear her dress from Valentines day and it was extra warm till actually the day after Thanksgiving the thermometer tanked by at least 20 degree's

James & the spread. So we ended up with Turkey, Ham, Sweet Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Dressing, Green Beans and Corn which were left over from Wednesday night at KFC lol., Biscuits and Skylar had Apple Juice Wine (100% juice), and I had Moscato. The boys had their wine coolers or soda. They bought it for us in return for baby sitting their two hermit crabs and Bailey. Of course you know how Hermit crabs are they cause all kinds of destruction and ruckus... What a pain! Just kidding!

William has found Skylar's headset from her visit to Libby Lu a few years ago and loves them lmao.



Sunday Scrappin

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I haven't scrapped (with my two hands and paper) in over a year. I have done some digital work but none the traditional way. I don't know why I guess I feel like my work isn't good enough because I can't put the money into it everyone else does. I can't justify buying the cricut everyone else has and I ask people to make me some die's but they never come through. So I just don't even bother touching my scrap book stuff. But why? I have my big project planned but have no motivation to do it. Its time to start developing pictures, going to crops and do this thing! I at least at the very least need to invest some time into digital scrapping. I can't let these millions of pictures sit around for nothing. Its so frustrating! Time to get cracking! Maybe someone will get a scrapbook project for a Christmas gift!



Scrapbooking and Creative To-Do List

1. I got my plan for a creative gift for family and friends and its 99% complete. I am so excited about it. I try to do something creative every year. Last year I made a popcorn care package with a movie or netflix gift certificate. Two pop corn cups, a bag of popcorn and candy. This year is something similar but useful... always useful and versitle.
2. Scrapbooking gift
3. Post this months tuts and creations

Scrapbooking and Creative Ta-Da List

• Skylar's time line and Hobbies (Ballet, Soccer, School, Girl Scouts, and more.) & Her Ballet book.
• Once Upon a Time books
• Story Book Pages
• Army Greeting Cards? Maybe on EBAY?
• Dora Paperbag Book
• Baby Book Scrapbook and William's first year
• Skylar & Her Friendship books
• How We Met
• Strawberry Shortcake Page
• Rick's Army Scrapbook
• Transparent Picture Christmas Ornaments
• Painted Christmas Ornaments
  

  
  

  Household Ta Da List

• Appointments for the cats and hopefully come up with a solution for Peanut
• Rearrange my consultation on Tuesday
• Plan Christmas pictures. Find a way to take the kids pictures for Christmas cards. Everywhere takes too long to get them back.
• Decorate for the Holidays.
• Skylar has girl scouts on Tuesday I think.
• 

  Blog More!

My favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

A cookie with a funny name from Europe,


My mom made these twice a year it can be very labor intensive. My grandfather was from Norway so it was a tradition

You will need to buy a Krumkake iron

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=Krumkake+Iron



Krumkake Recipe

http://scandinavianfood.about.com/od/cookierecipes/r/krumkake.htm

Difficulty: 2 (1=easiest :: hardest=5)

Serves/Makes: 4



Ingredients:

3 large sweet potatoes

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup milk, cream, evaporated milk or coffeemate

1/2 cup butter

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup butter

1 cup pecans - chopped


Directions:

Combine first 7 ingredients and pour into greased casserole.

Mix brown sugar, flour, butter and pecans until crumbly and sprinkle on top.

Bake 30 - 40 minutes at 350degrees F.

Level:BeginnerPrep Time:20 MinutesNutrition Info

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1-1/4 cups (2-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1-2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) REESE'S Peanut Butter Chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; set aside.





2. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in peanut butter chips. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.





3. Bake 8 to 9 minutes. (Do not overbake; cookies will be soft. They will puff while baking and flatten while cooling.) Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 4-1/2 dozen cookies.



PAN RECIPE: Spread batter in greased 15-1/2x10-1/2x1-inch jelly-roll pan. Bake at 350°F 20 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack; cut into bars. About 4 dozen bars.



ICE CREAM SANDWICHES: Prepare CHEWY CHOCOLATE COOKIES as directed; cool. Press small scoop of vanilla ice cream between flat sides of cookies. Wrap and freeze.



HIGH ALTITUDE DIRECTIONS:

-- Increase flour to 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons.

-- Decrease baking soda to 3/4 teaspoon.

-- Decrease sugar to 1-2/3 cups.

-- Add 2 teaspoons water with flour mixture.

-- Bake at 350°F, 7 to 8 minutes. Yield increases to about 6 dozen

Ingredients

1 cup granulated sugar

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

2 large eggs

3 ripe bananas

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.

Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk and cinnamon. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan, invert onto rack and cool completely before slicing.

How to add more moist-ness to your Banana Bread

http://www.moist-banana-bread-recipes.com/2008/09/how-to-add-more-moist-ness-to-your-banana-bread/

ZUCCHINI BREAD

'

INGREDIENTS

3 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups white sugar

2 cups grated zucchini

2 teaspoons spiced rum

3 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F ( 165 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8x4 inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and frothy. Mix in oil and sugar. Stir in zucchini and vanilla. Combine flour, cinnamon, soda, baking powder, salt and nuts; stir into the egg mixture. Divide batter into prepared pans.

Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until done. .

Is it true when kids are quiet there is something wrong?

have been putting off dental surgery for years. When my dentist (who I just LOVE) told me to do it. My husband was deployed and I only had to wait a few months for him to get home. Well when he got home I got pregnant so I couldn't have any dental work done while I was pregnant. So it got put off. Finally I had to get a new referral and the surgeon went into retirement *ugh*... Then we retired and didn't have dental insurance... Now we have insurance so I made some calls... Actually only one to find the right place that took my insurance. GREAT! They didn't even need a referral from my dentist they will do all the leg work. How often do you get that?




So I made my long awaited appointment. Called my husband and decided to investigate why my 15 month old was so quiet...

I was looking everywhere for him. I am 99.9% sure that anything he can get into is mostly baby proof although he finds ways.... Like climbing on the dining room table and opening baby gates.... But the baby gate has a bungee cord. The other baby gate is just around the TV so I would have saw that... No baby... Anywhere. I freaked for a minute. Hung up on Husband and there William in his bouncy chair from his infant swing next to the couch, He was sound asleep.... When toddlers are quiet they aren't always in trouble. Sometimes they just pull off their PJ's and find a place to zonk out.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #22

http://wifeofasailor.com/

This week’s questions are:

1. If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island but all your human needs – such as food and water – were taken care of what two items would you want to have with you? Recharging Internet Connected Device to read email, cruise the net, get GPS, play music, watch TV on .... and maybe pictures unless those are on my internet connected device lol



2. If you were a salad what kind of dressing would you have? Cucumber Ranch :) IDK why thats just what came to mind and Cucumber is my favorite veggie lol.



3. If you had to live on a ranch what kind of animals would you raise/own? I am a farm girl. My mom and Grand Father have both owned farms. I don't like the clean up or I would own horses now. So I would say Horses, Birds, Ponies, Donkey's, Cows, Chickens, Maybe a few pigs... William loves piglets..., Dogs, Cats, and maybe a wild animal of some kind legally licensed of course.



4. If your life was was portrayed as a movie who would you choose to play you and your significant other? Christina Ricci would be me and my husband is... um sheesh I don't know maybe if you look at his picture

Look at his picture and leave your vote in the comments (he's the one holding the baby.)

5. What was the last thing you put a stamp on (envelope duh but what was in the envelope)? Greeting Card

I am still an Army Wife and Army Mom.

My husband retired in May from the Army after 24 years of service. I think he deserves a big Hooah for that sacrafice and dedication. Yet he had no retirement ceremony (partly his choice.) Hero's don't want pomp and cirumstance they are more humble. In all his deployments he never had a true homecoming. Again he liked it that way. Does that make him less deserving of one? Of course not! Would he put his ACU's on in a minute of the Army called him back... uh yeah faster than he could shake a stick at it. It was a family choice to retire... you just know when its time to hang the beret.

Because Rick and I were only married three years ago I wasn't looked at much as for an Army Wife. I wasn't the one who waited on him to come home from his first deployment during the first heat of the war in OIF. I wasn't the one writing letters while he was at boot camp. I was the one who waited on him from Korea and his second deployment. I was the one who's heart broke when he told me he was facing deployment and I hadn't even met him face to face yet. I may not have earned much rank in the silent ranks... but I earned enough in my opinion, I stayed faithful, loyal and worked hard. I didn't fall apart and I kept it together. I stayed strong for US.

Now I face life with the Army behind me. Is it really behind me? Rick has never fully come back home. Things are probably never going to be the way they were... maybe one day I have faith they will be better! I still cry during deployment songs, I still cry when one of our own fall, I still cry watching military salute videos, I still cry for homecomings (I never got), I am still very emotionally connected to the Military in my own weird way. Since he retired I bought an Army Wife hoodie and a t-shirts (maybe more)... I still dress the kids in Camo and carry my ACU purse with pride.. I am still an Army wife even if my husband is no longer active duty. Once a Soldier always a Soldier... Behind every good Soldier is a Loyal Army Wife! Hooah!

My son, my step son still serves... as we wait paitently for every phone call and visit.

Next time you see a wife of a Veteran just know a piece of her heart will always remember and be part of the Military just like her husband.

Quote from Legion

When God chose your kind as the object of His love, I was the first in all of heaven to bow down before you. My love, my hope for mankind was no less than His. But I have watched you trample that gift. I have watched you kill each other over race and greed... waging war over dust and rubble and the words in old books. And yet, in the midst of all this darkness, I see some people who will not be bowed. I see some people who will not give up, even when they know all hope is lost. Some people, who realize being lost is so close to being found. I see you, Jeep. Fifteen years old, your mother leaves. Your father withdraws from the world and you spend the next five years of your young life helping him find his way home. You love a woman who bears the child of another and you love her with no thought of yourself, even though you know she may never love you the way you love her. You, Jeep... you are the reason I still have faith.

Happy Birthday James!

*Please scroll over the mosaic to see the different pictures*

Happy 23rd Birthday James! 

You've only known me a little over 3 years. When I came into your life we were probably unsure about each other. I wonder what you thought about me when you got the phone call that your dad was bringing home a girl to meet you. Oh and she had a daughter with her as well. We were probably both just as nervous. I didn't really know what to expect so at the time I didn't know what expectations you had if any. The first year of just the two of us together was quite the challenge. We had our ups and our downs but the blessing was that since Alex and Rick weren't there we learned about each other. We bonded in our own special way. There were times when I was so frustrated with you and ready to give in and give up. Something kept me there though. Something stronger than I can ever fathom. Then when Alex came back from his duty and your dad came back from Iraq there was much more than we needed to learn and a lot of work to do. But we survived it. We survived the first year living together as strangers and even had good times. We survived the second year and its challenges. I've learned to listen to you not just talk at you. I have learned a lot from you and watched you grow and mature. I know you probably don't think so. You don't like working at Burger King and thats understandable. Your just twenty-three and there is a big world out there for you! I wish you the best for the years to come and I pray you take paths YOU want to take. Let the fear of failure go and know the biggest failure is the one to yourself when you don't try.

I love you.

Things We Say Wrong

Mamarazzi Monday

My Mama and My kids together...

Not Me Monday

It wasn't me that heard the preacher at the funeral for my step father use my husband's first name as my last name. It certainly wasn't me that also got a note under her hotel room door using Mr. & Mrs. (Insert Maiden name here) I haven't used that name in 10 years lol. I guess it would also be important to tell you that my husband paid for the room with his credit card.




It wasn't my child (Skylar) that said Don't ever stick play doh up your nose holes because it doesn't feel good. My daughter would certainly ever give you the impression she isn't a lady.

It wasn't my child (William) who had a full on conversation with grasshoppers at Whataburger. I tried to get a video of it and I mean it was complete with raspberries and more! So animated and serious lol.

These certainly aren't my children in these pictures either.





Hey what are you looking at?

I told Skylar jokingly get down and milk the cow lol. She always takes me seriously

Hey Ma what comes out this end?

Mamarazzi Monday: Patriot Day Weekend

I can never think of a good Not Me Monday... Perhaps I should start blogging before Monday?

Anyways here are my Mamarazzi Moments for you

My new kitty. Isn't he cute! He can be a bad ass though. He will learn like Lightening Mama is boss and he is just an underling LOL. He's less than a year old

William yesterday at Kenny Mango's during our weekly Coffee and Chat meetings!

James and Skylar in front of the Beast.

William giving us a hint he was ready for bed. He passed out in mid run between our computers.

I was watching Mikey on Friday. I spent most of the day trying to get him to laugh. You knew he was trying. His mama said he only has laughed once. Boy when Aidan and Skylar got home it was all giggles from there!

Mine by Taylor Swift

Mine lyrics

Mamarazzi Monday : James is a Jeep Owner

James bought his first vehicle. He doesn't know how to drive yet. He doesn't have a drivers license but this is a good way to learn. The Beast as it is called (from his previous family) needs lots of work about 2 Grand worth of work but the inital investment was closer to blue book Value. So James will get to learn about vehicle care (surely not from his father!) How to drive a car and how responsibility as an adult begins! Here is the first step to James' independance!

Love Dare Day 7 -- Meditation

No I haven't done my list yet but I will today if I get a chance. I had a busy day planned. But I didn't sleep well last night and I just don't feel good. I don't feel like going out. I hate being at home but I have not been able to just work at home in awhile so I guess this is my body's way of telling me to slow down and get William back on his schedule. I won't be bored though because I have all the consignment stuff to tag and get ready and I have no idea how! Pray for me! I will be doing my blogging, my list for my love dare and I may attempt Day 8 at the same time. Stay tuned!

Love Dare Day 7 --2010

Dare 7

For today's dare, get 2 sheets of paper. On the first one, spend a few minutes writing out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with negative things on the second sheet. Place both sheets in a secret place for another day. There is a different purpose for each. At some point during the remainder of the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your spouse for having that characteristic.


There are 2 rooms in the private corners of your heart. One of these is the Appreciation Room. In this room the walls are covered with words and phrases that describe the good attributes of your mate. They include things like "honest", "intelligent", or "diligent worker." When you think about these things your appreciation for your spouse increases. Most of the things in the Appreciation room were most likely written in the beginning stages of your relationship, when you spent a good amount of time dwelling in this room. You could summarize all of the things you liked and respected about your loved one. But you may find you do not visit this room as often as you once did.

In another corner of your heart lies the Depreciation room, and unfortunately you visit there as well. On the walls are written things that bother or irritate you about your spouse. Emotional injuries fester here, adding more scathing remarks to the walls. It is where ammunition is kept for the next big fight and bitterness spreads like a disease. People fall out of love here.

Spending time in the depreciation room kills marriages. Divorces are plotted in this room. The more time spent in this room, the more your heart devalues your spouse.

Everyone fails and has areas where they need growth. Everyone has unresolved issues, hurts, and personal baggage. This is a sad aspect of being human.

Love knows about the depreciation room and does not live in denial that it exists. BUT love chooses not to live there.

Love chooses to believe the best about people. It gives them the benefit of the doubt. And when our worst hopes are proven true, love makes every effort to deal with them and move forward. As much as possible, love focuses on the positive.

It is time to move to the appreciation room. Settle down and make it your home! As you mediate on the positives, you will learn that many more positive characteristics could be written on the walls. Your spouse is a living, breathing, endless book to be read. Dreams and hopes have yet to be realized. Talents and abilities may be discovered like hidden treasures. But the choice to explore them starts with a decision by YOU.

You must develop the habit of reigning in your negative thoughts and focus on the positive attributes of your mate. This is a crucial step as you lead your heart to truly love your spouse. It is a decision you make, whether they deserve it or not.

Love Dare Day 6 -- Meditation

We actually didn't have a bad day. I didn't always agree with him. He let James slide again and now Rick has to work extra hours tonight. But I just kept my mouth shut but I might have slipped him a dirty look!

When Rick deployed he kept asking if I was okay with the fact that he deployed. At first I felt angry because he CHOSE to be deployed. He could have retired right then. He deployed for the money which I know now as military families sometimes its a saving grace. It helps us get ahead. Is it worth it? No not really. Not for the risk not for the cost. In some ways I am glad he deployed. I learned about people, new things, myself, and the kids. Yes I was okay as the poem goes. I did fine. I had a really rough point, but emotionally I was good. Even when I wasn't supposed to be because of my condition. I didn't fall apart like some of the others do. I saw a 16 year veteran wife fall apart in my yard. I wasn't ever the same either. I don't think I will ever have the man I married back either. He's been home 22 months and I often want to break down and cry just longing for the man I married.

Anyways here is a poem I wrote a few years back

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Yes I am Okay!
Current mood: sad
Category: Writing and Poetry
Yes I am Okay, Yes I am fine.
No I am not okay with you being so far away from me.
No I am not okay with you missing our first Christmas together.
No I am not okay with you missing our first Anniversary us being apart.
Yes I am Okay, Yes I am FINE!
No I am not okay, looking at pictures of you holding me,
Tears flowing. Chills over come me without your presence.
No I am not okay with the fact that soon I know your touch will become a memory.
Yes I am Okay, Yes I am FINE!
No I am not okay with the fact that your smell will no longer exist.
No I am not okay that 400 days of our lives will pass before we can say its over.
No I am not okay that I have all these worries and questions.
Yes I am Okay, Yes I am FINE!
But maybe I will never be the same...

http://armyknightslady.blogspot.com/2007/08/yes-i-am-okay.html

Love Dare Day 6 -- 2010

Love Dare #6


Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin by making a list of of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.

Sign this post when you complete this dare and move onto the next day

Feel free to post your thoughts/experiences on this dare.



Love is hard to offend and quick to forgive. How easily do you get irritated and offended? People who are irritable are locked, loaded, and ready to overreact. When under pressure love does not turn sour. Minor problems do not yield major reactions. The truth is love does not get angry or hurt unless there is a legitimate and just reason in the sight of God. A loving wife is not overly sensitive or cranky but exercises emotional self-control. She chooses to be a flower among the thorns and respond pleasantly during prickly situations.

Two key reasons people become irritable are stress and selfishness. To overcome stress you must balance, prioritize, and pace yourself. Too often we throw caution to the wind and run full steam ahead, doing what feels right at the moment. Soon we are gasping for air, wound up in knots, ready to snap. The increasing pressure can wear away at our patience and our relationship.

When you are irritable the heart of the problem is primarily a problem of the heart. Some people are like lemons: when life squeezes them they pour out a sour response. Some are more like peaches, when the pressure is on the result is still sweet.

Selfishness also wears other masks. Lust is the result of being ungrateful for what you have and choosing to covet or burn with passion for something that is forgiven. When your heart is lustful it will become easily frustrated or irritable. Bitterness takes root when you respond in a judgmental way and refuse to work through your anger. Greed for more money and possessions will frustrate you with unfulfilled desires. Pride leads you to act harshly in order to protect your ego and reputation.

These motivations can not be satisfied. However when love enters your heart, it calms you down, and inspires you to quit focusing on yourself. Love will lead you to forgive instead of hold a grudge, to be grateful instead of greedy. Love reminds you to prioritize your family rather than sacrifice them for a promotion at work. Ultimately love lowers your stress and helps you release the venom that can build inside. It then sets you up to respond to your spouse with patience and encouragment rather than anger and exasperation.

Love Dare Day 5 -- Meditation

His 3 points are 1) lack of paitence with him and his lack of hearing, being bossy, lack of cleaning.

Skylar's Birthday Surprise!

Skylar is really into Zebra right now. Since I put her back in a twin bed at her request and sold her full bed. I decided as part of her Christmas or Birthday present we can remake her room into more of a tween room (Why do little girls grow up.) I just hung all the dang fairy princess stuff up last year!
ahh well its all in fun I suppose. The part I love about shopping is the chase and finding all the goodies and gathering ideas. So I am putting my ideas into motion by blogging them (so I don't forget hehe) and get some feed back.


We got awesome Zebra sheets at Old Time Pottery for $11. I got a Pink Minky blanket at Target. My thinking was a little zebra accented in pink but I am getting over ruled so she will have two bed sets for just incases and if Zebra becomes more powerful than Skylar's mommy haha. I got rainbow zebra sheets just for S&G at Big Lots for $8. I got her a body pillow cover too!

I got this bedding at Target.

and this pillow

Now on to the planning I need to find the pictures I took of her room when it was clean haha so you can get a better sense of what I am working with I guess.
Well she has a Doll house looking book shelf similar to the one pictured below. She has a white metal crate shelf as seen below with a bunch of canvas and wood storage containers in it. Most of them are pink, purple, or Hannah Montana. She also has a couple of crunch cans, a toy box, cheap dressers and a TV on a TV stand. Most of her toys in her room are dolls (baby dolls, polly pocket dolls, barbie dolls, build a bears, stuffed animals, doll house dolls, etc) anything that is small enough that it may be a choking hazard to a small child such as her brother.

My friend sent me this webpage

http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/2010/01/hot-pink-and-black-zebra-bedroom.html?spref=fb

This is a cute little teen bedroom. Thats Skylars bedding on that bed too! But there are no nicnaks or toys much. I have tried to show Skylar and of course she WANTS this but she wants her toys too LOL. I can't expect an eight year old to give up her toys. But I would like to achieve my own creation similar to this one. The only thing I am restricted on is furniture. Which may be able to happen by the Summer but not right now. I am currently thinking about a loft bed I saw on CL but I don't know where I am going to get the $150 lol

That would give me more room to work with. Eh there is also a $75 dollar one on CL but its metal which I would prefer to stay away from.

I was thinking of getting black/pink shelves from different places I saw some cheap combos right now at Target since everyone is doing the back to school. I just need to grab them before they are gone. Maybe a pink bean bag but those can be pricey. Some sparkly black/pink frames from places like Ross, TJ Max, Target, Marshalls, and Kohls. She needs a window treatment, I would love to find some good wall art just not sure what picture would be good (other than the zebra in the example which I can't find!) Some pretty cool pink lamps which are also inexpensive right now. If we don't go with the loft bed then a ceiling fan. Paint maybe an accent wall Pink? Maybe Pink with a chair rail and black hmm?

A chalkboard decal like this is $10 at Tuesday morning and a little more at Target its cheaper and easier than chalk board paint! FOR SURE!