tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68516598695683680882024-02-06T22:08:37.741-08:00Bearing Good FruitLittle pieces of me...Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-75673040257307424302010-09-21T12:19:00.000-07:002010-09-21T12:28:57.174-07:00Embroidery<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNBl3CAQG6HNuucKJll4djFvxa7unxUb4IMTN2GlO4MijrujAXaNdIv9eb6AJoB2wn_pk8yhkJmfm6VuerZfQ0thKyJCYsiBZWMx7xiVg5lCk0VvrHk8fVs1E7OSk5hYv2zErCSCrScmT/s1600/My+Stuff+189.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519449538160249314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNBl3CAQG6HNuucKJll4djFvxa7unxUb4IMTN2GlO4MijrujAXaNdIv9eb6AJoB2wn_pk8yhkJmfm6VuerZfQ0thKyJCYsiBZWMx7xiVg5lCk0VvrHk8fVs1E7OSk5hYv2zErCSCrScmT/s320/My+Stuff+189.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigvkZctH6_X_GH4UU0Om9LqCR6S4hDfCFDv801SpFsdvv3-1XQPEVIU3qo9DK9jLSmw2ICMZErQ41u6taS1Tz7G3bk6p9n3mp8rsT0I0NenL9bO4jYjmw8bpObErcTnXWxmXBTmb3iEyi/s1600/My+Stuff+199.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519449382194521890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigvkZctH6_X_GH4UU0Om9LqCR6S4hDfCFDv801SpFsdvv3-1XQPEVIU3qo9DK9jLSmw2ICMZErQ41u6taS1Tz7G3bk6p9n3mp8rsT0I0NenL9bO4jYjmw8bpObErcTnXWxmXBTmb3iEyi/s320/My+Stuff+199.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5673YGJZuXfz2WNSj9A7cDbMHGu0cYbbKHmR57KczJzQKUPqMmjIunjC3LjXzXS_gwE-SLa_zvAsbU6qPxy95m43JR7fZp_Tx-Z5MTliOTLIDuDdln7ou41xWK_mNQaYJf9Boc9umZKTM/s1600/My+Stuff+204.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519449262545769858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5673YGJZuXfz2WNSj9A7cDbMHGu0cYbbKHmR57KczJzQKUPqMmjIunjC3LjXzXS_gwE-SLa_zvAsbU6qPxy95m43JR7fZp_Tx-Z5MTliOTLIDuDdln7ou41xWK_mNQaYJf9Boc9umZKTM/s320/My+Stuff+204.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-fqiGUWLzGYGo1K_X-GADIizovL07t5HLuzWhPXkLcY80d0AwpwfHQIjOQn4QSMk0O6rTFKBltBw3Uedoz0ji0FaSSLNw0-b-otAqiPBzOrHgAU3weh5ptSC_TG7K0BIM28jtLdRhWBy/s1600/My+Stuff+208.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519449070158214434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-fqiGUWLzGYGo1K_X-GADIizovL07t5HLuzWhPXkLcY80d0AwpwfHQIjOQn4QSMk0O6rTFKBltBw3Uedoz0ji0FaSSLNw0-b-otAqiPBzOrHgAU3weh5ptSC_TG7K0BIM28jtLdRhWBy/s320/My+Stuff+208.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifjg6cQQuJIx7eo5b0su9tMzE2K3TOtf1hqjQ756i3VoWSeemGApJMpbnhzjbv9T3fH9eM6FE7o88zBnUkwskIa8J1St30OMG1KO5gbITxeMmYrKRaQp2ipWN7KK15552fs2oVdFKdtzR/s1600/My+Stuff+213.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519448860442105266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifjg6cQQuJIx7eo5b0su9tMzE2K3TOtf1hqjQ756i3VoWSeemGApJMpbnhzjbv9T3fH9eM6FE7o88zBnUkwskIa8J1St30OMG1KO5gbITxeMmYrKRaQp2ipWN7KK15552fs2oVdFKdtzR/s320/My+Stuff+213.jpg" /></a><br />So it's all over and done with. I am so pleased to be able to say that I got $250(as well as A LOT of potential orders)! I'm on cloud nine:)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-63409774520185479222010-09-21T12:15:00.001-07:002010-09-21T12:19:31.397-07:00Shower Corsage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEwiegtU4HRRtLYB-on8agidNf371Q-YKNHpOKeDq-r3eqkiZD_amutHuwmoO0rfIREtDV2GmzwbanYKpgWwi9sQDZolZI1WaXZELKT7ua0AZ1w4Q9jtcKMsWxQkFG1ITNlVSaOxBUV8p/s1600/My+Stuff+226.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519447787439653186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEwiegtU4HRRtLYB-on8agidNf371Q-YKNHpOKeDq-r3eqkiZD_amutHuwmoO0rfIREtDV2GmzwbanYKpgWwi9sQDZolZI1WaXZELKT7ua0AZ1w4Q9jtcKMsWxQkFG1ITNlVSaOxBUV8p/s320/My+Stuff+226.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgPzEUSSM9P60SPfrTpUsst_yid3qGrthEtOXmEDHDAi_dmPJO-NRe2hhHiAlHpY2qxVTMikMee71vHezMfwVa7bSxw_KX7DLGE3sOb173tfFm7hJCUSmK2v4n-X0xR7NcXuEm75zsxR-/s1600/My+Stuff+222.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519447648483171634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgPzEUSSM9P60SPfrTpUsst_yid3qGrthEtOXmEDHDAi_dmPJO-NRe2hhHiAlHpY2qxVTMikMee71vHezMfwVa7bSxw_KX7DLGE3sOb173tfFm7hJCUSmK2v4n-X0xR7NcXuEm75zsxR-/s320/My+Stuff+222.jpg" /></a> LOVE. IT.</div><div align="center">Too bad I won't have another opportunity to wear one!<br /><br /><div></div></div>Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-84674616564027209502010-09-10T07:00:00.000-07:002010-09-10T07:42:12.244-07:00A little humor for you...One, of many, favorite passages from A Walk in the Woods by Bill <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bryson</span>- our latest book-club selection:<br /><br />After reaching a mountain top, the author found a man taking mysterious readings of some sort...<br />"He noticed me watching and said, in a tone that suggested he was hoping someone would take and interest, "It's an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Enviro</span> Monitor."<br />"Oh, yes?" I responded politely.<br />"Measures eighty values-temperature, UV index, dew point, you name it." He tilted the screen so I could see it. "That's heat stress." It was some meaningless number that ended in two decimal places. "It does solar radiation," he went on, "barometric pressure, wind chill, rainfall, humidity- ambient and active- even estimated burn time adjusted for skin type."<br />"Does it bake cookies?" I asked.<br />He didn't like this. "There are times when it could save your life, believe me," he said, a little stoutly. I tried to imagine a situation in which I might find myself dangerously imperiled by a rising dew point and could not. But I didn't want to upset the man, so I said, "What's that?" and pointed at a blinking figure in the upper <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">left hand</span> corner of the screen.<br />"Ah, I'm not sure what that is. But this-" he stabbed the console of buttons- "now this is solar radiation." It was another meaningless figure, to three decimal places. "It's very low today," he said, and angled the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">machine</span> to take another reading. "Yeah, very low today." Somehow I knew this already. In fact, although I couldn't attest any of it to three decimal places, I had a pretty good notion of the weather conditions generally, on account of I was out in them. The interesting thing about the man was that he had no pack, and so no waterproofs, and was wearing shorts and sneakers. If the weather did swiftly deteriorate, and in New England it most assuredly can, he would probably die, but at least he had a machine that would tell him when and let him know his final dew point."<br /><br />He is merciless and HILARIOUS. And he totally made me want to buy a lot of overpriced gear and hike through some beautiful mountains.<br />Book club tonight:)<br /><br />By the way, who decided that this September was going to be the busiest month of all time? I am plumb tuckered out and it isn't over yet.<br />I really shouldn't be on here right now. I need to be preparing food for tonight and for the baby shower tomorrow morning, but I miss having time to sit and write out my thoughts. So I am taking some whether or not I should. ...not that I really wrote down many of my own thoughts. I wrote down some of Bill <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brysons</span> to be exact. But that is good enough.<br />Love to all!<br /><br />P.S. Didn't ever get around to reading the August chapter in The Happiness Project, nor have I read September's chapter. No new goals, no thought about goals at all. I am oficially falling behind! I really should work on catching up because I am so close to finishing. I am terrible about starting grand projects like this and then getting distracted by other shiny, new projects. There is just too much I want to do!Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-42973011370415312282010-08-30T10:55:00.000-07:002010-08-30T11:02:22.023-07:00I'm back in the saddle again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqnDsO0A4sFfdMxfmk9TF_L_ltc2edFEZ_B3Xs2GoFkCIQtCjpazreOUGGDAoqTK0ss7vaqc0MS_rv5boCJBsg2hFafG1h5_gpvbavkdaKRhBjQU7564jVqVSmgA_puob8int9GzL16ws/s1600/My+Stuff+201.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511264739149740322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqnDsO0A4sFfdMxfmk9TF_L_ltc2edFEZ_B3Xs2GoFkCIQtCjpazreOUGGDAoqTK0ss7vaqc0MS_rv5boCJBsg2hFafG1h5_gpvbavkdaKRhBjQU7564jVqVSmgA_puob8int9GzL16ws/s320/My+Stuff+201.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Projects, projects, projects. I knew I would get around to this sort of stuff again when the summer ended!</div><br /><div>Happy.</div>Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-49400296471264932392010-08-24T08:15:00.000-07:002010-08-24T09:22:12.960-07:00Mom and Alton Brown know bestI've been making my mom's meatballs for years now. I've always thought they were pretty wonderful, but she IS my mom and you know how that goes. Anyway, I had all of the ingredients to make them yesterday but I totally blanked out on the temp. and time. Then, of course, I couldn't find the recipe so I went to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Internet</span> to find something similar. Alton Brown has one that is remarkably similar to my mothers. Way to go mom- would be Food Network Star! Alton's had <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Parmesan</span> cheese and slightly different spices than my moms but I had already added the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">parm</span> a long time ago on my own. I thought he had something with the red pepper flakes though so they got added into the rec. that I now have on file again. The meatballs were fabulous as usual and I figure it's about time I share:)<br /><br />Meatballs(part mom, part Alton, part me:)<br />1 1/2 lb meat(can use all ground beef or a combination of different types you like)<br />1/2 cup <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Parmesan</span><br />1 egg<br />1 1/2 tsp dried basil(I actually use a little less)<br />1 tsp garlic powder<br />1 tsp salt<br />1/2 tsp red pepper flakes<br />1/4 cup breadcrumbs(I use a bit more- not quite 1/2 cup)<br />1/2 small onion FINELY minced<br /><br />400 degree oven<br />Mix all ingredients with your hands.<br />Form into uniform balls (use a Tbsp measuring spoon if you need to).<br />Place on baking tray- make sure they are not squished up next to each other!<br />Bake for 20-25 min.- until nicely browned.<br />**Tip- use the hollowed out bread(see below) for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">homemade</span> breadcrumbs:)<br /><br />Add the meatballs to your favorite sauce, let them simmer for a bit and they are ready to go.<br /><br />Last night I served mine on crusty, whole grain baguettes(hollow out one side of each baguette-to make eating the sandwiches easier) with fresh spinach, REAL <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Parmesan</span> cheese and sliced mozzarella(If you make this recipe, please get the good stuff for me!!!) I put them under the broiler for a minute and they were BEAUTIFUL. I wish I had taken pictures!<br />There are so many options(other than spinach and cheese) for topping them. I actually baked some eggplant to add to mine last night, but I totally ruined it!!! Oh well!<br /><br />Make them sometime and think of me...and my mom....and Alton Brown.Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-35562045942558490492010-08-12T17:05:00.000-07:002010-08-12T18:01:38.826-07:00"I will both lie down in peace, and sleep, for You alone O LORD make me dwell in safety -Psalm4:8Reading Crazy Love by Fancis Chan right now. I'm not far enough into it to say whether or not I love it, but I certainly do appreciate the first chapter so far. The author is encouraging all of us to shut up for a while, take a step back, and look at our God- really look at Him and be in awe of what we see.<br />I also happen to have joined a class on Job where I worship. Last night, during class, I was looking at some of the things God said in answer to Job at the end of the book. It is God, Himself, showing us how big He is and how little we are. It's amazing and humbling. Tonight, the foundations of the earth.<br /><br />"Now prepare yourself like a man:<br />I will question you, and you shall answer me.<br /><br />Where were you(Job) when I laid the foundations of the earth?<br />Tell Me, if you have understanding.<br />Who determined it's measurements?<br />Surely you know!<br />Or who stretched the line upon it?<br />To what were it's foundations fastened?<br />Or who laid it's cornerstone,<br />When the morning stars sang together,<br />And all of the sons of God shouted for joy?"<br />Job 38: 3-7<br /><br />I, for one, am glad I was not asked all of this directly by God.<br /><br />Back to Chan... "This is why we are called to worship Him. His art. His handiwork, and His creation all echo the truth that He is glorious. There is no other like Him. He is the King of Kings, the Beginning and the End, the One who was and is and is to come. I know you've heard this before, but I don't want you to miss it."<br /><br />We can all rest easy tonight knowing that we are cradled by a strong, powerful God. He will gladly shoulder our troubles. Peace is ours for the taking(right Mo?)<br />Enough said. Goodnight:)<br /><br />Just realized: This fits in nicely with the "Think on these things" post. I declare that this is the first of the "Things that are true" posts. Truth #1- Our God is an awesome God!<br />Now, really, enough said.Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-27474139011739333312010-08-11T08:03:00.000-07:002010-08-11T09:36:37.903-07:00July and August rolled into oneWow. So it has been more than a month. Yikes. We had swimming lessons for two weeks and then a trip to South Carolina for two weeks and I guess I didn't find any time for the computer(to speak of) during all of the craziness. Gretchen's goals for August were all about money. I did work on that a bit. Anyone who knows me knows that money is a tough subject for me. We've got debt...debt from our college years, debt from medical bills, debt from buying big-ticket items: new(to us) van, air-conditioner, etc. Trust me, there's more. There is no point in going into it all. We work on it, but it is a long, slow process. I work really hard to be frugal with our money. I'm just not a "spender", so I struggle with knowing exactly what to do to improve our situation on my end. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are more things I could do, but I also want to stay sane. Really, the only thing I needed to work on diligently for the month was my ATTITUDE about our money issues. I pretty much stink at keeping my attitude where it should be in that area of my life. I think I did a good job this month though. My goal was to acknowledge that I am doing a good job and to give the rest of it to God. It's one of those things that we have all heard our whole lives... "Be anxious for nothing". Living it, well that is an entirely different matter. It's a choice. I just had to decide to do it. I'm not saying that I won't have issues with that particular problem any more, but I'm all about celebrating my victories- and this month I was victorious.<br /><br />So, on to August. Her goals in August are all spiritual. I absolutely intend to read the chapter and see if I can formulate any goals of my own based on her ideas; but I have another idea for my main goal this month. Back to the word celebrate... I want this month to be about celebration. I've gotten too much bad news lately to know what to do with it all. In typical fashion, upon hearing the latest bit of blech, I prepared to wallow. There is just too much pain, too much confusion, too much, too much, too much. Oddly enough, I never got around to the wallowing. Instead, all I seem to be thinking about these days is the "knock the breath out of you" beauty of the promises God has made to us. I feel too filled up by them to stay quiet about it all. :) And why would I try? So, I'm asking for your help. I want you to bring it. Bring me all the positive you can find. Help me celebrate! Not winning today are you satan? How does that feel? Hurts huh? Well, deal. There's more of that coming your way.<br />O.k., if it doens't excite you to tell satan off, there is something wrong with you.<br />I for one am pumped.<br />Have an awesome day!!!Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-1741815482127923902010-08-10T09:10:00.000-07:002010-08-10T09:15:37.493-07:00Don't ask questions... just enjoy the laugh!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ2Mq6tLApq-tXELCSHilOZUgVg2cubBbNuIUCxWT3iiOPMOxTKjy1a9f8rMp8E7FHrcqTcmbughsBr_srVkKrrbdWB_htmRgVOIyxOkOIfP12Aoy6s4r53gJLqNiRv9qDIa-KYFK3aQe/s1600/My+Stuff+176.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503815610800245906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ2Mq6tLApq-tXELCSHilOZUgVg2cubBbNuIUCxWT3iiOPMOxTKjy1a9f8rMp8E7FHrcqTcmbughsBr_srVkKrrbdWB_htmRgVOIyxOkOIfP12Aoy6s4r53gJLqNiRv9qDIa-KYFK3aQe/s320/My+Stuff+176.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I only have time for this teaser... leaving for dental appointments in about 15, but I just had to post this. And, yes, we are back from S.C.(GREAT trip by the way!). I'll be back later with more:)<br /><br /><div></div></div>Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-51545691308487682902010-07-06T08:43:00.001-07:002010-07-06T09:28:09.790-07:00Things and such...So I decided that one goal was enough for June. Taming the tongue...yeah that was plenty to keep busy with. I suppose that I should read the July chapter this week while I have the chance. Most of us are down with a nasty cold this week, so our summer plans have come to a temporary stand-still. I wish it wasn't so, but I am MISERABLE. ...not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. I am not handling the "cooped up with four sick kids while sick myself" thing. At least I can actually think today, so I am going to make an effort to "pull up" and get myself out of this funk.<br />I started reading Cross Creek by Marjorie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kinnan</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rawlings</span> last night. It's one of those things I've been meaning to do for a long time now. My mom gave it to me after telling me that she lent it to my sister but "she didn't actually read it". I must not let her down. I have some time since I'm not reading War and Peace for book-club; so, like I said, I finally took the plunge. <br /><br />It's really beautiful.<br />Listen to this:<br />"There is of course an affinity between people and places." And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of waters called He Seas; and God saw that it was good." This was before man, and if there be such a thing as racial memory, the consciousness of land and water must lie deeper in the core of us than any <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">knowledge</span> of our fellow beings. We were bred of earth before we were born of our mothers. Once born, we can live without mother or father, or any other kin, or any friend, or any human love. We cannot live without the earth or apart from it, and something is shrivelled in a man's heart when he turns away from it and concerns himself only with the affairs of men."<br />I'm afraid it might take me a while. It's not a particularly fast read. But I am looking forward to it.<br /><br />I just finished A Girl Made of Dust by Nathalie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Abi</span>-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ezzi</span>. Loved that one. Go read it!!!! And then tell me that you read it and we can have a lovely chat about it:)<br />From the book- jacket: "Set in a Christian village in Lebanon during the 1982 Israeli invasion and narrated with candid intensity by a bright-eyed eight-year-old girl, A Girl Made of Dust explores one family's private battle to survive in the midst of civil war."<br /><br />In other news, flower making has screeched to a halt since summer began. I miss it. Not just flower making, but being creative in general. I feel as if part of me is wilting... But the time just doesn't seem to be there to do all I need and want to do. Oh well, life is cyclical. I know that I will get back to it.<br />I suppose I should end this for now. Not that I plan to get up and do much of anything, but the more I write the more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">rambly</span> this will become. I am fading fast. <br />Good day friends, and may the cold germs stay far away from you and yours.Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-54178849907312111042010-06-17T08:54:00.000-07:002010-06-17T09:02:04.822-07:00My sweet, BIG girl.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8kgtW8wTUeVAHEPYcKBSs4g1rGXF-xk6XAHNQF0J3G0tD-pcQCfBPaeiIVjQtZPbya2CEMOLtMMg8a-gLAIaCmZ21ilMTB0xD-AdR_RDmToZGyRnMCx-3mQhfMKt_RXkSWmCPEg-gcta/s1600/My+Stuff+132.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483772058024925906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8kgtW8wTUeVAHEPYcKBSs4g1rGXF-xk6XAHNQF0J3G0tD-pcQCfBPaeiIVjQtZPbya2CEMOLtMMg8a-gLAIaCmZ21ilMTB0xD-AdR_RDmToZGyRnMCx-3mQhfMKt_RXkSWmCPEg-gcta/s320/My+Stuff+132.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfXkZzx89TJJvAnVXuBUvSvXdBBfAVYFVlDmVEYaegCiICqulp0tlUCEhY37CVf2QWOTJYkxYGwM_9CEwTAKbV_WTQXpnQNgRV50L90-1KydgN8hzvy3AuPvRhbMz8wtpiWO7EMWxrcZT/s1600/My+Stuff+133.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483771962871158210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfXkZzx89TJJvAnVXuBUvSvXdBBfAVYFVlDmVEYaegCiICqulp0tlUCEhY37CVf2QWOTJYkxYGwM_9CEwTAKbV_WTQXpnQNgRV50L90-1KydgN8hzvy3AuPvRhbMz8wtpiWO7EMWxrcZT/s320/My+Stuff+133.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UCCNGT8cdYEejeL-SWaqONJieJOc8OBEhGp7n-_GvTyf_qeofp-D5T6TX57w77hHJ6Dylydt-GPdUqACo5phz4VgdAuX7h8BYBZ0ZHf_oZKYveaP4fH_6Tk1B1r5jkPKTfhjiiel088d/s1600/My+Stuff+134.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483771876846345426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UCCNGT8cdYEejeL-SWaqONJieJOc8OBEhGp7n-_GvTyf_qeofp-D5T6TX57w77hHJ6Dylydt-GPdUqACo5phz4VgdAuX7h8BYBZ0ZHf_oZKYveaP4fH_6Tk1B1r5jkPKTfhjiiel088d/s320/My+Stuff+134.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This makes my heart ache a little bit. A glimpse into the future...<br /><div></div></div></div>Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-31898253319653842472010-06-08T14:49:00.000-07:002010-06-08T15:05:00.142-07:00James 3: all of itI've been struggling lately to figure out whether or not some of my conversations are starting to lean toward gossip.<br />A few years ago I did some thinking on this same subject. The end result of my pondering was this truth:<br /><br />People don't want to be discussed when they aren't present(exceptions, of course, apply). Brilliant, I know.<br /><br />Somewhere along the line I think I started to forget that again! Ironically, I picked up The Happiness Project today to read June's chapter and there is a section on gossip in it. I thought it would be interesting to see what someone with a different(non-Biblical) viewpoint would say. This is the paragraph that really stuck out to me:<br />"But although gossip may serve an important social function and it's certainly fun, it's not a very nice thing to do- and I always felt bad after a gossipy conversation, even though I enjoyed it at the time. I wanted to stop telling unkind stories, making unkind observations (even if factually accurate), or being too inquisitive about sensitive subjects. even expressions of concern can be tricked-up forms of gossip: "I'm really worried about her, she seems down, do you think she's having trouble at work?" That's gossip. Even harder, I wanted to stop listening to gossip."<br /><br />Interesting.<br /><br />I'm not a malicious person and if you ask me to keep something to myself- I will. But there are fuzzy areas like Gretchen Rubin highlighted. Areas that I like to pretend are something other than what they are.<br />I don't believe that this is the kind of problem that can be cooked down to a simple list of dos and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">don'ts</span>. There are too many factors in play. Since I can't come up with a list of rules to follow, I want to challenge myself to do more "thinking before I speak" especially if the subject is a person other than myself.<br />If you are one of the few people that I talk about intimate stuff with(there aren't many- I'm kinda private), I expect you to hold me accountable. Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." (I can hear Monica quoting that- wise woman)<br /><br />Goal #1 for June: Think before you speak!Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-16140534372630124432010-06-08T09:51:00.000-07:002010-06-08T10:08:09.245-07:00Solving for XWhen you are having issues with anxiety, people love to quote Philippians 4:6,7:<br /><br />"Be anxious for nothing, but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."<br /><br />I always found that to be very frustrating. I would try to do what that verse says to do when anxiety over something would overwhelm me. I would pray. I would try to "give it to God" but as soon as I dumped my garbage I would start collecting more(very often the SAME stuff I had just given away). I was missing something. I have come to believe that that "something" is in the verses immediately following Phil. 4:6,7. Verses 8&9 say:<br /><br />"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."<br /><br />I needed to make a conscious effort to refill that newly empty space with different stuff. Good stuff.<br />My plan is to spend some time on this exercise starting, appropriately, with the first in the list- things that are true. If you would like to, think on that for yourself too. Different things will "speak" to different people. Don <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Truex</span>(our preacher) did a lesson recently called "Think on These Things" in which he offered some of his ideas for things to think on in each category. I liked a lot of what he had to say. I am excited about going back through my sermon notes, meditating on the good stuff in there and adding my own ideas as I go.<br /><br />That's it for today. As Paul said at the end of this very letter:<br />"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all"!Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-82666610048854285202010-06-07T12:51:00.000-07:002010-06-07T13:58:52.986-07:00Book club meeting for The Five People You Meet in Heaven -Mitch Albom<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7BgE7xblDImPYRr5cVz_T0ll3Chsm8tR1qiYfQoA7GhyphenhyphenjP-jkthQMG6ZEJUeobvXuAYvnU29X0DeYSuyHmrpMj174m5JYZbMoyP2i1vsUlXkfEAxgB2XMiPWuzqewn8Y_vfcTpDOLkOF/s1600/My+Stuff+130.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480122342912934306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7BgE7xblDImPYRr5cVz_T0ll3Chsm8tR1qiYfQoA7GhyphenhyphenjP-jkthQMG6ZEJUeobvXuAYvnU29X0DeYSuyHmrpMj174m5JYZbMoyP2i1vsUlXkfEAxgB2XMiPWuzqewn8Y_vfcTpDOLkOF/s320/My+Stuff+130.jpg" /></a> These are a few of the lovely ladies of book-club:)...wish they were all in the pic. Love them!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kXL478G3JyGDJuA80MIiX6AGY6wKDKLhSLlDHldqgG79vJlVKtmfvNDn7R7TKFpT-vYdDZeMUVJ8Uvx5mwjpCQ3KkcF2FJODrVPbLDy4VsE73WrK-sCAnvp2gkvevGC1oHYsyJ2_hgDA/s1600/My+Stuff+129.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480122249778103634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kXL478G3JyGDJuA80MIiX6AGY6wKDKLhSLlDHldqgG79vJlVKtmfvNDn7R7TKFpT-vYdDZeMUVJ8Uvx5mwjpCQ3KkcF2FJODrVPbLDy4VsE73WrK-sCAnvp2gkvevGC1oHYsyJ2_hgDA/s320/My+Stuff+129.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYq2nCrwMzV2YAd9iNYL6r48yCYFmZBKKNGJq8_SY4_Qvgfv_4blMwCTjfyxmEiuJ-TR7YDA3B76QEnxDCP9lw_82lqorqe4ICKbchIBcGcg4seXYmtNw1jbHTeQTlcuzqXgQ3pRld8VV/s1600/My+Stuff+128.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480122085109602642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYq2nCrwMzV2YAd9iNYL6r48yCYFmZBKKNGJq8_SY4_Qvgfv_4blMwCTjfyxmEiuJ-TR7YDA3B76QEnxDCP9lw_82lqorqe4ICKbchIBcGcg4seXYmtNw1jbHTeQTlcuzqXgQ3pRld8VV/s320/My+Stuff+128.jpg" /></a> Our last book-club meeting featured carnival food(yes, there was a carnival in the story!). The hostess made amazing funnel cake from scratch!! And the chocolate covered frozen bananas... Heavenly!!! FYI- the F<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">ritos</span> are topped with chili, cheese and sour cream(the chili was my contribution). Yum and double yum.<br /><br />A quote from the book(that we had a great discussion about by the way):<br />"All parents damage their children. It cannot be helped. Youth, like pristine glass, absorbs the prints of it's handlers. Some parents smudge, others crack, a few shatter childhoods completely into jagged little pieces, beyond repair."<br />-Mitch Albom<br /><br />This book wasn't my favorite, nor was it my least favorite.<br />The author wanted to address the subject of our purpose in life. I don't know that I agreed with him 100%, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It made me work to figure out what I DO think. And here's what it is... Wait for it...<br /><br />Our purpose in life:<br />To seek God.<br />To love both God and His children.<br />To help others find God.<br /><br />Some of the beautiful verses I read studying about this are- Eccl. 12:13, psalm 63, Matt. 22:36-40, Luke 19:9, 1 John, Acts 17:22-31.<br /><br />Two of our thought questions as a group were:<br />Using what you know of on this earth, what would heaven be like for you?<br />and<br />What five people would you meet in heaven?(In the book the main character interacted with 5 people who helped him to understand his life on earth.)<br />Anyone want to share what your answers would have been?<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-51587067732142499202010-05-28T07:06:00.000-07:002010-06-07T13:54:09.734-07:00It was worth itWell, that wasn't my favorite 48 hours, but it could have been a lot worse I suppose.<br />Turns out I am my father's daughter.<br />I have the same chronic condition he has- <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">diverticulosis</span></span>(<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">sp</span></span>?)</span>. I am sure I will learn a lot more about the specifics when I do my follow-up visit with the Dr., but, if I understand correctly, it is basically <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">inflammation</span> in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">diverticulii</span>(found in the wall of the colon). It is potentially dangerous if the inflammation turns into infection. If they do get infected, the diagnosis changes to diverticulitis- which my dad has has struggles with more and more the older he gets. If it is caught early, they can treat the infections with antibiotics, but if not <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">abscesses</span> can form and that is the dangerous part.<br />I am young and reasonably healthy though, so we should be able to manage it quite nicely. I will have some dietary restrictions, but it won't be too bad. Hey, I'll take it over some of the other problems I could have had!<br />The Doctor gave me some medicine to start taking to heal the inflammation. I'll start that today. I'm hoping for no side-effects. If there are side-effects, I usually get them- even the weird ones.<br />So, a lot to be thankful for- including peace of mind.:)<br />p.s. I have had a WONDERFUL time making up for all of the eating I didn't do all day Wednesday and half of the day Thursday!!!<br />*Update*<br />I do have <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">diverticulosis</span></span>, but I was wrong about a couple of things(guess I should have waited till the follow-up visit before I gave all that info.!). The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">diverticulosis</span></span> is not what they are treating for, nor was it the problem causing my symptoms. I have some mild <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">inflammation</span> in my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">diverticulii</span></span>(<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">sp</span></span>?), but it isn't a big deal at this point. The condition causing my problem is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">ulcerative</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">proctitis</span></span>(again- <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">sp</span></span>?!). It is related to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">ulcerative</span></span> colitis, but it is much less scary. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ulcerative</span></span> colitis happens higher up in the colon and is MUCH harder to treat. Many people suffering with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">ulcerative</span></span> colitis spend a lot of time in and out of the hospital. My ulcers are found lower down(in the rectum to be precise. Sorry if the terms bother you. I myself, am past all that.) and it responds well to treatments. Like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">ulcerative</span></span> colitis, it isn't <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">curable</span>. It will come and go throughout my life. When the ulcers are present they will use drugs to try and speed the healing so I won't have any complications(<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">abscesses</span>). So, it isn't fun or pleasant, but it is manageable and for that I am thankful.:) I really hope I got it right this time. A third correction would just be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">embarrassing</span>.<br />And as for side-effects... I have been getting a lot of headaches since starting the med.s. The Dr. said that is a common side effect. Unfortunately I will probably just have to put up with it. I guess there are worse things!Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-8143934184865810642010-05-25T17:06:00.000-07:002010-05-25T17:19:52.018-07:00Getting ready for the best day of my lifeI just had my last meal until Thurs. afternoon(earliest).<br />Lentil soup, salad, garlic toast(millet and flax bread), peach medley applesauce topped with blueberries, and some fancy pants cheese from Switzerland.<br />Soon to follow: chocolate "ice cream" made from coconut milk with banana slices.<br />It is a meal to be proud of, but what I really wanted was greasy pizza.<br /><br />Tomorrow the fun starts.<br /><br />If you haven't had a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">colonoscopy</span> before you don't want to know.<br /><br />Think of me when you partake of... really ANY sort of food tomorrow. If you can chew and swallow it, I will probably be hungry for it.<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nite</span> allErin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-75045286713157011312010-05-17T16:54:00.000-07:002010-05-17T17:37:05.231-07:00Goals for May(been thinking about them for a while now, just not POSTING my thoughts;)May's focus: Having more fun<br />I'll be honest. I just can't get on board with this one. I am spending this year trying to become a happier person and I want to look to the Bible to learn how to do that. The Bible says very little about this topic. Does the Bible say that we can't have fun? ABSOLUTELY NOT! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Buuuut</span>, having said that, I think that the pursuit of fun is too much of a priority for most Americans. If we don't have enough fun, we tend to feel <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">persecuted</span>.<br />The Bible does talk about joy. We are capable of being joyful people even if we don't have an ounce of "fun" in our lives. That joy comes from having a relationship with God. It comes from knowing that we are heirs with Christ, and we have a Father that loves us. Paul and Silas had that joy even in prison and they sang songs of praise to God instead of falling into depression. I can't think about this topic without thinking of some of our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">brethren</span> in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Ethiopia</span> today. Some of them spend every day working hard just to survive. They don't go to the movies, or start book-clubs, or try out trendy new restaurants, or go to amusement parks but, as a rule, they are a joyful people. Maybe the lack of "white noise" in their lives makes it a little easier to focus on God. I know that I spend an awful lot of time trying to be physically comfortable in this life and I think that it causes my spiritual self to atrophy. Does that mean that I am going to try and have a miserable life so that I can better focus on God? No. But I do want to get my priorities straight.<br />Joy can be mine no matter what life brings me. Right now, life is good. The blessings are pouring in. How much easier should it be right now to want to "wake the dawn with praises"?<br />There it is then- I need to focus this month on counting my blessings. And if the near future finds me with no physical blessings to count, that doesn't leave me empty handed. The lack of physical blessings will just make the spiritual ones shine that much brighter. I am a child of the Most High God and heaven is mine!<br />So, here's to the first real post in a while... It feels nice.Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-81094255419800093542010-05-17T12:41:00.001-07:002010-05-17T13:02:11.510-07:00Little flowers waiting to go to their new homes.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLRpcTCK4Bs8sjj9GZThbcJSA1vMeo-BZgNGgU1QmWYYUDhiv8uSW7yYUayzKGpeitPGro2oK-kaGvpfLBbQEL9Fo_EnkrBU5w7gC4K6Gb805bYU1GM1U9zSk2xlYpZ-YEYuOHWhrbEpQ/s1600/My+Stuff+123.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472326912626714418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLRpcTCK4Bs8sjj9GZThbcJSA1vMeo-BZgNGgU1QmWYYUDhiv8uSW7yYUayzKGpeitPGro2oK-kaGvpfLBbQEL9Fo_EnkrBU5w7gC4K6Gb805bYU1GM1U9zSk2xlYpZ-YEYuOHWhrbEpQ/s320/My+Stuff+123.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg7AakWhyY6AI9sfHoX825onyEx5jl_gVJi5E18xa9sJNr9fML7hnlj2AjHfrCFm_7-hqqUeNRKIFApERlFSsObh4PkTf77d78JjolpzBXebYIEh1bSMzDQq8fvJxW-SldIQjQ9L4Kzcw/s1600/My+Stuff+121.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472326824558083890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg7AakWhyY6AI9sfHoX825onyEx5jl_gVJi5E18xa9sJNr9fML7hnlj2AjHfrCFm_7-hqqUeNRKIFApERlFSsObh4PkTf77d78JjolpzBXebYIEh1bSMzDQq8fvJxW-SldIQjQ9L4Kzcw/s320/My+Stuff+121.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvNuHLRqMuMT39kR-1zeKCH4hFWWAHDntt9wi0i4l_Xv_U-ofSSqbp8NSTf1McgZwtt96oje3q7uiWu3AGHv0IZgpADlgX2paOxnK0RILCi10ACvySEgYdwi3LA4mxwEpkS_Njjr0J8aZ/s1600/My+Stuff+050.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472326523674627506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvNuHLRqMuMT39kR-1zeKCH4hFWWAHDntt9wi0i4l_Xv_U-ofSSqbp8NSTf1McgZwtt96oje3q7uiWu3AGHv0IZgpADlgX2paOxnK0RILCi10ACvySEgYdwi3LA4mxwEpkS_Njjr0J8aZ/s320/My+Stuff+050.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01Q2mpPTDKr9sV_cJu0UbvLodHzrMCLb7PkbhfVEdokEzQGPp6_Pn5IyE2Mu4f-AGoXPR3L_GLymnoJB3QvFRIZ61H73ZkJTlPHmmcU_fe_VWv7ljJAX-VDQ4PhoxxTdGL72OL00gtHUo/s1600/My+Stuff+051.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472326434623192242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01Q2mpPTDKr9sV_cJu0UbvLodHzrMCLb7PkbhfVEdokEzQGPp6_Pn5IyE2Mu4f-AGoXPR3L_GLymnoJB3QvFRIZ61H73ZkJTlPHmmcU_fe_VWv7ljJAX-VDQ4PhoxxTdGL72OL00gtHUo/s320/My+Stuff+051.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-17735542468285518472010-05-14T06:59:00.000-07:002010-05-14T07:02:13.196-07:00Seersucker cabbage rose for my hair...Yum!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YQmGqp0-vgFNuQxpk8ZCIVOzD0-CaUL0OYIrptAgYDkwHJagOCrikGX8-vQhaHdDk_vjFthr-4f68tU3H0Mblafri_pebD5ea-3e0Ql0_mhtUxRunG8eLPVU1i8qX4lFLb2lwIm3z-42/s1600/My+Stuff+114.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471125231992880786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YQmGqp0-vgFNuQxpk8ZCIVOzD0-CaUL0OYIrptAgYDkwHJagOCrikGX8-vQhaHdDk_vjFthr-4f68tU3H0Mblafri_pebD5ea-3e0Ql0_mhtUxRunG8eLPVU1i8qX4lFLb2lwIm3z-42/s320/My+Stuff+114.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-3421145280154017742010-05-06T16:00:00.001-07:002010-05-06T16:12:47.034-07:00My sons "ordered" flowers from me for their teachers(it's Teacher Appreciation Week). Isn't that cute?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNglzPUlqeZPr7WXl_umdSfgEOwqMxpZm9RLKvxrQQxiH4VkWirFOHjRL3KlP5NFbv1oH_qw45sb5Tdrdh6rRXsI1_vN7d7HV0FqJH4bxfJ6X4rAfFpiFI_XN2QrBDHJxOGcO0NVOm5bMG/s1600/My+Stuff+105.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468298236014304994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNglzPUlqeZPr7WXl_umdSfgEOwqMxpZm9RLKvxrQQxiH4VkWirFOHjRL3KlP5NFbv1oH_qw45sb5Tdrdh6rRXsI1_vN7d7HV0FqJH4bxfJ6X4rAfFpiFI_XN2QrBDHJxOGcO0NVOm5bMG/s320/My+Stuff+105.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCgp6ronUpufA1mVg9OVu4CBL4Ujkeo-mKE_Y1XLyWaNjofXufJgRHyZr7yR-xPLnQYdYaZR64u4CZHQPVGPl-ddEn5ELdYh40uVmzHPVX1KHODRDANnpCfgTAZ85TeRw5AyPX9Cg78Tz/s1600/My+Stuff+106.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468295877153598930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCgp6ronUpufA1mVg9OVu4CBL4Ujkeo-mKE_Y1XLyWaNjofXufJgRHyZr7yR-xPLnQYdYaZR64u4CZHQPVGPl-ddEn5ELdYh40uVmzHPVX1KHODRDANnpCfgTAZ85TeRw5AyPX9Cg78Tz/s320/My+Stuff+106.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-47714506861459455702010-04-27T17:25:00.000-07:002010-04-27T18:38:43.519-07:00Time is flying...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRveHlghAHhCbak_jCw1Qc4PArppn7BEbTr4FIdITxLq6KiSRx91EyDlQiD9Ypksugiscj27PXWw6emlNzA0QXBHuhZMzC0gD0WYD-El_sgG9nBR8UNSC_mzhIt9rOE-ZclWABKxfAlAp/s1600/My+Stuff+098.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464985786059107058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRveHlghAHhCbak_jCw1Qc4PArppn7BEbTr4FIdITxLq6KiSRx91EyDlQiD9Ypksugiscj27PXWw6emlNzA0QXBHuhZMzC0gD0WYD-El_sgG9nBR8UNSC_mzhIt9rOE-ZclWABKxfAlAp/s320/My+Stuff+098.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-cNNIpYDKbjdYdvIbwilggc_lwYmoSKr5GIYtI3vE6wEQahrFmGMgJns1Bbs5rbhyjPt8DEbainnstu1VyEU7PqXr-Nh6C0xqdqZ9k3VlCIJqdpgQ487P9p84TVcNg5Yr2Vd1ppbpw10/s1600/My+Stuff+095.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464985718938267586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-cNNIpYDKbjdYdvIbwilggc_lwYmoSKr5GIYtI3vE6wEQahrFmGMgJns1Bbs5rbhyjPt8DEbainnstu1VyEU7PqXr-Nh6C0xqdqZ9k3VlCIJqdpgQ487P9p84TVcNg5Yr2Vd1ppbpw10/s320/My+Stuff+095.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO3GdbxdgzTmeHewzpPk4gaD1TGvP8IIQrdUOiIp-UjLM1N4RhJtT552dw86Kb4W8wjqc3hmVu8pxvyN0viHrXAMUNPexgrXgxLCkM_qgDXzX2IUOe4SX4vKFdSaoBAx-lp_iyNkPv_uL/s1600/My+Stuff+084.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464985650125701986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO3GdbxdgzTmeHewzpPk4gaD1TGvP8IIQrdUOiIp-UjLM1N4RhJtT552dw86Kb4W8wjqc3hmVu8pxvyN0viHrXAMUNPexgrXgxLCkM_qgDXzX2IUOe4SX4vKFdSaoBAx-lp_iyNkPv_uL/s320/My+Stuff+084.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YA6pwPwkv8DoRSwXuCVZNi2eL4kYntRI4zz8S1lxLVSfMYiCiVNNU2oGbhtXNNItvHnW18Mz8WI1A1vcfAHv14eIG1c6OeMH35N9dRda6NS3iV75sDtpyM0TNJsDHlJaGIaVsy1Yat1B/s1600/My+Stuff+076.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464985528090619474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YA6pwPwkv8DoRSwXuCVZNi2eL4kYntRI4zz8S1lxLVSfMYiCiVNNU2oGbhtXNNItvHnW18Mz8WI1A1vcfAHv14eIG1c6OeMH35N9dRda6NS3iV75sDtpyM0TNJsDHlJaGIaVsy1Yat1B/s320/My+Stuff+076.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1EEm1g6GKBa2GU_bgC_KtnwDwgDRAiZyKun2mAf0RXFhSfeO4VnerFupMci5S5xpReUrJujix8kVQXPufOUO1pTeGhjHF5U_bzM6yFj6iKGW4mcMioA56kMVSmSRlvbJyVkaWTEDxZ5I/s1600/My+Stuff+074.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464985436580322146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1EEm1g6GKBa2GU_bgC_KtnwDwgDRAiZyKun2mAf0RXFhSfeO4VnerFupMci5S5xpReUrJujix8kVQXPufOUO1pTeGhjHF5U_bzM6yFj6iKGW4mcMioA56kMVSmSRlvbJyVkaWTEDxZ5I/s320/My+Stuff+074.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAJziTjrja17eGp8ndR4Xm9J8EJOC227Aln3nNl0TXs9cjkcNhMRGl8eU7HFf-fYTDMuqPgAYSj_IrGat1FXUVi5Z7jzQOyaAsVTvjSif3bEVLXqO3NM7MdvTuDU5AzIAQl6wmtGpUJGL/s1600/My+Stuff+066.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464985330219582146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAJziTjrja17eGp8ndR4Xm9J8EJOC227Aln3nNl0TXs9cjkcNhMRGl8eU7HFf-fYTDMuqPgAYSj_IrGat1FXUVi5Z7jzQOyaAsVTvjSif3bEVLXqO3NM7MdvTuDU5AzIAQl6wmtGpUJGL/s320/My+Stuff+066.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsa4UwnF41NPYylkUNs5Hk2ypWrSMgyBRbsFQfhStB2ch81FGR82Al2YgRYuUp6IdWYs9tAcUta3ndu_P0TY6Y7apcm_6E33UvriH-VhaHinEHuIZ1AxSTnjZ5iw4JzHiCs4encaaYNsq/s1600/My+Stuff+064.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464985247766714178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsa4UwnF41NPYylkUNs5Hk2ypWrSMgyBRbsFQfhStB2ch81FGR82Al2YgRYuUp6IdWYs9tAcUta3ndu_P0TY6Y7apcm_6E33UvriH-VhaHinEHuIZ1AxSTnjZ5iw4JzHiCs4encaaYNsq/s320/My+Stuff+064.jpg" /></a> Apparently I started this blog when I had a lot less to do! I've been missing some days and forget about anything deep!! </div><div>Here is the weekend synopsis: </div><div>Tale of two cities finished. Loved it. And the French food at our book club meeting wasn't too shabby either:) Fried brie... Yeah, it was a good night. </div><div>Coming up: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Albom</span></div><div>I'm excited about it. And, yes, one of the reasons I'm excited is that it is SHORT. </div><div>Saturday I got to go on a date with my husband! A WONDERFUL couple we know kept our children so David and I could go out to dinner. We went to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ceviche</span> which was a lot of fun. I highly recommend the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">chorizo</span> with potatoes and onions in brandy sauce. OH my was it good. That and the white chocolate creme <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">brulee</span> in a dark chocolate shell. I didn't mind that either. There is a picture of me enjoying it somewhere...</div><div>This week I am working on a project that I am really excited about. I am framing four of my flowers for a baby's nursery. I think it is going to be pretty <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">stinkin</span> cute! I'll let you be the judge when I am done. </div><div>Alright, I am going to get a few more things done. I can't get behind this week!!</div><div>Love to all,</div><div>Erin</div><div>Oh, and the pictures are from our day at Nature's classroom. I guess I need to get a good picture of Morgan next time! </div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-21950638213059962842010-04-21T14:02:00.000-07:002010-04-21T14:26:13.940-07:00Wednesday(Yep. That is about as exciting as this post gets.)Appt. #1 is over, appt. #2 will be GLARING at me from the calendar for a whole month. I get to have the dreaded colonoscopy. At least I feel like I am in good hands. <br /><br />On another note, am I the only one who wants to throw the GPS navigator out the window? That thing tries to get me lost at least every other time I use it. It tried to make me turn down a street that didn't exist today. I was LUCKY to get to my Dr.s appt. on time!<br /><br />I'm afraid this lame attempt at a post will have to be it for the day. <br />Things to do. Places to be.<br />Love to all- especially any of you who have been to a GI.<br />ErinErin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-58288898223207313272010-04-19T08:11:00.000-07:002010-04-19T08:43:15.839-07:00Monday morningI'm having the "end of vacation" blues. Spring break is over and it is back to normal life. It is all a mental thing for me... We didn't do anything over spring break that I can't do with the two little ones during a regular week. And, it is really EASIER to have just two to take care of rather than four. But still, I feel the way I always have when school starts- melancholy. I miss David more this morning too and he wasn't even home last week! It doesn't help that I have a doctor appointment looming this Wednesday. I don't want to get into <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">over-share</span> territory, but I have been having some digestive issues that need to be addressed. I've been through this before in my early twenties and it isn't fun. I will go through the unpleasant tests though to get some answers. The likelihood is that it is not a life threatening problem- just irritating and mildly uncomfortable; but there is always the possibility that it is something really bad and my mind is REALLY good at coming up with those worst case scenarios! Peace of mind... will I ever really own it?<br />The good news for the week is twofold:<br />1) We really did have a good spring break. One of my April resolutions is to have more fun with my kids and I made good on that last week. Sean didn't even find a whole lot to complain about. I kept him too busy!<br />2) I have a name for my business: Twiddly Bits. I am moving closer toward my goal!<br /><br />Now to push past the mean reds and get something done TODAY...Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-17968097528254066442010-04-15T14:25:00.000-07:002010-04-15T14:33:49.372-07:00108 pages down, 266 to go"But, the comfort was, that all the company at the grand hotel of Monseigneur were perfectly dressed. If the Day of Judgement had only been ascertained to be a dress day, everybody there would have been eternally correct. Such frizzling and powdering and sticking up of hair, such delicate complexions artificially preserved and mended, such gallant swords to look at, and such delicate honour to the sense of smell, would surely keep anything going, for ever and ever. The exquisite gentleman of the finest breeding wore little pendent trinkets that chinked as they languidly moved; these golden fetters rang like precious little bells; and what with that ringing, and with the rustle of silk and brocade and fine linen, there was a flutter in the air that fanned Saint Antoine and his devouring hunger far away."<br />Charles Dickens- A Tale of Two CitiesErin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-11912950344129923642010-04-14T12:19:00.000-07:002010-04-14T12:22:19.049-07:00Soaking up the Florida Sun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXGbExiqbAU6mmPSEfdJi3xsUF1fYuP6oHaT-5rDfRYE6OH4R_Y_q_Qa5VBxAZgz2T4QHWAFmo8wjfu37SFudJ6KzL_zUsoRRKcrqnQEwSkd_bkupUD88bcL6TCZ8uUWdDwsX82SAKJQN/s1600/My+Stuff+045.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460075326180625170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXGbExiqbAU6mmPSEfdJi3xsUF1fYuP6oHaT-5rDfRYE6OH4R_Y_q_Qa5VBxAZgz2T4QHWAFmo8wjfu37SFudJ6KzL_zUsoRRKcrqnQEwSkd_bkupUD88bcL6TCZ8uUWdDwsX82SAKJQN/s400/My+Stuff+045.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1GhuzkNfXcmrsRoFKA3svz13zLA_UbKJI2l97j__2EBAjNOozYA1H9G6q8CjhBmmJGERmFoeakxbsc9sNthsMvvvw10ZGXi0XhA7HRfUJSASRFeGq1ctQp5OGTpJGzKUboxCLmuLD7gv/s1600/My+Stuff+044.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460075141880032722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1GhuzkNfXcmrsRoFKA3svz13zLA_UbKJI2l97j__2EBAjNOozYA1H9G6q8CjhBmmJGERmFoeakxbsc9sNthsMvvvw10ZGXi0XhA7HRfUJSASRFeGq1ctQp5OGTpJGzKUboxCLmuLD7gv/s400/My+Stuff+044.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851659869568368088.post-77065001363644872222010-04-13T17:36:00.000-07:002010-04-14T12:18:41.249-07:00Mummies and Fire<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9lbCTTsFiKuuj3nACzMgzGuqq7TxEbZ5QX6dgDqicxmBxDhELbw1SXjbhicTlLLfggJKIEk59qvU_L4cg9hpxcGmUe4EWPk-7k0TjqXeCnNAQ2gIoLuvVMCH20G7UYLgSuB7O-n1zqjz/s1600/My+Stuff+046.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460074690461588802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9lbCTTsFiKuuj3nACzMgzGuqq7TxEbZ5QX6dgDqicxmBxDhELbw1SXjbhicTlLLfggJKIEk59qvU_L4cg9hpxcGmUe4EWPk-7k0TjqXeCnNAQ2gIoLuvVMCH20G7UYLgSuB7O-n1zqjz/s320/My+Stuff+046.jpg" /></a> The creative process is very messy...<br />Today I let the kids make <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">mummies</span> and coffins for their <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">mummies</span> out of various objects: shoe-boxes, paper, markers, tape, small action figures, toilet paper, coins, etc., etc. I thought about taking a picture of the obscene mess that they made, but they were all wearing their skivvies and I didn't think it would be appropriate to post such a picture- hilarious as it was. Of course Lilly did not make a mummy. She made some sort of treasure box. And the baby just colored his lips blue with a marker. Good times.<br />The boys then went on to fashion a homemade OVEN outside. I really should take a picture of it tomorrow. I'm not sure what they were planning to cook... perhaps the locust that Sean took a nibble of this afternoon? (He said it was disgusting). Sean came to me wanting to know how to light a fire in it. Apparently they had already tried at least one method but it did not produce any flames for them. I guess they have watched too many shows about surviving in the wilderness. Idiot that I am, I gave them some alternate ideas- banking on the fact that they wouldn't be able to implement said ideas properly. My gamble paid off. Still no flames. In <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">desperation</span> Morgan tried to sneak some matches outside but I caught him. They eventually tired of this venture and came inside to take showers. The yard was thoroughly trashed.<br /><br />The clean-up is worth it though. At least they aren't sitting inside in front of some sort of screen all day!<br />And with that, I'm out. Goodnight all:)Erin Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539647298294983004noreply@blogger.com0