Garage Sale Success!!!

Debated strongly about whether getting up early was worth garage sales this morning. I spent last night looking on craigslist for different sales and wrote a few down. Between only 3 sales that I went to, here's what I walked away with {...well, plus my cafe latte & pumpkin spice muffie from Panera...}:

Size 0-3mo}

5 sleepers, 1 outfit, 1 skirt, 3 pants, 1 onesie

Size 3-6mo}

3 sleepers, 1 outfit, 1, 3 pants

Size 6-9mo}

1 sleeper, 1 outfit (3 piece onesie+pants+hoodie), 5 pants, 1 onesie

Size 9-12mo}

1 outfit, 2 cardigans, 1 pant

Size 12mo+}

2 outfits, 1 pant, 6 onesies

3 Thermal Blankets

3 Receiving Blankets

2 pair of shoes (because we all know girls need more shoes than boys ;)

Isaac}

3 Jeans (great condition!)

3 Polo shirts

1 Long sleeve fall shirt

1 1/2 zip sweater for fall

1 Birthday toy gift

1 Set of fake food for his kitchen set ;)

So how'd I do you ask? All this for $29.50!!! SUCCESS!!!

Sojourn "Water and the Blood" New CD

What's that I said about being blessed to be married to a worship leader who constantly finds awesome new music? If you haven't heard of Sojourn yet, take a look at this video about their latest CD which is made up of all Isaac Watts hymns in a sweet new style.

You can also look it up here on www.vimeo.com

Time To Get CrEaTiVe!!!

I finally have energy {and time} to work on some projects I've been wanting to do but haven't felt like doing thanks to lack of energy and nausea. Here are a couple creative projects we did before our trip to Iowa and today :)

{above & below: Isaac and his soon-to-be sister's new room!}

We worked on this before our Iowa trip, and I'm thankful it's done & ready!

{mommy & Isaac cleaned out the closet. yay for organization...

...and for GARAGE SALES!!!}

PROJECT TIME!!

{long time no scrapbook! felt GREAT to be creative today ;). finished a mini-scrapbook for our soon-to-be little girl}

{Isaac even got in on the fun! Mommy made him a little flip book to color

that documents his faves at this age}

{Mommy then decided to fill the Ball jar with crayons-now when he wants to 

color he can have mommy get the jar of crayons and work more on his book!}

Mocha Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Recipe

I posted a pic of my first {EVER!} cheesecake on facebook and had some people asking for the recipe, so here are the links:

~For the Cheesecake~

visit Taste of Home at www.tasteofhome.com & search for

Mocha Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

{sorry, the page is down at the moment, but this should get you there}

~Optional Topping~

I had this topping on a cheesecake back home and it was amazing, but I decided

to garnish mine with hand roasted Ethiopian coffee beans (thanks Pastor Flack!!)

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Chocolate-Cheesecake-2

{my little helper helping me check them}

{one for a friend's anniversary, one for a friend's baby due this week!}

Excerpt from Pastor Flack's Sermon

This is an excerpt from Pastor Flack's sermon today-I really like the way he lays it out and thought it was worth sharing:

"If the gospel is preached in a way that only the elite get it, it is emptied of its power to save people from every background.  The gospel destroys the empty distinctions we make between people.

It is an announcement that there is in Christ a new kingdom and a new society.  This King has established His kingdom by dying on a cross as the worst kind of outcast to both the Jews and the Romans.

All are sinners and none can enter into this new kingdom except through repentance from sin and trust in the grace of the King.

The gospel tells the young child that there is freedom from any fear.  It tells the old man that there is forgiveness from any wrong and regret.

It tells those who have been destroyed by their fathers that there is a Father whose love will never fail.

It tells the addict that there are greater delights than the temporary feeling induced by drug or pornography.

It tells the one who has been outcast because of race or social or educational status that there is acceptance through the merit of Christ alone.  It tells the prostitute that there is purity in the perfection of Christ alone.

It tells the self-righteous that only the righteous of Christ received by faith justifies a man before God. It tells the intellectual that grace cannot be logically explained but must be humbly embraced.

It tells the Ethiopian and the Hindu that the gospel is not an American thing.  It is an announcement to the whole world that the kingdom that transcends national boundaries has invaded the world.

And it brings all kinds into a community called the church.  All are invited to swear allegiance to this King and to live in anticipation of the coming culmination of His kingdom.

The gospel never says that a person is too good or too bad to receive it.  It comes with a straightforward summons that calls everyone to the cross."

You can listen to the entire sermon here.

Back to Blogging World

Long time, no blog.

I took a break from blogging and from facebook...and almost from the internet in general during the season of Lent so that I could focus more on Him and on family, and I am very, very grateful that I did it, but have recently realized that I miss blogging a bit.

There will, however, be a slight shift in my blogs. Less journaling, more of what inspires me, of what I'm experiencing in Him-quotes, scriptures, music-much music!, and so on. A little less personal, a little more inspiration/links/favorite blog posts by other friends/etc. Also, some friends have suggested my hubby do a blog of Christian music he's listening to these days that could be used for family worship at home or just to have playing at home, but alas, he's fairly busy these days, so I hope from time to time to leave his suggestions and links here.

And with that said, check out the next post for something that hit me today during Pastor Flack's message that ought to be shared and heard...