Mothers, Grandmothers, and Other Mothers, Oh My!

I love Mothers Day.  I love the idea of a whole day to remember how blessed I am to have the mom I have, the mother-in-law I have, the grandmothers I have, and the friends I have that are wonderful mothers to their children.  Also, it's no secret that I can't wait to BE a mom! (Don't worry mom - I'm finishing school first :).....I have a big list of gifts to post about, so here goes!

 It seemed like this was the year of 'picture' presents - My mom has been wanting this picture for a LONG time - every time we see it in a store she just stares at it, and I knew it would make the perfect mothers day gift (my picture isn't very good but I'm sure she will post about it at her blog). It says "Be still and know that I am God" at the bottom...it really is beautiful.

We (me, Tyler, Morgan, and Maci) also got her Francesca Battistelli's new CD, because she loves her even though she can't pronounce her name :)

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Tyler and I got Teresa this picture; It made me think of her right when I saw it:

This one says:

"Mom, you mean so much to me.

More than words could ever say.

No one else could take your place

For even a single day.

From my earliest memories

Your love has always been there.

Even when you scolded me

You were really saying "I care."

You've helped me through the sad times

And shared my joy in the good.

You have given so much for me

As only a mother could.

It's a precious gift from God

To have a mother like you.

Because in your special love

I can see His love shine through."

So perfect for Teresa - she is a wonderful mom and I'm glad she brought Tyler up exactly like she did so that he would make my perfect husband someday!

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Next, I helped Cadyn make a present for her mom (my BFF Jordan).  I got her handprints in paint at church on Wednesday and I framed them.

It turned out ADORABLE and I love Jordan and am so proud of her for being such a great mom :)

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Here is a picture of the 'loot' on the 'Night before Mothers Day' :)

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We also had lots of festivities today - first church, then my great-aunt Janice's for my family's Mothers Day lunch, then Tyler's parents' for their lunch.  I made these cute little cupcakes (I think I had more fun making them than everybody did eating them :p)

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And finally, I'll leave you with a picture of me and my babydoll! :) - my mom will post pictures too, so go look there! Until next year, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! I love all the 'moms' in my life!

The circus isn't just for kids!

Mine and Tyler's best friends Jordan and Ethan invited us to go to the circus with them and their daughter Cadyn because they had extra tickets.  We thought it would just be a fun and different thing to do, not to mention free (because I'm so cheap), but it turns out we had just as much fun as Cadyn did!  It is AMAZING to watch all the things those people can do - trapezes, tightropes, stilts...just to name a few! We will probably keep going back every year even if we don't have kids to take - haha!

 Watching Cadyn was just as fun as watching everything else....she was in a trance the whole time.  You just wonder what is going through her little mind! Such a doll baby!

 Thank you Jordan and Ethan for the fun evening! :)

I've Found the One My Heart Loves....

 Tyler and I are going to a wedding for two of our friends who live somewhat far away...we don't see them very often, but they are perfect for each other and we can wait to see them be married!  I found a set of mugs at the Christian Bookstore that would have been a perfect wedding gift, and I could have kicked myself for not buying them!  So, I searched FOREVER online to find them, and when I did I found a whole gift set to go with them - AND I had a discount code and got a lot more for the same price :)...God always works things out! I love this gift because it has scripture incorporated into it and it just looks like their personalities:

 The set came with a gift bag, a journal for both to write in, a 'coupon book' (like what I got Tyler for Valentine's Day), and His and Her mugs.

 And I just LOVE the inside of them - my camera is not very fancy, so it was hard to get a good picture, but it says "I found the one my heart loves. Song of Solomon 3:4" - SO perfect for a wedding gift!

And a heart at the bottom of the cup :)

Congratulations Matt and Meaghan! We love you both!

Miss Me?? :)

I know, I know, I haven't blogged in FOREVER for multiple reasons, including heaping piles of homework, a million places to be, and not really anything interesting worth blogging about.  But......I figured since Easter weekend is here, I have a couple things to show you :)

I really have a burden for little kids to get to know what the REAL meaning of all these holidays we celebrate.  Easter is becoming more and more about candy and bunnies and baskets, and the real reason is forgotten.  But I will NEVER forget! I have a lot of friends that have kids, and Tyler and I's best friends Jordan and Ethan have a little girl Cadyn who just turned two, and they are so faithful to always be at church and it's a blessing.  We also have friends Andrew and Christy who have Heidi, and they just started recently coming to our church.  Since I don't have a little girl of my own to buy for, I LOVE buying stuff for these girls :) I went and bought them the Easter VeggieTales DVD and a book with the real Easter story in it, and put them in these adorable little baskets that I painted their names on:

 How cute! They both have wonderful parents and we love them so much!

Anyway, today, I decided to try to make 'Hidden Surprise Easter Egg Treats' - you've probably seen them advertised in magazines lately.  They're simply Rice Krispie Treats in the shape of eggs that are hollow and have a 'surprise' (M&M's) inside.  They were REALLY easy to make and turned out so cute!

I still have to figure out how I'm going to decorate them before tomorrow's Easter festivities! If you want the recipe, here it is!

I hope everyone has a blessed Easter; remember, it's the day our Savior arose - He is a LIVING Savior, and now we can live with Him in eternity! Hosanna!

Just Because...

I know everyone says that they have 'the best husband in the world', and I guess maybe it's true for them but I s.e.r.i.o.u.s.l.y. have the BEST husband of ALL :) I had been giving Tyler subtle hints, if you consider email wish lists subtle :), but he actually paid attention and got this for me today: 

....just because. :)

Have I mentioned I LOVE shopping?!

Today, I went with my friends Katie and Holly to the outlet mall in Jeffersonville, OH - we had a BLAST! Not to mention, we spent way too much money, but that's the point of an outlet mall, right? :)  Even though it was extremely stormy, we managed to always be inside when it was raining and the storm was ahead of us all the way home....here is a picture of our damage in my trunk, and then a few others of my loot at home :)

And yes, I did splurge on one thing:

 This adorable Coach bag, and I don't regret it yet! haha!

Set on Fire!

I. LOVE. MY. CHURCH.

At Maranatha Fellowship on Sunday night, 3 people were saved.  Someone handed our pastor a note that asked if we were 'having service on Monday night?' out of the blue, and he said we sure were :) Well, Monday night another woman was saved, so we continued with our revival tonight and 3 more people gave their lives to the Lord!  I love that I can't wait to go to church. If you have time or you don't attend a church, you can join us at mfctoday.org and watch online! You won't be disappointed! :)

Also, the youth group at church is selling the infamous peanut butter eggs for $3.00 apiece and I helped make them so I know for a fact that they're delicious ;)...If you live around here and want to order any, just let me know!!!