Sweet Lessons

Every day at lunch Caroline and I read stories from her Children's Bible.  It has been so sweet to see her come to love her Bible.  Many days as I read and talk to her about God's word I am struck by how these simple stories convict my heart and challenge me to love Jesus more.  


Yesterday we were reading about Palm Sunday and Caroline with excited glee starting waving her palm branch around that she had made in Sunday School.  I know that she doesn't understand the things I am reading to her but it has been so amazing to see the Lord planting seeds in her heart through these times.  Our prayer is that she will come to know and passionately love Jesus.

Style Struggles

I haven't had time to blog lately because I've been obsessed with trying to make curtains with my new sewing machine.  A dear friend took the time to come over and teach me how to do the basics so I could get started.  I've had grand images in my head of what the curtains will add to the room with a pop of color and making the room feel more put together.  But the reality has been far from it.  

Pop of color.  

Check.  

Room feeling more put together.  

Not so much.  

Instead it's led to confusion about what my home decorating style is and how to make that a reality in my home.  I have scoured the internet for inspiration images but somehow I keep struggling with putting it together myself.  Thus leading to a very frustrated and stressed out wife last night.  I was no fun to hang out with.  I didn't even want to go into our kitchen/family room because I didn't want to look at the curtains I had made. 


I feel terribly guilty because I spent money buying the fabric I thought I'd love.  But now I'm not so sure.  So now I sit with nothing on my windows and total confusion as to where to go from here.  I certainly don't want any more money wasted.  

Here's a pic of the kitchen window.  It's the only one I really like right now.  Except of course for the awful mini blinds!

Surprises & Friendship

I LOVE surprises so today was definitely an extraordinary day!  First I woke up early and was able to have some quiet time drinking coffee and reading email.  The birds were actually chirping outside and the sun was already peeking through the window as I walked into the kitchen.  It was just like a Spring morning and made me long for it to be warm outside.  

My first surprise of the day came from my best friend Ansley and her husband Brandon.  They wrote to tell me that he is planning to fly me to NYC this summer to be with her for her birthday!  He gave her the option of a new digital camera or flying her best friends up for some girl time and she chose us!  I'm so incredibly honored and excited beyond belief!!!  I'm ready to leave tomorrow Ans! 


Later in the day, after being out and about running errands, and buying an awesome new purse with some birthday money, I returned home to find that a precious friend had left a surprise for me on our porch!  Cheerful tulips, Godiva dark chocolate bar, and a card.  My favorite things.....flowers, chocolate and sweet encouragement! 

Both of these sweet surprises were a much needed reminder to me of how blessed I am to have some amazing friends in my life.  It's been a tough week.  Our house was struck with a stomach virus that started with Caroline and made its way to David and then finally me.  I've also had a lot of deep things on my mind lately and its easy for me to get downcast and lost in my thoughts.  These surprises and the friendships that they come from have reminded my heart today of how foolish it is to get wrapped up in ourselves that we don't see the amazing things in our lives.

I also need to give a huge shout out to my family.  The moment I called and asked for help this week they were in the car headed here from out of town to take Caroline off my hands so I could rest and recuperate.  I couldn't have made it through this week without them.  She's had a blast playing at their house and being the center of their attention while I could get some much needed sleep.  I am a blessed woman!  Thank you Lord!

Lazy Days

We traveled to Georgia this weekend to visit Papa D and Gee Gee. It was a great time of lounging in the hammock, riding in the woods, catching up on Food Network, and eating lots and lots of yummy food.


Caroline definitely has her grandparents wrapped around her finger. She used her charm to talk them into giving her cracker upon cracker and tons of her new favorite cookie. She was definitely sugared up!!



My birthday was on Sunday so we celebrated with strawberries and pancakes for breakfast and then later in the day David presented me with a birthday cake. It was a last minute idea so you will notice the cake has an Irish theme and a very sad icing message. Evidently, it was so late at the grocery store when he bought the cake that only one person working was willing to try to write a birthday message on my cake! Then to top that off the only candles his parents had in the house were leftover from his grandad's 90th birthday party. So today, unexpectedly I celebrated my 95th birthday! Don't I look good for my age!!! ;)



The next picture will have to be explained. A DeWeil Family tradition is that the birthday girl or boy has to take the first bite out of their cake. Usually it's a year-long competition to see who can take the biggest bite. David was laughing at my pitiful effort.



All in all we had a great weekend! Thanks Papa D and Gee Gee!

Let the Creative Juices Flow

Isn't she a beauty? This was an early birthday present from David. I have wanted one for so long!!! There are so many fun projects I have on my mind.....now I just have to learn how to use this bad boy!

Mimi

Caroline is definitely a Daddy's girl. She's been that way since the beginning. Maybe it's because when she was first born David would dance with her every night before we put her to bed. OR it could be because he's so funny and always knows how to make her laugh. Whatever the reason she has always been a Daddy's girl. Because of that most days all I hear about is Dada this and Dada that and nothing about Mommy. I have to admit that was pretty tough when I thought about the rough days of morning sickness I went through while carrying her and the difficult sacrifices I make each day to stay home with her. All I wanted was some recognition from her....that's all. :) But now I can say it was worth the wait. Caroline has now started to call my name all the time. FINALLY!!!! But instead of calling me Mama or Mommy she has named me "Mimi". If she sees a picture of me across the room she will yell with joy "Mimi". The other day we were at the grocery store and David was pushing her around on the cart while I tried to quickly find everything on our list. When they turned down the aisle where I was, I heard an excited shriek "MIMI!!!!" It was awesome! So even though she is still a Daddy's girl at heart it's so good to finally have some recognition from her.

Oh Yum!

First let me say how happy it made us to see a table of Girl Scouts in front of the grocery store yesterday!!! After digging through all the loose change in my purse I came up with exactly enough to take home one of these......


and let me tell ya....one box is not gonna last long in our house! We broke them open as soon as we got to the car! We try to eat them when Caroline is napping so we don't have to share with her! Isn't that awful! :) We're very protective of our Thin Mints.

So last weekend David took me to this new (well new to me) restaurant where he ordered "Southern Salsa" and I instantly fell in love! So all week I've been on a quest to find a recipe for this stuff so I could recreate it at home anytime I wanted. Here's the first recipe I tried out last night that is called "Texas Caviar". It didn't have the kick the Southern Salsa had but it was yummy.
I also made Monster Cookies for the first time and I wish I had not waited so long to sample this recipe that I've had in my possession for years. Watch out these are addictive! Thankfully we had some friends come over Saturday night and they helped us eat some of this!

I actually remembered to take pictures of the process of making the cookies. Although I didn't think of it until after I began so all the ingredients are not pictured.

If you'd like any of the recipes let me know! I'm happy to share!