Last Day To Get In On The Giveaway!

Please don't forget the giveaway!!

HERE

Healthy

First and Foremost:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBY!

My little girl turns 4!!!

This leads me to my post today:

I want to be here for her and her sister as long as I can.

I recently jogged (people walked it faster than I jogged it) my first 5K. I think I died a little - my legs took 4 days to heal. Note to self - you might want to try to train some before just trying to do it because it is free!

I realized that I am out of shape and eat like crap. I love food and hobbies that I sit down for, what can I say? I decided that even though I am not a fan of torture like running - the fact that it was so hard for me hurts. I used to be a competitive gymnast who could do anything it seemed. I know it will not happen like that again - but I would really like to be able to play with my kids without huffing and puffing the whole time.

My goal is to walk our town greenway at least 4 times a week and jog it 1 time a week. It is a paved 5K :)

I love food - all kinds of it and especially the fair food that is awful for you.

I hate water - HATE IT. Forced to drink it for those 8 years of gymnastics ruined me. But soda is going to kill me faster. No soda - or at least not one a day :) (or two if we are being honest).  I bought myself a cute little cup for work and plan to drink water out of it because our water cooler is free to me and who doesn't want to drink out of a cute cup!!??  I am also going to start bringing my lunch to work because that keeps me from buying the crap they serve to us. If you can't tell what it is - how do you know it is healthy??  I have been buying more produce and less frozen, cooking more and heating up less, and even if I am not a fan of it - I will still eat it.  I also can tell you I have been eating breakfast every morning - a cup of coffee and oatmeal - what a difference that makes!  I am not hungry till lunch (most days) and can tell you I have lost weight just from cutting the soda and eating oatmeal - go me!

My plan is to continue this trend. I want to be a better version of me both inside and out. I just value some things more than I did and I am glad I got that point loud and clear about a month or so ago. I will never be the skinny girl after two kids - but I can be the healthy girl who has meat on her bones!

Craftiness happened last night as Nick was on staff duty - so you will see that post soon!!

Please don't forget to sign up for the giveaway from Emma's Boutique from yesterday found

HERE

Emma's Boutique Giveaway!

Today I am having a giveaway from one of my favorite places to get bows for little girls!

Emma's Boutique

I have bought about 10 or more of these bows as they are perfect for active little girls! She makes them all and I can honestly say they have come out perfect every time and they are made to last!

So here are the details:

#1 - "Like" her page on Facebook (Linked above in Pink)

and let her know Molly Ritterbeck/Miss Molly Creations sent you!

#2 - You must be a follower on my blog

Even if you don't want to be entered please be sure to show her some love on

Facebook - she has some great stuff!!!

Easy - Right? Now Comment and let me know you have liked her and are a follower on my blog.

This drawing will go through May 31st and winner will be announced on June 1st!

Bows will be of random colors.

Thanks for supporting the Handmade Mom's!

Tiny Dancer

Please head on over to my family blog and check out my Tiny Dancer Abby in her first recital!

www.mollyritterbeck.blogspot.com

Created To Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl

So it isn't a huge secret that Nick and I have had our fair share of issues in our marriage. I think part of it is dealing with the stress of the army and the fact that we really are opposites. I love him with all my heart though he frustrates me so.  I have a very wise friend who has been married for 16 almost 17 years to a man who has done the same to her.

She recommended a book to me about being a Godly woman who serves her husband as the Lord says you should - if you choose to get married.  Some people can read this book and say she is asking you to be a servant to your husband who has no say but just does what she is told. No, not necessarily. She does not want you to be abused or taken advantage of, but she does want you to realize that he is the head of the household and should be respected as such. I can honestly say I always joke that I am head of this house because Nick is always gone with this work schedule. Really he is and I do most of the everyday chores around this house. Yes it gets tiring, and yes I get bitter. In reading this book I realized that the way in which I reacted to him and his actions has helped to cause some of the issues that we have had. I realized that I did not act as we are all told to act in the many chapters of the Bible and I was most certainly not even acting fair.

I love how in this book she has letters from people in each chapter to help show what she has been asked and how she responds, and let me tell you - she is blunt, but loving. I honestly like for someone to hurt my feelings, but at least I know what is expected - I know God's word is written, but having someone put it in everyday terms is like a "Wow!" moment for me. In being a novice Christian in my walk, I find myself re-learning things all the time. What I thought and what it is are two very different things sometimes!

Each chapter also ends with some take aways. Those were helpful, along with the scripture that is throughout the book.  I can tell you that they are ones I have read a hundred times, but never really thought of them in the way they pertain to my marriage.

I always wanted God to just change Nick, but I also now realize that I cannot stand between Him and Nick. I am not going to try and be his way into heaven, but I can show him with my actions and love what God has done for me.

Cards!

I made some cards! These are very simple and that is how I like things these days!

I have simplified the things in my life and the stuff in my life and it has made me feel more free.

I have read about a challenge to live with only 100 things - Don't know if I can be that free just yet!

Anyway - take a look at my black and white cards - my black monochromatic look:

I had not had time to create until yesterday evening so last week I got out my BRAK's for Splitcoaststampers and instead of cards they all got stamps instead!

This should help their stamping addiction and it cleaned out more room for me!

I hope you all have a fantastic week planned! My oldest turns 4 on Friday and it makes me so sad - but I told her we could have fun all week long! Today is the park and I think she mentioned ice cream :)

A Time For Prayer

You could say my faith has been jump started with some things I have gone through over the last two months - both in my community and in my personal life.

Prayer has become my new found sanity. I can pray for those who need it and someone who is greater than I can hear my prayer and do what is right in His will. My God is mighty to save.

Sunday's will be a time of Prayer Requests.

If you have one you want added - leave a comment and I will add it for the next Sunday.

Please take the time to pray - it is amazing what the power of prayer can do.

This week it will be blank - but next week it will have requests.

A friend and I have also started to write cards of encouragement to missionaries here and abroad. We are just two people writing over 50 people every couple of months - but it is an amazing blessing ot be part of.

Please see my page (listed under the header) on what we have going on!

Armed Forces Day

Armed Forces Day

According to a New York Times article published on May 17, 1952: "This is the day on which we have the welcome opportunity to pay special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces ... to all the individuals who are in the service of their country all over the world. Armed Forces Day won't be a matter of parades and receptions for a good many of them. They will all be in line of duty and some of them may give their lives in that duty."

http://www.defense.gov/afd/military/history.html

I love these guys with all my heart as they are family to me.  There are many more, but these are some of the guys we hang out with and our kids have come to love as well.

Jesse Ray Brown

Derek Fohey

Sean Strobel

My personal favorite - my husband Nicholas L

These guys plus many more - Barnes, Kniskern, Hardin, Doody, Kudel, - I could go on for days - are the reason we get to do the things we do. They provide the blanket of freedom we sleep under each night - or so Jesse always reminds me of (Love you Jesse Ray).

Never forget Mr. Combs - who gave all April 12, 2007 - You will never be forgotten.

So....

It is amazing how you can go through so many things and you find out where people really stand.

Involved in helping with all the clean-up, food kitchens, donation centers, and prayer time, I found my personal life falling apart.  I stepped down from design teams to help get my priorities in check.

I found that I my family was missing me becuase even through I was helping others (along with the kids), we were not really working together as a family.  I have a strong faith and so of course I turned to prayer and really asked God to help direct me where I needed to be.

I still love crafting and I LOVE all the friends I have made - but I found I was missing out on some things by spending a good half my life in it.  I found that I love to volunteer where I can and I find it important to keep family involved in volunteering as well so we don't get big heads about ourselves. 

You will see this blog evolve as I will still be crafting - just on a much smaller level. 

I will be using it to help organizations with the things I create and to give visibility to these organizations as well.

I will also be showing you some of the other things in my life that have changed and the other things that I create from it.  This blog will be mine again.

Thanks for hanging in and I can't wait to show you some crafty things I will be making for a couple different benefits coming up for different causes.

CAS Thank You Challenge

Hello! I am back hosting the Saturday Challenge over at Creative Clear Vision Stamps

(Located in my sidebar ---->)

This week's challenge is CAS Thank You cards in honor of those who have been helping their neighbors through all the events that have affected the South East this last month.

We are still new to the challenge world so we would love for you to join us!!

Here is the inspiration I have for you using the Creative Clean Vision new release of "Thank You"

Fitting, right??

Stamping with The Dragon

I think it is so fitting that my first card back from the tornado induced hiatus is with the first company I was on a design team for!

Stamping Dragon still has their May Day challenge going on - so please check them out HERE!

Also don't forget that the store has an amazing new product of the Grab Bag that you can purchase HERE!

My card today showcases one of the images from the April bag - so don't miss out on the May Grab Bag!!

Image: Family Portrait - Stamping Dragon Designs

BIC Markers

Stampin' Up! Corner Punch

Georgia Pacific Cardstock and Scrap Papers

Thank You

Thank you to all my design teams that held my spot during this couple of weeks in my life.

I have never been in a position where I can actually help people in such a way.

I am glad that things are at a point where I can dive back in (new card tonight!) - but thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Party Time Tuesdays

There's Magic In The Air - Paper Cupcakes

Happileigh Srappin Designs

Creative Clear Stamps

Stamping Dragon Designs

Heart Song Designs

Sew Many Cards

(who is so great since this happened before I could ever get my first post in!)

Companies with values make me want to continue to support them - please support these companies which you can visit through my sidebar links.

So Seriously

So...these last couple of weeks have just been a reality check.

Our town was basically blown apart by a tornado.

I have seen so many people giving and helping in a way I cannot even explain.

I realized things can be taken away in a heartbeat and what really matters is family and friends.

I have decided that family is what I love.

I enjoy crafting and I enjoy reading books.

But I love my family.

I am going to take more time to love them and really, really enjoy them.

We had a free weekend and we took it to go to the races and then a family day at the park in downtown.

Friends - they can come and go, but I know that I am blessed to have more than some.

I am not going to gossip or talk behind people's back.

I want to have real fun with them and not worry that I might tell on myself for something I should have never said.

I am going to be a better person to my family and friends.

I deserve to have a life of memories if it all gets taken away tomorrow.

Easter

Yes - Pantyhose and flip flops...like she would ever wear real shoes...

Yes - I even got Nick to go to Sunrise Service!

My loves



Thank You Danie!

A long overdue thank you to Danie - My secret owl from TUIC

This was a great package! I loved it!

The two cards inside the "Love Notes" Pacakge were sooooo cute!!