Ah, Friend

I LOVE the clean and simple style and always try use this look when I am mailing cards. I don't want the card to get ruined by embellishments that poke out. No matter how hard I try the card never stays the same!

I have used the Eureka Stamp that is titled Hearts Flower Border.

I then used a rub-on from my scrap bin so I could fittingly send it to my friend.

I am sending more and more CAS cards out to keep in touch the "old-fashioned" way since our move, but I love it. I can sit at the table and write a letter while my girls practice their letters too.  :)

Now if you haven't - please go on over to Eureka Stamps now and check them out!

Simplicity Saturday

I have been learning to simplify my life to help combat my anxiety.

There has been lots of research on minimalists and such to do this. My life is busy and it isn't going to slow down or change anytime soon.  I am okay with busy, as long as I can cope normally (definition of normal changes EVERY DAY).

I have found that breaking things up works best for me. Maybe I have ADD and I just have an issue with sitting through an entire project from start to end. I have to start and stop and then pick it back up again. I know this annoys my husband, but I have just found ways to do it without him really noticing.

4:15

Get up - Make Bed

Make coffee and breakfast for Nick while he showers

Fluff laundry and start a new load of wash

Un-Load and load the dishwasher

Change into running gear

5:00

Run with Petra

Drink one big glass of water and turn on Dr. Drew on HLN

Fold laundry that was fluffed

Pour a cup of coffee to enjoy

Devotion/Prayer

Computer if time permits (not always)

6:00

Wake up Ryley

Take shower and get Abby showered

Get the team dressed and get out the door by 6:40

Work

5:15

Home!

Start Dinner

Pick up the morning's mess

Talk with kids and relax while dinner cooks

6:00

Dinner on the table - TV OFF!

Abby clears table

Ryley cleans toys out of living room

Bath time for Ryley - Abby's time with Daddy

I put away clothes that were folded and left on the bed this morning

Vacuum

7:00

Nick plays with kids while I read

7:30

Ryley bed time

I sit with Abby

Nick gets ready for work

8:00

I craft now or after Nick goes to bed - just depends

Abby gets TV - we set sleep timer for an hour

(She comes in and gives us kisses at 9 and puts herself to bed. She no longer fights us at night because she feels like a big girl)

*If I don't craft Nick and I talk and watch TV together - sleep by 9

*If I do craft I talk to Nick for a bit, give him kisses and go to my craft cave - sleep by 9:30 ish

Saturday and Sunday

Crafting when I get up before the kids and before my runs

We don't run till 6 or 7 on weekends

Dust

Clean Floors

Random things that didn't get done during the week

It works for me

I piece myself through the day

What do you do to get your things done???

Wait until you hear about my eBay events that have helped me to start clearing the last of the debts!!!

Thankful Thursday

I am so very thankful.

I have been networking with some great mommies who have a passion to find their niche in this start your own source of income world.

I have been encouraged and empowered to find my niche.

My friend Jessye became certified to teach group fitness and now has her very own boot camp.

I have plenty of mom friends who are crafty and selling their kids clothes, bows, decorations, and everything (and I love their stores!)

I am so thankful I have now found the energy to keep up and actually running my first full mile this morning with my friend Petra. Walking 3 miles in the afternoon with my friend Jen and using my very own (garage sale purchased) double jogging stroller for the kids.

I can't wait to keep things rolling and new things starting!

Crafts are on the plate for this weekend as I have some swaps to get out the door - stay tuned!



Talkative Tuesday

I am back!

We have had a busy week or so and I will fill you in here!

T-Ball started - you would never know it from this picture but Abby actually cried the first two innings of the game....go figure.

Check out more photos of Abby and her watergirl sister here:

www.mollyritterbeck.blogspot.com

I have entered a couple auctions on Facebook. I have been doing  packs of cards and notebooks like the one below.  I love notebooks as I am an avid list maker and I write all things down.

Nick and I went on an Army Strong Bonds Marriage Retreat at Myrtle Beach with the kids. It was great - or at least I thought! My language is Words of Affirmation.  Nick's is a tie between Quality Time and Acts of Service. I have been doing my homework and am working on "speaking" his language - lets see how he does too.... :)  I highly recommend this to newly weds - I think it would be a great tool to have from the beginning.

I also had my first visit with a doctor about my anxiety issues that have come about in the last 6 months or so.  She gave me some homework and tasks to complete (or not in some cases) and I am excited to work on this and get it fixed!!

Fireproof & The Love Dare

When I was pregnant with Ryley and Nick was away at EFMB the first time I went to the movies with some friends from church to see the movie Fireproof. Kirk Cameron rocked when I was a kid in Growing Pains so I was a little shocked at how cheesy some of the action was in this movie.  I can say though the meaning of this movie has forever stuck with me. Nick - who is not a fan of religious events (church basically) even like it and has watched it countless times with me.  He even got me the book "The Love Dare" that is the 40 day challenge that goes with the movie. I have gone back to this "dare" a few times in the last couple years to refresh my love and appreciate for my husband and the Lord - which is the ultimate goal of this book/movie.  I encourage you try the dare and watch the movie!

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.

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.

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



I Heart My Family

Family Time this weekend was fun....our deck now has the stairs...just waiting on railings and we will be done by this coming weekend as we are having family in for Ryley's 2nd Birthday (sniff, sniff) - SO pictures to come!!

BUT here are some pics in the mean time...

Bath Time

My "Unholy Quacamole"

We also had Spicey Honey Chicken Wings, but the guys ate them all before pictures could be taken.

and then:

Asheboro, NC Zoo Trip

80 Degrees on Febraury 27th, 2011!!

 

Don't Forget!!

Challenges at Stamping Dragon - Stamp-N-Doodle, and Party Time Tuesdays!!!

~ Hug the one you're with ~

My Bread!

Check out my bread ladies!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

YUMMY!



How ya like my baking skills Jenn??

Weekend Update!

Hey ladies! 

We had a great family weekend that included minimal crafting, deck building, Daytona 500, bread making and picking out the VBS theme for this year.

We had a family weekend.  Besides for an unfortunate death in a friends family, and a party for some friends moving to Belgium, we had a good family weekend.

Sometimes you just need to take a break to get all your mojo going again!

Guess what it is back! But you cannot see until tomorrow - HA!

I will post pictures of the deck once it is done!

Please head over to Party Time Tuesdays for this weeks challenge and you will get to see my card a little later in the week for a sneaky peak!!!

Also coming up:

 Creative Clear Stamps tomorrow

Stamp-N-Doodle Thursday (Challenge going on NOW!)

Stamping Dragon - Friday (Challenge going on NOW!)

Deedee's Digis coming up ALL THIS WEEKEND!

So Fun!

~ Hug the one you're with ~

Hee - Hee!

So today I was going to post another project when I realized - I need to make some more! I guess I need to make ahead so I can not have this happen again! HA!  I called myself a dork for this one!  Time to go do some blog visiting and play with my Ryley who is holding her feet rolling on her back from side to side.....looks like tickle time!  While I am at that - why don't you check out my family?

http://www.mollyritterbeck.blogspot.com/

I think they are pretty awesome!

~ Hug the one you're with ~

Finally Friday

It's Friday - Finally! HA!

I thought I would also include some family pictures today as well...why not?

Me and the hubby....I love him with all my heart

The kiddos....how cute are they getting ready for bed?

And now for the card....

The stamp is from Our Daily Bread...Love their stamps!

The paper was in my huge stash...

Georgia Pacific for the base...

AC Cardstock for the black background...it is textured, but not that you can tell!

~ Hug the one you're with ~