MarytheKaytheBlog

Happy Birthday to my Oldest Baby Girl

This week, our oldest daughter turns 11.  Wow, the time sure does fly by...

 Sweet Becca Boo, I remember holding you in my arms, smoothing your feathery soft blonde hair and kissing your round apple cheeks.  From that very first moment the doctor placed you in my arms, you were my girl.  In those early years before your sister, you were my constant companion, my little side-kick.

 You make your daddy and me proud the way you are growing into such a kind and loving young lady.  You're smart, you're funny, you're wildly creative, you're thoughtful of others, and you have a gentle and nurturing spirit.  Most of all, we are proud that you love Jesus, and choose to follow Him in your life.

 May your eyes always sparkle when you giggle, may you always show kindness to others around you, may you be best friends with your sister, and may you let the opinions of the world just roll right off you.  You will always be God's little girl, the apple of His eye.  Don't ever let anyone convince you any different!Happy birthday, sweet girl!  Your dad and I love you with all of our hearts!!!

 
 Love, Mom

Oh, look at that feathery blonde hair!

 
 
 
 
Your 9th birthday - skating party!

 
 Photo credit:  Plumlee Photography

 Photo credit:  Janna Goodwin Photography

  This was the very last smocked dress you'd wear...sigh...

 

Summer always means lots of fun adventures!

 
 
 Happy Birthday, dear sweet girl!
  

Top 10 Meaningful Songs for My Daughters

I don't know about you, but I don't want some little hussy singing about her trampy, unsatisfied life into my daughters' iPod earphones for hours on end.  (Whoo!  How's that for a starter?)  Okay, I promise not to get all soapbox-y on you.  But, I have started thinking about these kinds of things now that our daughters are getting older.

Our Rebecca is turning 11 this week, and that girl rarely stops singing.  She would have headphones on her ears 24 hours a day, if we let her. 

So, obviously, I am thinking about the lyrics that are traveling through those cords into her ears, and ultimately--into her heart.

I am not saying that our girls won't ever hear lyrics sung by trampy girls and guys.  (Oops!  Am I name-calling again?  Shame on me!)   Heck, our girls already know all the words to a couple of those songs...and you probably know which ones I'm talking about!  (Uh-uhn, I'm not mentioning any names.)

Our goal for our daughters' media  intake has always been to provide so much positive, good stuff, that the yuck stuff takes a backseat.  And I don't just mean "good" as in goody-two-shoe, (although I'm all for that!!) but I mean good quality stuff--that our girls actually like.

 Because I am usually oblivious to song lyrics, I asked friends on Facebook and Twitter their suggestions for positive-message, meaningful songs for our tween daughter.  I really love their suggestions!  They sent really fun songs, with life-affirming lyrics. 

Here are the suggestions they sent.  And--shh!--don't tell, but I am purchasing every one of these as a birthday gift for Rebecca! 

(By clicking on each song title, you'll go to Amazon, where you can listen to--or purchase!--a sample of each song.  No, Amazon is not giving me anything for this glorious plug...dangit.  I just found Amazon easier to interface here than iTunes.)

1.       Bethany Dillon - Beautiful

2.      Bethany Dillon - All I need

3.       Britt Nicole - Walk on Water

4.       Britt Nicole - Headphones

5.       Francesca Battistelli - Beautiful, Beautiful

6.       Francesca Battistelli - Free to Be Me

7.       Jonny Diaz - More Beautiful You

8.       Josh Wilson - Before the Morning

9.      Sidewalk Prophets - The Words I Would Say

10.    Barlow Girl - Beautiful Ending
 

In closing, I have 2 questions I'd LOVE you to answer!!!

-What songs would YOU add to this list?

-How do you encourage your kids to listen to the "good" stuff?

Life

 Image 

Today, my heart is heavy.  I feel like lots of nitty gritty life is happening around me.  As all of this big stuff swirls suffocatingly through my heart, I keep hearing this verse, over and over in my head:

 

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."   (John 10:10) 

 

Yet, that verse is puzzling me today...as I'm...

Aching over some terrible news from a dear friend

Not understanding what is going on with a family member

Feeling like I can never accomplish enough at home

Hurting over awful news of an old friend

Trying to get a budget in place, yet new expenses keep popping up

Worrying about job security

 

 I'm sure you have a list similar to mine.  Stuff that just keeps happening around us-- JUNK that we'd rather not have to face.

 

I want to have hope.  I want to have faith.  I want to believe that verse,

 

 "I came that they may have LIFE and have it ABUNDANTLY."  (emphasis mine)

 

I just looked up these words that I can't seem to shake today.  Ah.  Now I understand.  Look at the words at the beginning of John 10:10.  It makes more sense with both halves of the verse together.

 

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."  (John 10:10)

 

Stupid thief.  He is the reason behind every stinking thing on my list.  He is trying to steal my abundant life.

 

And I'm sure he's trying to steal yours, too.

 

I don't know about you, but I really want to cling to the second half of that verse.  I want to cling to the "I came" part.  Wow.  When I think about that verse with both halves together--I feel comforted that God knew we'd all have heavy lists like mine today.  He knew the stupid thief would be stealing from me at every turn.  He sent Jesus, so that I could cling to Him not only for life--but abundant life.

 

I don't understand that mystery--how all of that works.  But, for today, I am choosing to believe the second half of John 10:10.  I'm putting my faith there, even though I don't understand how we can have abundant life beneath the weight of the JUNK.

 

Another small way I am clinging to those words is by starting a Thankful List, or as Ann Voskamp in her book One Thousand Gifts calls it, her 1,000 Gifts of Thanks.   Her book and her website are about these same kinds of thoughts I'm having today.  As Ann was walking through some especially dark times, she decided to start a list of everyday things she is grateful for.  Everyday things she finds lovely, gifts from her Heavenly Father, get written down.  Ann says that the act of being thankful--slowing down and appreciating small moments--is what has not only carried her through the dark times, but has enriched her life in ways she could not have imagined. 

Sit back for a moment, and listen to some of Ann's quiet words she shares in her book:

Thanksgiving creates abundance; and the miracle of multiplying happens when I give thanks--take the just one loaf, say it is enough, and give thanks--and He miraculously makes it more than enough....

...When we lay the soil of our hard lives open to the rain of grace and let joy penetrate our cracked and dry places, let joy soak into our broken skin and deep crevices, life grows.  How can this not be the best thing for the world?  For us?  The clouds open when we mouth thanks.

 

Maybe, just maybe--like Ann's--my Thankful List will outweigh my heavy-heart list.  Maybe in my small act of slowing down and being grateful, I will find a more peaceful life.  An abundant life.

 

 That's what I'm holding on to today.  And I'm starting right now:

 1.)  A daddy voice and a daughter voice whispering prayers at bedtime.

 What kind of list is on your heart today?

 

Today, I am linking up with Ann's A Holy Experience as well as the She Speaks Conference website.  Ann is teaming up with She Speaks to award a scholarship to the She Speaks Conference this summer.  She Speaks is all about connecting the hearts of women to the heart of Father God.  Please check out both sites to see how you might join in!

 

Look, Ma! It's a new FEATURE on MarytheKay

Well, wouldya look at that!  MarytheKay is fancying up again 'round these parts.  That gal has carved out another dang feature on this here blog!!

(No, I have no idea why I am talking hillbilly.  But, I am going with it.)

Now, who's got the good peepers around here?  Anybody see what the new feature is??  C'mon, now.  Take a gander and look around onest more.

I spy something pink...look up...and to the right...no, other right...

YES!!!  YOU FOUND IT!!!!

I decided to gather up some of my favorite funny blog posts, as a mother hen gathers her chicks beneath her.  Only, I'm not really sitting on them, and they sure didn't come from....well, that's enough of that kinda talk.

So, anytime you want a laugh, you can just click on that little "Funnybone" button way up 'ere, and just laugh and laugh until your tummy hurts.  Then, take a Tums and call me in the morning.

Life-Changing Strawberry Cake...Two Ways!

Last weekend, we celebrated my mom's birthday.  (Happy birthday, Mom!)  As is the custom in our family, the birthday girl got to choose her birthday cake.  Even though I was secretly hoping Mom would choose a Rick's Bakery cake, she chose strawberry cake.

I am the designated birthday cake baker in our family (WHY is that??  Both my sisters are fabulous cooks...Me thinks somebody is a big ole sucker...)  Oh, all right, I do love baking.  I admit it. 

I started rummaging around for a great strawberry cake recipe.  I went to my first go-to spot for most recipes--All Recipes.com.   After reading through lots of the comments (which is the reason why I love All Recipes), I settled on the Strawberry Cake I.  The recipe seemed almost identical to the  Southern Living recipe I used several years ago. 

While looking through recipes, I remembered seeing Edie at Life in Grace blog writing about the best cake she'd ever made, and promised that the strawberry cake would be the best thing you'd ever eat.  Well, I just HAD to take another look!

Basically, Edie's strawberry cake uses a white cake base, with a DREAMY strawberry icing.  The secret behind Edie's amaaa-zing icing is that she uses freezer strawberry jam in the recipe.  Have you tried freezer strawberry jam?  Oh MY!  It's simple to make, and tastes like you're eating strawberries right off the vine in the warm sunshine.  And I promise--it's EASY to make.  I wrote all about it last year here.

Since my mom wanted a traditional strawberry cake, I went ahead and made the cake part strawberry, using the Strawberry Cake I recipe from All Recipes.  I did modify the recipe a bit, following many of the comments--I only used 1/2 of the jello packet, and used fresh strawberries.  (I sugared the strawberries just a bit, since they weren't as sweet as I would have liked.)

 
 
 Then, I made Edie's DREAMY strawberry icing.  I didn't really measure the freezer strawberry jam.  I just added it until the icing tasted perfect.  BONUS!  I got to taste the icing at least 5 times until it was perfect!!

Oh look!  What a cute helper I have.  How appropriate she is wearing her berry pajamas! 

Helpful baking tip:  If you notice the crumbs, it's because I had to "level" the bottom layer.  If your cake is the tiniest bit un-level (is that a word?), I suggest taking a serrated bread knife, and slicing off a thin layer.  SHHH!!!  Don't tell anyone--but mostly I "level" my cakes so I can have a little pre-cake and icing!  Oh yeah!!!  (You're welcome.)

And now, I present to you my mom's strawberry birthday cake...drum roll....

 

 
 THE VERDICT:  I really loved the traditional strawberry cake and strawberry icing...but two days later I made another strawberry cake for our small group.  (Hey--I had some strawberries left, and another jar of freezer strawberry jam calling my name in the freezer!)  This time, I followed Edie's advice and made a white cake with her strawberry icing.

In my humble opinion, the white cake won HANDS DOWN.  The tender white cake really highlighted the fresh strawberry flavor of the icing.  Somehow, I didn't notice that Edie put fresh (sugared) strawberries between the layers of the cake when icing it--next time I'll be sure to do that!

And when you make this cake, and the tears of joy roll down  your cheeks, please don't thank me.  This is Edie's recipe--go thank her! 

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Totally Eye Candy...linky dinks

  
 
I have a friend who creates amazing one-of-a-kind art, using old barn wood and Scrabble tiles.  However, I also saw this recently and TOTALLY WANT to copy it!  I know just the place where I will put my Scrabble tray and tiles!! 

 

SWOON alert!!!  I found this blog on StumbleUpon.  (Do you Stumble?  Warning--it is very addicting!)  Anyway--back to the SWOON.  From the moment I found this gorgeous eye-candy blog, I was hooked.  The pastel colors and the soft, romantic fabrics speak-a my language.  Oh, and there is a STORE.  SWOON again!

 

Do you play Paper-Rock-Scissors?  I thought this subway art sign was hilarious!!!

 

Don't you love looking at lots of wildly creative and colorful kid bedrooms?  You don't?  Well, go back to your grey room with its beige carpet.  These kid bedrooms inspire me, and don't seem too over-the-top.  There are lots of copy-worthy ideas.

 

Ya'll already know how I LOVE canning jars.  Ooh--but my heart went pitter patter when I saw how Chris Ann and Kristin of LoveFeast Blog created these Canning Jar Gardens for Spring!! 

 

What eye candy have you seen around the internet lately?  I'd LOVE to know!!

 

That's all, folks.  Go git yerself some good rest this weekend.  Prop up yer feet and eat some bon bons...

See ya back here on Monday!!!

 

That time in high school when I matched my bedroom

 First of all, if you are waiting on the edge of your seat for the recipes for strawberry cake--and the strawberry icing so good you'll CRY...  Well, is there any way you'll extend me a free pass and let me post that next week?  Oh, pretty pretty please???  It's just that I have to sew some quilts for children who don't have any--plus, I am also cooking meals to take to 5 families in the hospital.  Also, I am reading War and Peace to my children, and we are only on chapter MCXVII.

Oh, ALL RIGHT.  Have it YOUR WAY.  I admit.  I just want to lie in bed and watch some television.  But, I promise--it's really good t.v.   Meaningful, life-changing t.v....like Parenthood, if you're so nosy to know.

But, still.  I promise to post the strawberry deliciousness recipes next week!!!  IF, for ANY reason, you MUST have that recipe this weekend or you'll DIE--e-mail me and I will help you out.  Honest.

So...to make up for not posting the recipes like I promised earlier this week, I will post an unflattering picture of myself.  From high school.  Where I--honest to goodness--Match. My. Bedroom.

I am not even sure if I realized it at the time.  I just think this PHASE of my life could be entitled:

The Mauve and Teal Phase.

Those two colors were like baby angels playing miniature harps in both my ears. 

Teal green curtains with mauve flowers?  Check

Mauve chintz rocking chair?  Check

Mauve silk flowers?  Check

Teal green bedspread?  Check

Teal green CARPET?  Oh yes, CHECK.

 

And...for the Campfire Christmas formal, when Darren bought me a pink silk rosebud corsage...   Check.  Check.  Check.

 

 Oh yes.  Yes, those ARE mauve shoes.  Mauve leather shoes.  Currently unavailable in today's market.  But in 1986?  Available in dozens of styles.

Young girls of today:  That stylish haircut of 1986 was called a bi-level.  In today's terms, it could be referred to as a mullet.  But, a soft, lovely mullet, don't you think?

Spring Break Means...Camping!!!

Yesterday, I alluded to leaving spontaneously to go camping.   Guess what?  We went!!  And, boy, what a wonderful time we had.

This was our family's first official camping trip.  Well, we did camp out in a covered wagon last Fall.  And Dave has taken our oldest on a Father Daughter camping trip.  But, this was our whole family's inaugural camping trip with a tent.

Which is actually funny...because we didn't end up using the tent...But, we just rolled with the punches (isn't that what camping is all about anyway?), and had a wonderful time!

The reason this camping trip was so spontaneous is because we knew rain was in the forecast for later in the week.  We decided not to wait and see if it rained...we decided to grab the opportunity, and just GO!  Once we got there and started setting up camp, Dave noticed a change in the weather forecast, and knew that our first tent experience should be a positive one!   We gave the girls some options, and ended up setting up sleeping bags in a common room at our summer camp.  We still had the whole campsite experience, and you better believe we cooked over a campfire--we just slept inside on a nice, carpeted floor!  Now, that's MY kind of camping!!

And now--for some camping ADVENTURE!!!

 Climbing rocks...

Discovering old abandoned forts...

 Finding a rope swing, and flying through the air...

Discovering an abandoned pool...Anybody up for a SWIM? 
"Kids--DON'T fall in--'cause I'm not coming after you!!!"
 

WHEW!  All of this exploring, discovering, and running around is making me tired...and hungry.  How about some grub, kids?

 

 And here he is, folks--the Master Griller!  Nobody grills a hot dog like Dave!  He's working very hard on dinner.  This is why he's the Master Griller--he makes it look so easy, doesn't he?

We're fancy campers:  We serve appetizers before dinner!

(Oh, please note the Miss Matched socks!!!  Makes a mama smile...)

Wasn't it nice of the sun to set while we ate dinner?

Now, answer this question as QUICKLY as you can:

WhatIsTheBESTPartAboutCamping???

 

Why, the S'Mores, of course!!  Duh!

Hand on your heart:  Moment of silence, please.

Also, this is PROOF that I was actually there camping with them.  This is MY hand. 

(How appropriate that the only picture of me...is holding a S'more!)

Note:  No two S'more are exactly alike... 
 

Well, kids, let's call it a night.  Let's set up our tent sleeping bags on the nice, soft carpet!  Ya'll go on to sleep, now.  Mama's going to read her book...in the La-Z-Boy chair...by the light of the lamp....This sure is MY kind of camping!!

Good night, sweet girls!

 
THE END.

Now...whatever shall we do tomorrow???
 

Tuesday TEN - Ten Things I Like Today

Today, I thought a list would be fun.  I love a list--don't you?  Oh wait, I should put that on the list...

So, here goes!

 10 Things I Like Today:

1.  Lists - Especially Top Ten Lists, and lists of Favorite Things. 

2.  Chacos- You know, the sandals that make me feel very cool and hippie-ish when I wear them in warm weather.  And, their amazing arches make my feet literally smile.  Yes, literally.  I am wearing them TODAY!  Hooray!

3.  Spring - Doesn't everybody love Spring?  It's hard to be grumpy in the Spring.  Well, unless you stub your toe and lost half a toenail...  Then, you are allowed approximately 5 minutes of grumpy. 

4.  Spring Break - Yes, we're on it this week.  I love the footloose and fancy-free feeling of Spring Break.  Especially in our family--when we plan last-minute camping trips (yep, heading on one TODAY!!), and when you might, or might not, be flying across the country in a couple of days.  Being married to a spontaneous man can be exciting...  Or frustrating...depending on how much planning ahead I'm in the mood for!!  *grin*

5.  Droid Phones - I admit.  I love my phone.  Probably too much.

6.  Hanging out with Family - We got to do some of that this past weekend, and it sure was great.  I even broke down and played some games with my mom and sister.  They love it when they can BEAT me at games.

7.  Coke- You all would know I was being dishonest if I did not list this.  Hi, I'm MarytheKay and I'm a Cokeaholic.

8.  Lunch with Friends - Refreshing, and necessary to retain sanity.

9.  Ponytails - Especially this time of year.  I keep asking myself, "Am I too old to wear a ponytail?"  And I keep answering myself, "Nah." 

10.  Fresh Strawberry Cake - Oh boy, doesn't that just make you think of Spring?  I made 2 of these last weekend and they were SO yummy!  I hope to post some pictures and recipes soon!

 What about YOU???  What are YOU LIKING this week?

Vacation Craft!!! Creating Seashell Frames

Hey, I know it's dorky to post this whole picture...but I really wanted to show you how MUCH I love our shell frame.  It sits in a spot of honor on my favorite hutch!  I smile every time I pass by, and see the fun beach picture in the cool frame!

 I love this craft for 3 reasons:

1)  It gives my kids a constructive project - on a rainy vacation day, or when they just need some "down-time."

2)  Our family has a useful souvenir to take home--that reminds us of our fun trip for years to come!

3)  Once you're home and unpacking, and find that huge sack of seashells your kids collected and just couldn't bear to leave behind...You can USE those shells for a constructive craft project!  (And, stealthy Mama can find a "good, safe place" to "store" all the leftover shells.  You are picturing my "air quotes," aren't you?)

 
Sadly, I cannot take credit for this craft.  Once again, it was my brilliant sister-in-law who came up with it.  In our family, Aunt Gina is our Craft Lady!  Every holiday, we always look forward to the newest craft project she teaches us!  (HEY CRAFT LADEEEE--whatcha got fer us this year?)

Aunt Gina taught us the seashell frame craft about 5 Spring Breaks ago, when our family traveled to Rosemary Beach, Florida.  One afternoon, when the kids really needed some down-time and some structure (aka, they were probably cranky and fighting), we grabbed our buckets and set out to find the prettiest shells to decorate our picture frames.  (Gina had already planned ahead, and bought plain wooden frames and craft glue at the local Walmart for everyone.) 

Everyone found the prettiest/best/most unusual/weirdest shells.  (You know--when the kids say 1,000 times--"Hey look at THIS ONE!  This one is really...*insert word here*"  And we all know, as responsible adults, we are to answer, "Ohhh, yes.  Yes it is!")

After finding those prettiest/best/most unusual/better than yours/weirdest shells, the kids had fun sorting them all out on the table.  And once again, as responsible adults, we oohed and aahhed appropriately.  We had the kids arrange them on their frames before gluing.  Once they started gluing them in place, we did help the younger ones a little.

Amazingly, the frames ALL turned out really great!  The kids were really proud of their vacation creations!

But then...dun dun dunnnnnnnn...we had to get all dressed up for our family beach picture.  You know--so we'd have something to put IN the frame.  How do you get a big family with several little kids to smile all at the same time?  Heck, how do you get a big family to stand still all at the same time?

Yeah, I have no help for that.  But, whatever you do, snap a family beach pic of some sort and slide it into the shell frame. 

 
STOP. THE. PRESSES!!!!!!

I'm sorry.  But, I just HAVE to point out my wittle bitty bald baby.  My goodness, I miss that sweet little bald head...that I thought she would never grow a full head of hair!!  Do you see my sweet little bald Sara Beth? (I'm sure she'll LOVE me for this later)  My dad is holding her.  Sorry about the picture quality.  Looks like some moisture has gotten into the frame over the years...

Yeah, and we're squinting into the sun.  We're not professional pitture takers, ya know.

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