Whole Hearts Needs YOUR Help!!

Pepsi is giving away $50K grants to causes. The catch? They need your votes.  Voting ends this week.  Matt Hammitt, of Sanctus Real, and his wife Sarah, have started a foundation called Whole Hearts. Their son, Bowen was born with HLHS. This foundation is geared toward helping families financially and spiritually whose children are suffering from congenital heart defects.  The statistics show that 1in100 children are born with some type of heart defect, many are undetected. Right now, my little buddy, Annabelle is back in the hospital. If you visit her mothers blog by clicking the link, you can see first hand just what a monster CHDs are.  So, help out and vote!!

There are three ways you can vote:
1. go to www.refresheverything.com/wholehearts
2. Text 107706 to 73774
or most importantly ( because you get extra votes)
3. Look under bottle caps or cartons of specially marked boxes of Pepsi for "Power Votes"  you do have to register online with Pepsi to use the power votes but if you don't wish to do that, you can email me your power vote codes and I will use them. Stephaniegfas@yahoo.com

So please take 3 seconds to vote, it could make a lifetime of difference.

One Day 40 Years Ago

My life was changed over the course of one day forty years go.  My mother was 11 years old and I ws probably only a mere idea that popped in her head every now and then when she wondered about children she may have in the future.  But this particular event involved my sister-in-law. On that October day, forty years ago, she was being born.  Her name is Tammie. She was born three months early and also had hydrocephalus.  The technology wasn't yet perfected to save her and she lived one day.  As anyone would be, they were devastated at the loss of their little girl.


But in the midst of all our pain, great as it may be, God still has a plan.  A perfect plan.  I am sure there were times that they wondered what good could possibly ever come from God taking their daughter. Those thoughts more than likely consumed them.  And as it turned out at their 6 week check up, she learned she was already expecting another baby. This in no way replaced Tammie, but it did help her heal.


Tammie's one little day of life completely changed mine.  See there is always good in a situation.  Even though at the time, I am sure she saw no good in her situation at all there was good waiting down the road. Had Tammie had lived, I wouldn't have my husband, or the children, or really even the life I have now.  My husband is my soul mate.  I love him in a way I could never love any other man.  My children are my world.  So my husband is here because she only lived one day.  And it doesn't really stop there, it will continue with my grandchildren and their children and so forth on down the line.  I honor her for the one day she was here because that one day changed so much.  My life is complete with my husband and my children all because of that tiny little life, forty years ago.

Bring Back My Bar

It's that time again!!! Scentsy will start the Bring Back my Bar campaign on July 1st.  20 of the most in demand retired scents will be available for the month of JULY ONLY! So if there is a scent you love or think you may love, stock up while you can. Below you will see the scent list along with a description. I just may have to get them all ;)
Banana Flower
Delightful combination of fresh, sweet 
banana mingled with soft florals. 
Spring & Summer. SB-BNF
Banana Nut Bread
Right from the oven with ripe bananas, 
nuts, and spices. 
Bakery. SB-BNB
Cashmere
Sheer floral bouquet combines 
Moroccan jasmine, lily of the valley,
and bergamot. 
Romance. SB-CAS
Coconut Palm
A blend of tropical coconut and musky 
patchouli with subtle green notes. 
Tropical. SB-CCP
Cutiepie Cupcake
Sweet clementine and yellow cake batter 
with vanilla and sugary icing. 
Bakery. SB-CPC
Exotic Vanilla
/Velvet Spice
Spice up your home with a blend of 
vanilla bean, jasmine, patchouli, 
and sandalwood. 
SB-EXV
Fresh Cut Cantaloupe
Vine-ripened melon with hints of 
juicy orange. 
Fruits & Flowers. SB-FCC
Fried Ice Cream
Vanilla with a nutty touch along with 
cinnamon and caramel. 
Bakery. SB-FIC
Grape Granita
Sun-warmed grape and pineapple with 
undertones of honeysuckle. 
Spring & Summer. SB-GRP
Irish Cream
Smooth and mellow, highlighted with 
hints of coffee and chocolate. 
Bakery. SB-IRC
Lemon Lavender
Inviting blend of tangy lemon and sweet 
lavender flowers. 
Fruits & Flowers. SB-LMV
Luscious Lemon
Light, creamy lemon. 
Fruits & Flowers. SB-LUS
Orange Dreamsicle
A classic combination of fresh orange, 
swirled with vanilla cream. 
Favorites. SB-ODS
Oxford
A masculine blend of ginger and 
frankincense with woody cedar and 
amber undertones. 
Scentsy Man. SB-OXF 
Red Delicious
Crisp, juicy apples, fresh from
the orchard. 
Spring & Summer. SB-RED
Root Beer Float
Concoction of old-fashioned root beer 
and creamy vanilla ice cream. 
Scent of the Month. SB-RBF
Spiced Orange Harvest
Strong, sweet oranges spiced with cloves 
and cinnamon. 
Favorites. SB-SOH
Strawberry Sweetie
A fruity delight of strawberries sprinkled 
with sugar and vanilla. 
Fruits & Flowers. SB-SBS
Tuscan Garden
Mediterranean floral bouquet, enhanced 
by cassis, apples, berries, and rosemary. 
Nature. SB-TUS
Watermelon Patch
Sweet, vine-ripened watermelon. 
Fruits & Flowers. SB-WMP


TO MAKE A PURCHASE, CLICK ON THE SCENTSY BUTTON AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS BLOG OR JUST CLICK HERE

Painting that Preaches

I bought a garage sale desk a few weeks ago.  You can see it here at the bottom of this post.  I fell in love the moment I saw the desk.  I had been looking for this exact thing for quite sometime and never really found that "it" piece.  To my surprise, it was only $5.  I have been slowly working on restoring it to something worthy of sitting at the top of the stairs.  With 3 children, time has been scarce for opportunity for me working on it.  This week I began painting on her.  As I was painting, I would like to think it was me thinking, but rather it was really God speaking to me. To most people this desk was ugly and worth nothing, hence the reason itpwas probably outside at a garage sale for five dollars.  The paint was applied with what looked like the toss the bucket at the object and see what paint sticks method.  There was one leg broken and it was dirty to put it mildly.  I even found some used and unused lancets in the drawer upon starting the cleaning process.  Anyway, the point I am getting to, is that when God sees us, I am sure its much like this table.  We are ugly with sin and probably to others may seem worth nothing. But God sees us with the eyes I saw this desk with.  To Him we are beautiful and He sees us for what He knows we can be, not what the outside world perceives us to be. He takes us and "sands", "strips", and "restores" us to our original beauty that He created us to be in the first place.

I love when God reiterates points with repetitive things in various forms.  The question "who am I " as kept popping up in lots of different ways.  I was watching Extreme Make Over, Weight Loss Edition and that was a question the trainer kept repeating over and over to this man.  I then read a new post here that was exactly the same thing. Read the Digging Deeper section and you will see what I am talking about.  Today, our Bible Study lesson was on Ephesians 1.  You should go read that for yourself.  It too deals with the Who Am I question.  The answer, we are all God's children that even though He knew what would ultimately happen in that humans would sin, He willingly created the world, sent His Son as our sacrifice, and done all this with pleasure!! This is awesome stuff.

So anyway, I've been contemplating this post for a couple days and finally got around to doing it!! Plus the Bible study thing really sealed it in for me today as well.

Living He loved me!
Dying He saved me!
Buried He carried my sins far away!
Rising He justified!
Freely forever!
One day He’s coming!
Oh glorious day!

Decorating Cents

So since I am a SAHM, I have to find ways to cut corners with my home decor.  Let's face it, I am frilly, girly, and what have you, because I am the only princess who inhabits this castle so decorating is kind of my m.o.  I also change my decor quite often so I have to keep costs down as much as possible.  I thought I'd share with you one of my most recent endeavors.  This is a sideboard in my dining room that I got from my husbands grandfather's house.

I bought two of these little birds at The Dollar Tree

 I then painted them with some white apple barrel craft paint I had on hand.  It took two coats to completely cover them.

 I really liked the flower designs on the sides of the birds so I decided to paint that design black.  I didn't have a small enough brush to get into the tiny cracks so I just colored over the dried white paint with a sharpie.  I got the dome at TJ Max for $12.  I had been looking for one for a light project.  I thought this one would work but was too small so I decided to put it on the sideboard in the dining room and then began the search for something to go underneath and that's when I found the birds.  I flipped a plate upside down for the base. I had some moss on hand so added that for an extra touch.  I am not really loving the plate as a base but will leave it for now until I find something that may work better.

 I already had the votives on the top and the blue glass vase.  Other than that, the sideboard was empty.  I also bought three candle sticks as well as three vases from the dollar tree.  I hot glued the candle sticks to the vases and made the hurricanes for $6 I got three of them which to me is a great bargain.  I also picked up the light blue stones at the dollar tree as well.  The candles in the back were a gift.

 I can't take full credit for these flower center pieces.  They were an idea from my best friend Alicia.  She had made some red ones for a teacher appreciation luncheon at her sons' school.  I also picked up the materials at the dollar tree.  The sticks are two candlesticks, $1 each, flipped and glued to one another.  I then took a half styrofoam floral circle and placed the roses around it and glued it to the top of the stick.  I used about 5  bunches of flowers a piece on the topiary.  So for $12 I have two centerpieces.  I have priced similar items and couldn't find them for less than $10 each.

Here is also a sneak peek at my current project.  I found this beauty at a garage sale for $5.00!!!!  I fell in love immediately.  Can't wait to show you the finished product once I give her a re-do.

Ruralness (Wordful Wednesday)

I live in a rural small southern town.  Around here most meals contain some sort of fried chicken, the tea is always cold and sweet and the crickets sing lullabies on warm summer nights.  When I was younger I used to dream about leaving here and never looking back.  I said to myself and maybe out loud to a few friends, that I was going as far away from here as possible.  I wasn't exactly sure where I wanted to go but that didn't matter much at the time.  I had all these plans and as you know when you start making plans for yourself....life happens. And as those life happenings came to be.....I fell in love in high school and married that wonderful man!!!  I know it sounds cliche to grow up in a small town and marry your high school sweetheart but that was my life and despite all my planning.....God's plan ultimately wins in the end.  I am now where my heart has lead me and couldn't be happier.  I am able to stay home with my three boys and welcome home every night this wonderful man that I am privileged to call my husband.  He truly is a Godsend because I don't know many people who could share a home with me and survive!!  Now I wouldn't trade this small town for any big city.  My family is close by and my children know their grandparents well.  


So, as I close, remember that when you start making all these plans.....life will come along right smack dab in the middle and we never know where it may lead us....now, someone pass me that chicken.

Welcome Spring

So, yeah it's been a while since my last post.  Thought I'd catch up on a few things.  Spring seems to have finally ushered itself in (hopefully).  We have had the normal spring storms already which are usually accompanied by a night of no sleep to go with it.  The flowers are beginning to poke out their heads.  I can't keep my bird feeders filled and am awakened every morning to chirps louder than my alarm clock.  I also have developed my annual "flower fever" where I want to bring home every vibrant colored bloom I see at the local stores.  Isaac has started baseball and he is LOVING it!! So glad he is finally getting involved and breaking out of his comfort zone.  Our local minor league team will also kick off its season tonight.  There is just something magical about sitting in the stands watching baseball and munching on a reallyexpensive yummy hotdog or hamburger.

John finally started crawling.  He uses knees and elbows mostly but goes where he feels the need. He also got his first tooth yesterday and coincidentally Kody also lost one the same day.  I did also notice that John is sharing in my love of shoes, although I don't quite like the taste as well as what he seems to!  So, we can't leave shoes lying around anymore or he will find them and commence to teething on their soles hahaha :)

I also have many DIY projects in the works some of which I will share, providing they turn out in the end the way I hoped. 

I also love when God's word has a way of repeating itself so as just to show that it is the Truth.  Just little tid bits here and there that are there for confirmation.

Also check John out!!  He is on a post today over at Domestic But Not Martha.

Hope you all have an amazing weekend!!