NEW

Hey everyone, just a short post tonight! I made a new header! The photos are of course from our wedding by Kat Ritenour Photography.  I wanted to show that now Aaron and I share a family that includes my immediate family and his.  YAY!  I also made a new button.  I used this tutorial to do it.  I do hope you will grab my button!  I hope everyone is having a great weekend!  What did you do this weekend? 

Love,

Toaster

Saturday Snapshot

It's that time of week again!  Time to link up with Kim from Yellow Songbird.  I really enjoy getting to look back on some old photos.  This week I'm posting one from the beginning of my relationship with my husband.  I can't believe it but tomorrow is our 1 year anniversary! Where did the time go??? Ooo, pick me, pick me, I know I know!  We went to Mexico for our honeymoon, then we went to Lynchburg, VA for his summer classes, then we went to a few weddings in this area, went to Pittsburgh for Christmas, back to Lynchburg after that, then to Illinois for another wedding.  We also started a youth group this year, what a blessing.  We both left Facebook.  We have had such a wonderful first year of marriage, sure there are some disagreements, but we can't stand to be upset with one another.  We always make up before we go to bed.  God is sooo good to us.  I know this may not always be the case but I'm so thankful for how much we think alike and work together.  Oh sweet husband of mine I love you!!!  Thank you for a wonderful year! 

In this picture, I stole his hat, which I did frequently.  He had "hat" for like 8 years.  Unfortunately somehow, hat disappeared last year, (no, I didn't throw out hat, I loved him as much as Aaron did). :( This was probably in our first 3 months of dating. 

Source: Kat Ritenour Photography

About an hour before the ceremony, our photographers decided to "torture" us by allowing us to be so close without being able to see each other. They backed us up against the wall so we couldn't see each other. . . I was just a hands reach away!  I loved it though because I could at least hear his voice even though I really didn't want him to see me before the I walked down the aisle!  Can't believe this was a year ago now!  Wow!

Love you Husband!!! (and don't call me Wife-band!) 

Thankful Thursday

1. I got to spend a lot of time with my family the last week.
2. I serve a risen Savior!!! That's the most awesome thing EVER!
3. I have two little girls that I watch that just love spending time with me.  Thank You Lord for the time I have left with them.  I love them soooo muchly!
4. Aaron and I celebrate our 1-year anniversary this weekend! :) So exciting to me!  So So So excited!!! So I'm sooooooo thankful for my relationship with my AWESOME husband!  I seriously love him so much.  I know that God put us together!  Too Perfect!

Our Two Year Dating Anniversary

Photo Courtesy: Holly Wood (My Mother-in-Love) 

Here is a photo from when we got engaged:

Photo Courtesy: Holly Wood (My Mother-in-Love)

Our Wedding Day

Photo Courtesy: Kat Ritenour Photography (Our ROCKIN' Photographer)

What are you thankful for this week???

Please write a post and link up with what you are thankful for on this Thursday! Or feel free to share in the comments! :) 

He is not here

Source

Happy Easter!  

Remember today is not about chocolate, bunnies, or eggs, but that our Savior was crucified on Friday, died, was laid in the tomb with a huge stone rolled in front, on Sunday the stone was rolled away by an angel who told the women who came to check on Jesus: 

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

~Matthew 28:5-7

Please excuse the juke box in my head, but this is what just popped in there.  I feel it is very appropriate for today.

I serve a risen Savior

  He's in the world today.

I know that He is living,

  Whatever men may say.

I see His hand of mercy;

  I hear His voice of cheer;

And just the time I need Him

  He's always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives 

today!

He walks with me and talks with me 

along life's narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives?

    He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me
  I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary,
  I never will despair;
I know that He is leading,
  Through all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing
  Will come at last.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,
  Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs
  To Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him,

  The Help of all who find,

None other is so loving,

  So good and kind.

Saturday Snapshot

This week, I'm posting a picture of my great grandma.  She passed away Monday night.  We spent most of the week in Pittsburgh because of it.  She was a great baker.  I loved her poinsettia cookies with butterscotch filling. Amazing!  Anyway I'm linking up with Kim over at Yellow Songbird.  Here is a picture of a wonderful woman.

Back Row: Younger sister Kristin, Me, Older sister Colleen

Front Row: Grandma Griffith (great grandma) and Grandma Hennessey

This picture is from Easter 2008.  Grandma G. was 93 at the time.  I will miss her very much.  She was always so precious to us.  She made me life size Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls when I was little.  She baked the best cookies.  She was always "fit as a fiddle and ready for love."  She tried being matchmaker. . . a lot.  She tried matching me up with a 35 year old married man when I was 18, silly grandma.  We loved her and will miss her.

Saturday Snapshot

Hello Everyone!  This weekend Aaron and I will be in Pittsburgh getting our car worked on.  As a result, we'll be spending time with my side of the family.  That means we'll be visiting many family members this weekend.  We're going to be visiting my grandparents who celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary in March.  Here's a picture of them with their grandkids.  I know it's blurry a bit, but I didn't take the picture and it's the best out of the bunch!  Thanks for stopping by.  Please make sure to go to Kim's blog to look at all the other entries for Saturday Snapshot.

Thankful Thursdays

This wasn't as hard as I had anticipated it would be for this week.  Here are some things that I am thankful for this week.  Please be sure to link up!

1. God's grace, mercy, faithfulness.  I'm trusting Him so much more in this matter than I ever have before.  Why I feel such a great peace about this I just don't know.  He's sooooooo good to me.  I mean, I should have peace about it, but I'm still suprised because it's not like me to be this calm.  Thanks Lord for Your peace which surpasses all understanding.

2. The sunshine/warmer temperatures.  How about you?

3. Spending time at the library reading to the girls.  My goodness how they love it.  We've come to know most of the librarians by name.  Today in the car, 2-year-old was singing, "Mr. Bob, Mr. Bob, Mr.  Bob, Mr. Bob."  I said, "M, what are singing?" She said, "I sing a song bout Mr. Bob."  He's her favorite librarian after he copied a princess picture for her to color.  He calls her princess every time he sees her.  The girls are just smitten with him.  It's too cute!  They love all of the workers there though.

4. God's miraculous provision.  We received, almost EXACTLY the amount of money that we needed to be able to pay our taxes on time.  I think we have to pay about 50 out of pocket.  How's that for God's awesome provision???  Thank you Jesus for using Your Church to help us.  God is sooooooo good.

5. I get to visit my family this weekend.  I'm very excited to see them as I haven't spent any real time with them lately.  This also comes with a request for prayer.  Most are unsaved.   We desire that they come to know the Lord.  Please pray with us. My great-grandmother is not doing well.  This may be the last time we see her.  My grandparents on my dad's side are getting a lot older and may not be around much longer either. Please pray that God prepares the way for us to share His Word.

6. The support of friends.  My friend Melanie came over on Tuesday (when I found out my job will be ending) and just talked with me and took me to the mall to get my mind off of things for a little while.  I've also gotten phone calls and emails from friends and it's so encouraging.  Thank you for all of your prayers.



What are you thankful for this week??? Please feel free to share through the weekend as well.  As you can see this is going up late this Thursday.  I just didn't have time to type it up before now.

Please link up:

You Give and Take Away

In August of 2009, I was about to move back to Pittsburgh, I had spent most of my savings living in Erie while still trying to find a job.  Nothing seemed to be happening.  Maybe one week before I called my landlord to let him know I'd be moving out, a family contacted me about a possible nanny position.  I was so thrilled.  I got an interview on a Thursday (or Friday, can't really remember).  When I pulled in the driveway, the truck had a WCTL sticker on the back.  A great sign to me that this might be God's leading (WCTL is the gospel music station in Erie (I don't say Christian because music can't be a "little Christ")).  I met with this wonderful family.  I found out Friday evening I got the job and started the following Monday.  What a huge praise that was.  I've watched the youngest girl grow from 5 months and not even rolling over yet, to become a talkative 2 year-old.  I enjoy having deep conversations with the 10 year old (or at least relatively so).  Oh middle child, you are God's way of teaching me patience, that doesn't mean I don't love you because I absolutely do, but I think God is using you to prepare me for kids of my own someday!  You are strong-willed, determined, incredibly intelligent, snuggly, sweet, and just very, whatever you are at a time you are very that adjective.  I will miss you.  That's right, I will miss them.

I love this family so much, but do to many difficulties, unfortunately my job will be ending in June.  I found out yesterday.  I cried, a lot.  Mostly because I don't want to miss out on the fun things that I get to do with the girls, the cute things they say, they do, the way they act, singing "the Haitian song" with them in the car, "playing shapes" with the 2 year old, dancing to Ga Guys, etc.  I will miss the fights over brushing hair, the snuggling up while watching movies, baking with the girls, the trip to Port Farms where we all had a fantastic day despite my losing my keys for a bit of time.  Mostly I've loved teaching them about Jesus.  The 2 year old will always remind me before lunch we need to "pay" (pray).

Aaron and I would appreciate prayer very much.  Right now we are living solely on my income as he's student teaching.  We're going to take a week to pray and see where God is leading us before rushing into anything.  We're not sure where He wants us.  I know He keeps putting orphans on my heart for a reason.  LORD, please show me!


Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.


The Lord gave me this job, and He has also now taken it away. I'm just praying He would show us where He wants us.  What He wants us to be doing.  Lord, if you want me to step out of my comfort zone and move I will, just show me!  I need your guidance everyday!

Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your Name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your Name

Every blessing you pour out 
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the Name of the Lord
Blessed be Your Name
Blessed be the Name of the Lord
Blessed be Your Glorious Name

Blessed be Your name 
When the sun's shining down on me 
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name












Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Chorus 2x
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Matt Redman 2002

This song played tonight immediately after I had heard some decently bad news. I started crying even more.  I love this song it speaks so deeply to my heart.  I will explain more later but for now this is the cry of my HEART!!!! Lord let me praise You in the good times and the bad!  You are AWESOME, Holy, Mighty, Wonderful, EVERYTHING TO ME!!!!  If I had nothing but still had You, that'd be more than enough!!!

You don't have to watch the video, just listen!  This is the CRY of my heart tonight!

A special thank you to my husband and my friend Melanie for being there for me tonight! Love you both!

The past two weeks in crafts! (pt Zwei, that's two in German)

So, the last post was getting pretty long and had lots of pictures.  This post will probably be equally as long.  Hope you're up for that God has called us to be stewards of this Earth, so I've been trying to reuse the things that I have right now instead of buying more fabric.  I have plenty of fabric here that I can use for various things.  YAY!!!! I'm so thankful for Free Cycle also.  I got a glue gun and some glue sticks from Free Cycle, Praise God since I can't find mine anymore.  I've looked and looked, no luck.

Without further ado here are some more of the crafts that I've whipped up this weekend:

I've made this group of bracelets, (again, only from used t-shirt material and some hot glue).  Let's separate those and get a closer look. 

These are the blue set.  

Red set

Two different perspectives of the green bunch. 

Pink and a random blue one that I forgot to put in with the other blues for some reason. 

I don't know what to do with these yet.  I've made them, just not sure if I'm going to turn them into hair pieces or pins or maybe headbands.  Just not sure.  Ideas???

A bowl of mini rosettes.  I didn't want to throw out scraps so I made these.  They are just waiting to be turned into something.  :) :) :) 

And then there is this bobby pin.  Isn't it cute???

I love it! 

I also made this pin. . .

to go with this skirt.  I couldn't get a good picture by myself and hubby was doing homework.  Sorry guys!  The top was from a skirt I bought at the thrift store to make a purse for my sister.  And the bottom is from quilting scraps leftover from that same sister's quilt I made I think in December '08.  

A few more things:  I might think of starting to sell some of the things that I make (not sure yet) but would you be willing to purchase any of the things you've seen on the blog??? If you are what would be a good price range?  I just have no idea yet.  Please help me out.  We are trying to trust God right now with our finances, but it looks like I might not be able to have my job much longer if we can't get tax stuff figured out.  Right now, I pay about 15% of my income to taxes.  It's a bit rough when I didn't realize half of that would be due now since I paid estimated taxes already this year.  I'm not worrying thought, Jesus promised to provide for our needs.  We have food on our table, a very nice apartment to live in, and are able to pay our bills.  God is good.  I leave you with this passage (emphasis added): 

Proverbs 31:10-31

 A wife of noble character who can find? 

   She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
   and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
   bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes. 
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 
Give her the reward she has earned,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

The past two weeks in crafts!

Hello there!  I have been crafting a lot more lately.  I've also been refusing to buy fabric while I have so much wonderful fabric here.  My sister and my husband both asked me to make them t-shirt quilts.  Sister's has been finished and is wonderful!  Husband's, well, let's not talk about that.  At least it's pinned together right?  Anyway after cutting out all the wonderful squares for the t-shirts, I was left with all of these scraps that I didn't dare part with.  They were too wonderful and could be used for something, right?  Well the past few weeks I've been on a kick with using t-shirts to make, well lots of things.

Would you like to see some of those things?  No? Ok, then just pretend you didn't read this post.  If you answered yes, scroll down to see some of the things I've made recently.

Remember I said I was making some things to send with my friend, Karen, to the orphanage when she goes?  I've posted a lot of those items already but here are some new ones that I made in the last week.

Hats for babies:

Sleeve from a red t-shirt, a little interfacing, some stitching, and a few t-shirt scraps = hat with turtle!

This one is knotted!  I love the froggies!

OoOO, a black hat =P

And another one this one is stretchy! :) 

I also made some barrettes for the girls: 

We have pink!

and green!  I thought these might be nice for some of the older girls (hopefully).

And then there is miss Carrington.  Remember how I told you about her?  Please feel free to revisit her blog!  I love her.  I've never met her.  Hoping to send these to her this week. 

A flower barrette!

What it looks like in someone's hair.

Circles

In my hair

A heart

In my hair again!

Oh, did I mention these are all the same barrette and are just switched out with velcro!  YAY!

All of these were made with old t-shirts, sewing machine or glue gun, upcycled buttons! YAY! 

I think that this post might be getting too long so stay tuned for part two! :) 

Thankful Thursday

Hey everyone!  It's Thursday again!  Time to share what makes you thankful!

1. God's mercies which are new every morning.  I was feeling really down last night when I messed up a lot.  But it's a new day and God's mercies are new every morning and I'm so thankful for that.

2. This guy!  I love him, I'm thankful for him everyday. I'm thankful that he puts up with me and that he is so willing to serve our new neighbor.  We haven't been home much to actually spend any time getting to know her yet, but hopefully this weekend since the gas prices have sky rocketed in our area I hope not to drive at all this weekend except to church. 

3. God prevented an accident last night.  I was at a stop sign, looked both ways didn't see anything, went to pull out and then saw a car right in front of me.  Woah SCARY!!!!  The car didn't have their headlights on, it was like 8:45 pm, super dark and rainy.  I'm not very good at driving under those conditions anyway but when someone doesn't have their headlights on and the car is a dark color, it makes it nearly impossible to see them.  Thank you God for your protection!

4. Veggie Tales. . .I love them, the kids I watch love them.  God definitely uses these wonderful videos in their lives.  M always asks to watch Bob and Larry.  We also now have a Veggie Tales worship cd which is awesome, we put in on when we're coloring, painting, playing, a lot of times.  It's fantastic!


5. God providing for us financially this week.  Things went awry but, thankfully He provided for us super well!

6. Good friends!  I spent some time with my friend Melanie on Tuesday and I love it :).  What a blessing that is to me!  Love being able to have "girl time." 

7.  Seeing my mother-in-love and sister-in-love.  I also got to see and snuggle with the puppies!  I love me some doggies!  I miss having some of my own. 

8. It's mom Mom's birthday this Saturday!  I love her she is a very good mommy so thankful for her! 

9.  For youth group to be back to normal tonight! YAY!

Those are just some of the things I'm thankful for this week.
What are some of the things you are thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursday

I forgot to actually post this yesterday!

1. Thankful that I remembered to post it today! :)
2. That I haven't really gotten sick too badly this year despite all of the sickness the little ones I watch have had.
3.  I get to visit some of my in-loves tonight!
4.  Two of our youth group kids are in a musical this weekend and we're going to go watch them! =)
5. There will be puppy snuggles tonight.
6. I have finished my handmade items to send to my friend Karen.
7. Prayer meeting was super awesome on Wednesday! :)
8. Carrington, (the one I've been asking prayer for) is up from 11 lbs to 13 and some change!  Praise God!  Please visit her blog for more updates.
9. That I had a lot of time to craft this week.
10.  That the creative juices are flowing!

How about you:
What are you thankful for this week?

Oh #11 My husband did the dishes from youth group and our apartment last night!  Great hubby!