Check it out

I finally wrestled Shawn into letting me do a "practice" run to see if we could possibly

do some video posts on his new blog, www.behindacounselorsdoor.blogspot.com.

Soooo, we went live 5*4*3*2*1 and on the first take he did the video below.

It would have taken me 256 takes at least before I got something out in the

english language. I turn to mush in front of an audience. I didn't want to

stop him at the 5 minute mark but like I said, this was supposed to be a practice

run and I was holding my iPhone at head-level and my arm was getting ready

to detach from my shoulder and fall to the ground. So please excuse the t-shirt

and the shakiness at the end.

God has blessed my husband with an amazing gift of helping people heal and do

great things with their lives. I am so proud!

I am, I am not

I've noticed that most of the time we, we as in human beings, try to put our best

face forward. Hide our weaknesses and cover our flaws for fear of fill in the blank.

We post the best pictures of ourselves, brag about our children's best qualities,

and talk about only the "good" things in life. That isn't a bad thing but it really isn't

real. Right?

So I am going to be real in this public blog-0-sphere so that not only my children

will benefit from knowing my struggles someday, and

hopefully learn from them, but also so that you might know that it is in mine and your

weaknesses that He makes us strong. {If we had no weakness {sin} would we

really need a Savior?}

I have times when I'm living life on the mountain top and then I have times, like

now, when it feels like I am in the pit of a valley sitting in the middle of the trees

with my head hanging between my knees. Discouraged by life, overwhelmed with

to-do's, and fretting over my failures, whether real or imagined. Honestly, my

husband and children are usually the ones to suffer because

if mama ain't happy than ain't nobody gonna be happy.

I sulk and throw my tantrums and play the blame game

but it never helps. I try with all my might to control my flesh.

I don't want to be rude or snappy but my oh my the harder I try the harder I fall!

Then everything just intensifies and duplicates and turns into

a tornado of emotions within! More discouragement, more failure, more lashing out.

Alackaday!!!

A*lack*a-day: 1. An exclamation expressive of regret or sorrow. :)

I've been waiting for just the right

time to use this word.

Anyway, I had a lightbulb moment in my quiet time yesterday

that I thought I would share. I started reading what Paul wrote about struggling

with sin because, yeah, I can totally relate to his words.

Romans 7:14-16

"We know that the law is spiritual {the purpose of law was to let us know what sin was};

but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin {we were all born into sin/sinners}.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."

Stop and let your brain digest that for a second. Sometimes I feel like mine {brain}

hops on a merry-go-round when I am reading scripture.

My interpretation of this first part.

I am a sinner.

I am going to fail.

A lot.

And that is why I desperately need a savior.

Here comes the lightbulb part for me. In the next few verses Paul writes about the war

between our natural, sinful nature {which still exists even after we accept Christ} and

our inner being which delights in God's law and truly wants to do his will. I guess in

my mind I hadn't reconciled that both will always exist and both will always be

at war within me. My spirit and my flesh. I mean I know I am never going

to be perfect but every time I fail I get so discouraged and frustrated its almost like

I am expecting myself to be able to be perfect. But it should be in these moments

that I am most grateful for and humbled by a God who has made a way for me to

be forgiven and redeemed.

I will be sinful until the day I die and am ushered to the throne of God.

You know how you know that but you don't know it. When we are

weak in our own natural flesh {Lord help me I can't do this life alone}

He is my strength because he has secured my future and already

paid for all of my mistakes now and forever!

**My husband would act like he was wavin' a white

hankie right now.

SO.....NOW Romans 8:1-4 take on a whole new meaning.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in

Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life

set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law

{what I can do on my own} was powerless to do in that it was weakened

by the sinful nature {because we could never do enough on our own

to please a Holy God}, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness

of sinful man to be a sin offering."

I will stop there even though I want to sit here and type out the whole

chapter 8 of the letter to the Roman church.

If you have accepted that Christ was the sacrifice for your sins then guess what?

You are NOT condemned any longer. If the Holy, Almighty, God of this universe

has forgiven me and made a way for me to be free of guilt and shame and really

being way to worried about ME than what am I doing?

I love God and therefore I do want to please him because he deserves the very best

that I have to offer, but Isaiah 64:6 says that even what we call our righteous acts

are like filthy rags before God. So this realization frees me from thinking that I am

a horrible human being every time I feel like I have failed! Get over it. Repent. And

then walk on knowing that you are a child of the Living God and an heir to his

kingdom!

I feel much better now and hope this helps someone else. :)

Tanda

I love fall

Thought I would share some lovely photos taken with the Shake It App today by a 4 year old little girl.

Here's how it went.

Hayden be still!
Ready?
(click)
Got it!! It's gonna be so cute!!
(then as she's aggressively shaking my iPhone-
and I'm praying it's not going to fly on top of the roof-she sings......)
SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE
SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE
SHAKE YOUR BOOTY
SHAKE YOUR BOOTY!

I guess I'll be okay if booty is the worst
word she knows.

Now enjoy some abstract art if you will.
Today was a good day.















There are lots more but thought I would leave you with the only picture I took during our wild outdoor adventures today.

One Life One Chance

Many different reasons why this song has been on my mind this week.

Mostly just personal struggles {and hopefully growth}.

Maybe I'll post more on that later.

Listen to this and keep scrolling.

I decided to make this reminder below. I printed it and framed on

my kitchen counter. If you would like me to email it to you so you

can do the same just let me know.

And here are my flower pins! Super easy!

{{Craftiness Galore}}

Most days I would rather cook a 4 course meal than do a real

art project with the kids. And by real I mean something other

than finger painting. But fall always inspires me {a bit} to get

a little crafty. I am going to give you a great, key word coming,

simple art thingy to do with your kids then I am going to show

you two really great, inspiring sites that you are for sure to find something

to whip up with all those un-opened, bought 'em cause they were on sale

craft supplies you have taking up too much space in your linen closet.

Oh, is that just me?

Moving on. I got this delightful craft idea from my neighborly neighbor.

What you need:

{FYI - my 4 year old did this on her own and my 2 year old needed some "supervision"}

1 glass jar per child (dollar general- I got the fancy ones for {2} dollas)

assorted tissue paper

elmer's glue

small paint brush or sponge brush

real or fake little candle

1. Have the kid{s} rip up some tissue paper into smallish pieces

and have your handy-vac ready to suck up the mess. Love me some battery

operated handy-vacs.

2. Squirt some Elmer's glue on a plate, preferably plastic, and

have your kids start painting the glue on the glass and

press the pieces of tissue paper onto the glue.

{I often think of these little projects as useless and not worth the time

but then I remember how much I loved making things like this when

I a kid.}

3. Finish painting and sticking until the glass is covered and then light

your candle or flip the switch! Beautiful glass candle holders to give to

grandma! :)

Okay, now here are a couple of websites with tons of budget-friendly

projects for you and yours. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

First we have Centsational Girl. This crafty mom rocks. I could

spend days looking at all of the projects I wish I had time for. Here

are some of her Halloween treats just for you! We're not so much

a Halloween celebratin' family but I know most everyone else in the world

is and I wouldn't be a friend if I didn't share the love.

This Centsational Girl goes way beyond holiday decor into lands of kitchen

renovation and how to spray paint just about anything you can get your hands on.

Haunted Mantel:

Love this mantel!

Pumpkin Family:

This just cracks me up.

Halloween Drink Labels:

Here you can print off these little puppies for

your Halloween festivities.

And here is the other site that I think you'll love.

Jones Design Company where you can find tutorials to make the following.

Flower Pin:

How cute! and it looks super easy to do!

Ruffle Wreath:

Also darling and looks doable.

I'm thinking Christmas presents here.

Flower Mobile:

Having a baby girl? How precious is this

mobile? This picture is from Pottery Barn Kids

but their final product looks just as darling.

Okay, I know you can't handle anymore. Your playing rock, paper, scissors with

yourself trying to decide which craft to tackle first. My advice? Start small,

with the fantastic kid's mosaic candle holder and work your way up from their.

Small successes are great motivators. :)

Happy Friday!

{from my face to yours} The Oil Cleansing Method

(I look a bit mischievous and have raccoon eyes in this

pic but I just wanna keep real ya'll.)

I am always looking for safe, natural products to replace existing household

items we use. I am convinced, by science and self-experimentation, that what we

put on our bodies needs to be just as good as what we would put into our bodies.

If you could die, or at least get really sick, from swallowing too much of your-lets say

lotion- then you probably shouldn't be putting it on the largest organ of your body,

your skin, and letting it soak directly into your blood stream right? Right. Please

not your head with me.

So, I love the thought of using natural products for our family's skin and face

but, of course in this country, to buy natural, healthy anything for your family

can cost a small fortune. Can I get an Amen up in here?

I came across the oil-cleansing method several months ago and it made sense and cents. :)

It is a very budget friendly replacement for both of the not-so-budget-friendly cleanser

and moisturizer products I was using.

Here is a the why behind why it works from theoilcleansingmethod.com website.

The reasons we have so much trouble with mainstream skin care products

are numerous, but two reasons, in particular, lead the pack. These products

strip the oil out of our skin, leaving our largest organ trying to repair itself by

replacing the oil stripped away. This leaves us in a cycle of being tight and dry

followed by the inevitable oil slick. Each time we strip the oil away, our skin over-

compensates for the lack of moisture by creating more oil. On top of the

drying effects, these products are highly-scented. Fragrance is one of the top

skin irritants and strangely enough, even the so-called "unscented" products usually

contain fragrance. See for yourself and check the labels. Dry, irritated skin replaced

by oily skin, inflamed and trapping debris? If we know what our body is going to

do and understand the process, we can then understand what it takes to control

it and achieve the results we want. Clear skin is attainable.

You can read all about the science behind why this works and a lot

more at this link right here.

Below are the basics of the what.

I went to Akins and bought a bottle of castor oil and a bottle of sunflower oil.

I mixed 25% castor oil with 75% sunflower oil in a little plastic travel bottle from

Wal Mart. Depending on your type of skin you may want to change the %'s.

My skin is normal to dry. I squeeze about a nickel size portion in my hand

and then gently massage it into my skin. (You don't have to wash your face

before you do this, I just dampen my face with a little water on my hands.) Another

awesome thing about it is that it takes off mascara too.

After you massage in the oil, wet a washcloth with very warm to slightly

hot water and just lay the washcloth over your face. You want the steam

to open up your pores and let the oils soak in.

Do this a couple of times until you don't feel like you are a grease-monkey.

Remember that you do not need to put moisturizer on when you are done.

I always leave a little amount of the oil on my skin because it will soak it up

anyway. Your skin will look and feel awesome.

I know at least 3 of my friends who have traded in their expensive

skin care products for this method already.

Hope you enjoy!

Meet Kat

I met her and we clicked instantly.

She told me my story as she was actually telling me about her own story.

Have you ever talked to someone and thought, she's me!

I'm her! Hey, is she spying on me?

(Okay, I didn't actually meet her

face to face, but met her in the blogworld).

Same feelings apply though.

Kat's goal is to inspire women, just like me and

you, to embrace motherhood in practical ways.

I am not good at routines, or mornings,

or morning routines. But I have a desire to be. :)

Does that count? She has a free ebook you can download

titled "Maximize Your Mornings."

You can download it at the link below.

Free Ebook

I especially liked her video post today.

"How Not to Be a Grumpy Mom."

(I so needed to hear this).

All B-O-Y

This morning was spent with one of my dearest friends and her

clan of boys.

These 3 may be close in age but they are as different as can be.

Sara definitely has her hands full but in the best sort of way.

They are the definition of All BOY!

This was a great workout for me! Hope you enjoy!

A Tip and the Rest of the Story

I thought I would share with you today one of

our biggest money and time saving tips.

Over a lifetime it could save you thousands,

yes I said thousand of dollars.

But this tip is not for everyone.

It takes guts, real guts people.

It took me almost 7 years of

marriage to gather the nerve.

This tip requires you to be fully committed to

your spouse in good times and in bad.

Do you think you can cut it?

Like................. cut your husband's hair?

Yikes! I know it is horrific yet thrilling to

think about.

Horrific because you picture your husband having

to shave his whole because you botched it so bad

yet thrilling because it would equal a lot of coupon clipping

each month.

Just get yourself a nice little pair of clippers

and watch an online tutorial on YouTube.

Then you can join my club.

Looks nice, eh?

And are you lucky enough to have your husband read

Consumer Reports to you at 10:30 at night?

(insert sarcasm)

-------------------------------

And I think this is pretty cool.

Do you remember last week when I was sharing

about Shawn and I meeting on Oct. 1st 8 years ago?

I said we met in the lobby after a single's Bible study.

No? You didn't read that post?

You really should. Your life won't be complete

until you do. I'm feeling feisty this morning.

Well, this was no ordinary Tuesday night group of 10 people

sitting in fold out chairs talking about Big Brother.

We're talking the Life Church OKC campus packed out!

The week before the important evening of October 1st

I had been in the UCO cafeteria reading

my Bible when a friend from high school came up and said hi.

He was always polite, quiet and smart,

and he was always sketching things during Algebra

and Psychology, and English.

I still have sketches of my name in a shoe box in the attic

that he gave me. Since I don't have an artistic

hair on my head I really admired how talented he was.

Anywho, I invited him that day in the cafeteria to

come to Bible Study that next Tuesday.

He said he would check it out but in my mind I thought,

"um, no you won't and you think I'm weird for

inviting you to church but that's cool that

you said you will."

But lo and behold, on October 1st I turned around

in the middle of the message and saw him sitting in the

back row!

Wow, a guy who actually

does what they say they will do!

So as soon as they dismissed us I headed out to the lobby

to talk to him. And like I said, this was no ordinary

thing so I was weaving and wacking my way

through a tight crowd hoping to catch him

in time to say thanks for coming because the odds of

us running into each other again on campus

were about slim to none.

When I finally made it to the lobby I

scoped the place out.

I briefly scanned the parking lot too.

Maybe he saw me see him and bolted.

Nevertheless, God orchestrated the moment

because as I was turning around to go back inside

the sanctuary I bumped into Mr. Maguire!

And we lived happily ever after.

But back to the point of the story.

Here is the guy from high school who led me

to bump smack into my husband.

He will be competing on this coming season

of The Fashion Show-Ultimate Collection!

(Some of the guys in high school used to make

fun of him wearing capris but I was always

proud of him for not caring!)

Good Luck David!

David Caldwell

Contestant

HOMETOWN: Choctaw, OKRESIDES: New YoY

Raised in Oklahoma, David Caldwell was a true country boy who was active in sports, boy scouts and art. At a very young age his admiration for beauty and fashion influenced his style of dress. His mother’s support encouraged his decisions and nurtured his creativity. While in college, David initially pursued an Entrepreneurial Business degree at the University of Oklahoma. While on a study abroad program in Northern Italy, David’s life changed when he experienced the culture and history the region had in fashion and design. Once back in the states, David enrolled at Oklahoma State University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Design, Housing, & Merchandising with an emphasis in Apparel Design & Production. Upon completion, David moved to New York City where he presented a spring 2010 collection. He has worked with Zac Posen and Jonathan Kayne and has also dabbled in interior design projects. David’s approach to his designs involve his vision of people and nature. He is currently establishing his own fashion brand focusing on young professional women. Prominent designers like Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan, and Issey Miyake are some of David’s favorites, but his biggest influence is his mother "who is an intelligent woman with a strong sense of style."

The Fashion Show Ultimate Collection - Bios - David Caldwell | Bravo TV Official Site

Coming Soon: Shawn's Blog

Behind A Counselor's Door

Take a sneak peek.

Asad ::One Story::

In 2003 a young man with a big dream boarded an airplane in Somalia

bound for the USA. He'd never traveled outside of his town and now

he was on a jet plane. I can only imagine the thrill mixed with fear that

was flowing through his veins.

Leaving behind a hopeless future, 9 siblings, and his mother and father

he confidently waved goodbye and promised to come back some day and

take care of them all.

Growing up in a country ravaged by civil war and poverty had inspired this

young man to work and save and dream and then to sell his dream to the rest of his family.

I can picture him as an energetic teenage boy in their tiny house laying out his plan before

them.

"I read about this place called America where anyone can do anything!

They are free and every person has a job and they are all rich! I've done all the

research and I have a fail-proof plan. If you can just help me get there

then I will become a citizen and I will take care of all of you."

I'm sure he faced reluctance and no doubt this speech was replayed until they bought it.

When he arrived in NYC he soon set off for Ohio where he started his own small business.

But like most small businesses, the odds were against him.

And then the dreadful day came.

The money was gone.

The dream was gone.

Failure had never been part of the plan.

He was alone, helpless, and hopeless.

He left Ohio, and made it to Oklahoma, looking for a job everywhere in between.

He had left everything behind 7 years before and risked it all

for a better life for him and his family and

as of today, Asad (Uh-sod) still dreams of a better life, a wife, a family, a job.

As of today Asad is homeless. He sleeps under a bridge less than 20 minutes from my

too big house full of too much stuff.

He spends his time in the library trying to figure out a way out of his situation.

His father has passed away and he was not able to go home. He still has not told his

family that he is jobless and homeless for the utter shame he feels for letting them down.

And he wept at the thought of never seeing his mother again.

Until recently it never occurred to me that every homeless person has a story.

A story that but for the grace of God could have been my story.

I challenge you this week to listen to someone's story.

Whether it is a co-worker or a neighbor or maybe even a homeless person.

I promise you it will mean so much to them.

Random Post DAY

Always a lot going on in this little house of mine.

I actually mean my for real house and then also my brain too.

Forget that I ever coined "random post Wednesday

(or was it Thursday?)" because it is Monday night

and all I have is a random post.

I've been meaning to tell you that you should go

to the grocery store as soon as you read this post and buy 2 bags

of Clementines. These baby oranges are delicious right

now and we chow up about a bag every 3 days.

Can you overdose on Vita C?

Lots of decisions to be made around here.

I keep checking the mail hoping to find

a note from God. On the outside it will say

"For Your Eyes Only." And inside

will be at least a few hints, maybe in a fun word find!

Hasn't happened yet.

But one thing He is and that is faithful.

Had some teaching on the end of Luke 16 this

weekend at church. The story is of the rich man and

Lazarus. Did you know that it is like one of the

only parables(if not the only) where Jesus

actually named a character.

In this story Lazarus is described as

one of the lowliest citizens of that time, who lived

and begged outside the gates of the rich man's house.

The rich man walked by Lazarus each day without compassion.

Now, did you know? Because I didn't know.

The name Lazarus means God will help.

Love learning new things in God's word that makes

it even cooler than I thought it already was.

The question the pastor posed was "Who are you stepping

over (walking by, ignoring) at the cost of your own soul?"

-------------This is will serve as transition.-----------------

Now, on a brighter note, here are a few pictures and journal

of our fun-filled family weekend.

Started off a beautiful Saturday

morning in the boat.

Not a fish to be caught but a definite great time

to be had.

After the boat ride daddy stayed and fished,

kids headed to Gram's house and I

went to a baby shower.

Then we spent the evening watching a little bit

of football.

Gators got DE-stroyed but we had fun

in our gator gear and thats all that matters!

To 3 of us anyway. :)

After church on Sunday we headed to the Parkhurst

Pumpkin Patch for a hay-ridin', smore-makin',

tire-swingin', turkey-squawkin' good time.

Berklee with a donkey.

He's getting so big.

No diapers means no more

babies around here. :(

Equals sad mama and

papa.

Berklee's phrase of the week starts out like this.....

......Let's make a deal.......

she then proceeds to talk you into whatever

she wants at the moment and all you have to

do is either say yes or look the other way, deal?

Here she is flying high.

But not as high as they were flying in this

little hammock.

You can't get the full effect in this picture

so I've also included a video. :)

We ended the evening with dinner at Pops on

Route 66, the coolest gas station around.

Those are all glass-bottled sodas that you

see on the opposite

wall and they line the wall on the

other side too.

We ordered Hayden's dinner to go.

He never cried or whined once all day,

he just suddenly zonked out in my arms.

Let me know if you like the Clementines.

In Christ,

Tanda