Easter Eggs and color

So today was my monthly ultrasound to see how big the eggs in my basket were! ;-) My doctor said today was the best month I have had so I am feeling very upbeat and hopeful today. I even took a picture of me and the ultrasound machine when no one was looking. ha! My doctor said she thinks it's going to be twin girls and she said I had to name them after her and her nurse. I told her I would gladly!
So Sunday morning while the rest of you are in church - I will be having my 3rd (and hopefully final) IUI. Slip a prayer in for us if you think about it. This would be a thanksgiving baby (or babies) and that is Scott's favorite holiday - so what a perfect time! As long as it doesn't come on the day of the LSU/AR game the Friday after Thanksgiving because my dad might miss the birth. ha! I wonder if they would let me watch the game while I delivered? Some babies come in to classical music - ours would come in to SEC football!
On another note - this week I have been feeling like Casper the ghost - I am SO pale and winter pasty white. I am not a big fan of sunless tanner - it is messy and smelly and gives you an orange glow. But I saw this on ad and thought I would try it. I put it on last night and this morning and maybe it's just my imagination but I feel less see through today. It said it takes a few days - so I'll keep you posted. For all of you out there who need an early spring glow!

Running around like a chicken with my head cut off

Cruella DeVille - what did you do with the 100 dalmations?

Today is one of those crazy days - I have nothing but meetings and appointments all day. I had to go to an off site meeting this morning that luckily was shorter than normal and I'm about to run home and meet the termite man at our house for our annual inspection. Then I'll run back to work and then it's off to another off site meeting this afternoon and then I'll leave that and scramble to get to a hair appointment I have tonight. Thank goodness my roots will be gone after today - it is WAY past time. And I have some frazzled ends that need to be cut!

So I will be glad when I get home later tonight and can relax and try to figure out what is going on on "Lost" and see who is going home on AI? (I think we know who I think it should be from the picture above) ha!

No time to cook tonight - Scott will have to make himself a turkey sandwich. But the good news is that tomorrow is Friday! Who else is excited about that??? And we have a low key weekend planned and I have a mini reunion with some college friends scheduled for Sunday lunch so I can't wait for that!

A Pelethora of Information

Thanks for the comments on my new background. I am constantly experimenting. I really love it - my header - not so much. But I'm holding out for a few more months and then I may jump on a complete blog makeover! I already have something picked out................................stay tuned!
If you want to do what I did - I stumbled upon a blog in the fall who explained it in detail. It took me a long time to figure it out but if you want to try - here you go. Just make sure in the code that you type repeat-repeat or it won't tile properly. Here are the instructions. (I fixed the link!) One site that has a lot of great background patterns (in the form of fabric samples) is http://www.warmbiscuit.com/.

Next - this weekend my mom forwarded me a blog that is about to go on my favorites. Even though I woke up this morning and declared "I will NOT eat sweets today". I am weak.
http://bakerella.blogspot.com/
This site has all kinds of great ideas - including lots of forms of cake balls. The picture above are balls she made with ground up (get ready for this) NUTTER BUTTERS! I am totally making these. My mom and I had about a 20 minute conversation last night on all the forms of cake balls we plan to make and all the different events we plan to make them for. This site also made cute little footballs out of cake balls. And last - my friend Hillary already posted about this this weekend - but just in case you didn't read her blog (and you should)- I am on a roll of cooking and posting recipes so here you go. I plan to make these tonight. I got these off of Annalee's blog and later Sunni's blog. So if they all three liked it - it's good enough for me.

Meat Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS:3/4 LB. GROUND BEEF

1/2 C KETCHUP

1 T MUSTARD

2 T BROWN SUGAR

1 CAN BISCUITS

1/4 C SHREDDED CHEESE

DIRECTIONS:PREHEAT OVEN TO 400 DEGREES.BROWN THE BEEF AND DRAIN.MIX KETCHUP, MUSTARD, AND BROWN SUGAR TOGETHER TO MAKE A BARBECUE SAUCE.ADD THE SAUCE TO THE BEEF.SEPARATE DOUGH INTO BISCUITS.FORM DOUGH INTO CUPS ON THE MUFFIN TINS.SPOON THE MEAT INTO THE DOUGH CUPS.BAKE AT 400 DEGREES FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES(OR UNTIL THE BISCUIT DOUGH LOOKS DONE).SPRINKLE THE TOPS WITH CHEESE.AND DINNER IS SERVED!

Mail Call!!!

Look what came in the mail today! Our Compassion international packet! I'm so excited!!!

This is the cutest little boy in Nicarauga, Richard, that we get to sponsor! I can't wait to write him a letter but I also can't wait for him to send us one! You better believe I will post when that happens! Is he not PRECIOUS???
I also got several magazines! I LOVE magazines - I get WAY too many subscriptions but I love them all. I used to like fashion mags like Glamour and Cosmo, etc.........but now I like home magazines more. My favorite is Southern Living.
This was a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law! I'm so happy about it. This one is a MUST for all of us Arkansas girls!
And these magazines are just screaming out "SPRING!" I can't wait to look at them - I love the pink and green on this one!

And the yellow on these two - can't wait to browse through Pottery Barn

Do any of you have a great suggestion for what to do with all the magazines after you read them. I keep all of my southern livings and I usually give the rest away (or throw them out). I have thought about taking them to nursing homes or hospitals? Or if any of you who know me in real life or live local - would like to be the recipient of a lot of magazines - please let me know. I would be happy to pass them on.

Keep the Fire Burning.....

This weekend we headed down south to Magnolia to visit Scott's parents. We left a little early from work Friday and after a quick stop at Starbucks we were on our way. (Thanks to Jamie - the sweetest, most thoughtful friend who sent us a starbucks card this week along with the most touching card!)
Six long hours later - we got there just in time to go to bed. The next day we all got up late and ate breakfast. Scott and his dad went to their deer camp/farm about 30 minutes away because Scott's dad has been doing a lot of work out there and he had a huge pile of stuff he needed to burn. So they went out there and worked on that fire all day long.
Scott's mom and I went out there around lunch time and took Scott his favorite thing about south Arkansas:
Chick A Dilly Chicken. If you know him - then you know that's all he ever talks about. (That and how much he hates Houston Nutt.........but we have moved past that. ha! )

Here I am with a little deer - how could anyone ever shoot anything this cute?

Scott working hard on the fire

While he worked hard - I enjoyed a nice peaceful day of movies. I have heard my friend Elizabeth talk about all of these movies based on books by Janette Oke called the "Love comes softly" series. They are Christian movies and some of them star Izzy from Gray's Anatomy. They are sort of like House on the Prarie - in fact Michael Landon, Jr produced them. Well - they were having a marathon of all of these movies on the Hallmark channel. I think Scott's mom and I watched five in a row. I never have time to just sit and watch movies like that. If you have never seen these - look them up - they are SO good!
Then Scott's dad and mom cooked us a big feast of chicken and beans and potato salad and rolls and pie. Once again - I ate WAY too much.

Here are Scott's parents

And here's cute little Dawson on our way home today. I really feel for all of you moms out there who have sick kids - because I am sure you must feel so helpless and stressed when they are sick. Dawson got sick on the way home - bless his heart - and it just made me a nervous wreck. I always get so upset when he is sick - I can't imagine how bad of a shape I'll be in when we have kids who get sick.

We had a great weekend - hope all of you did as well!!!!

Food Friday

So tomorrow there is another birthday in my office and for some reason I have nominated myself as "Chief Treat Maker" so I saw this recipe on several different blogs recently and HAD to try it out. For the two people who will read this and haven't seen this recipe - I just had to share.

CAKE BALLS

This is super easy and you can make it any kind of variety you like. I've seen yellow cake and chocolate icing and chocolate and chocolate. But being the good Southern girl I am - I LOVE red velvet cake so I thought this would be good. (Jamie - you would LOVE these!)

All you do is bake the cake mix according to directions

When it's still warm - crumble it up in a bowl and mix in a can of frosting (I used cream cheese with the red velvet!)

I used this handy little scooper from Pampered chef to scoop balls

Melt almond bark (either vanilla or chocolate - depending on your cake) and dip balls in the bark. You could use toothpicks or a fork - but I used this egg separator and it worked GREAT!

And voila - one of the yummiest things you will ever taste!!! (I guess I'm on a mission right now to make me and my office extremely fat!) ha!

and if you think those cake balls look sweet - you should take a look at this:
I love this little dog so much!

Well - I wasn't too surprised by who went home on AI - but I think it should have been "crazy hair" - and what was going on with her hair tonight?
Who watches Lost? It is so good this season but there is so much going on that I have questions on.

We are going to see Scott's parents this weekend so I will be away from the computer. I'm sure I'll do an update Sunday night. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!!!

God's plan is Best!

One of the first blogs I started reading a few years ago - was "Lots of Scotts". She is a beautiful, Christian mom of PRECIOUS triplets.
She just has the most amazing perspective on life and seeks to follow God in all she does. I just think she must be the best mom!
She wrote such a sweet post today that I thought would be encouraging for all of us who are seeking to wait on God's perfect plan.
Go read and enjoy! And remember - "Just say YES to blind dates!"

I HEART Wednesday

I love Wednesdays. It's hump day. The middle of the week. And I have choir practice on Wednesday nights which I love. And then I get to come home and watch American Idol - which I love! Tonight was extra fun because Julie and I ate at chili's with four of our 10th grade DNOW girls before choir and youth church. They are such sweet girls and it was their idea! I can't believe they wanted to eat with old women but they did. They make me feel young and old all at the same time. Aren't they CUTE?????

Okay - haven't watched the girls yet (thank you DVR!) but my favorite guys are little precious David, the Australian, the guy with dreadlocks and the rock guy who has some red streaks in his spiky hair (kind of reminds me a little of Chris Daughtry). Obviously I have not learned all their names yet but I am just an American Idol FREAK!

Update: So the girls were pretty good. My favorites are the Carrie Underwood #2, sweet Brooke and the little asian girl - Ramiele - I just want to put her in my pocket she is so cute.
The thing I can't figure out is what is up with this hair:
I mean it's like she has a bleach blond bob with a black wig on top? It freaks me out and I just don't like her at all. I don't like Carly either. I guess I'm just not into girl rockers. And also - did anyone else think that Paula was wearing a bad wig tonight?

Someday my Prince will come

I got home from work yesterday after a trip to Wal-Mart to find that one of my close friends had come by and brought me this - flowers and ice cream. (Not just ice cream - but RAZORBACK ice cream! ) (She totally gets me!) I have the best friends. Seriously - my entire life - as far back as I can remember - God has given me the sweetest girlfriends in the world. My friends have changed through different seasons of life - but He has always given me the neatest girls to go through each stage with. I am challenged to be a better friend to the ones I have.
Today I had lunch with a beautiful, young, single girl who goes to our church. A mutual friend wanted me to meet her and talk to her and give her some encouragment since single girls are very near and dear to my heart. I wanted to give her a copy of this book above - "Lady in Waiting". This book was very helpful back when I was single. Although I think the one we had was pink with a princess and a castle on front. (Is that right, Laurie?) All the bookstores were out. I had already bought one copy to send to some very special college girls that I thought might like it. So I'll have to track down another copy to give to her.

I love to encourage single girls and mostly I can just tell them I know that the waiting is hard but that I know God has someone hand picked for them - you just have to be patient. I don't have any great wisdom outside of that. Do any of you married or single girls have any advice you would give other single girls? I'm interested to hear what you would say because God seems to keep putting people in my life to encourage and I want to have something helpful to tell them. Trust me - what they don't want to hear is "When you are not looking - he will come" (Because until he comes - you won't quit looking. (We talked about that today!)

On another note - American idol is tonight - I think it's guys sing first. I like the little 16 year old boy (David) and the Australian guy. (based on first impressions only - we'll see if it changes after tonight) Who do you like?

Monday, Monday

Let me give you two reasons that my Monday is a good one.

#1 - the Chi!
I have crazy, wavy hair and it is VERY necessary for me to use a straightening iron. But I have always just bought the cheap kind sold at Wal-Mart while secretly coveting a Chi. I never wanted to break down and buy one - however my current iron is on it's last breath and this is something I use every day - I really should have a quality iron and I heard it makes all the difference. Sister - let me testify! We were at Sam's yesterday and there it was - a Sam's special buy. I thought about it long and hard and Scott said to get it if it would make me feel better. I knew good hair will always make me feel better. So I got it and after I used it today - I ran in and kissed him - because Oh my goodness - my hair is so much smoother and straighter and so salon like! :-) LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
#2 - these cupcakes.

Now I got this off of somebody's blog I read recently but for the life of me - I could not find it again. So if you did this - PLEASE let me know so I can give you credit.
Today is my boss' birthday so I wanted to make a little office treat. I promise this is not turning into a recipe blog but I have just had a lot of reasons to cook lately. And this is too good not to share. (and it didn't even come from Paula Deen)

You take any kind of chocolate cake mix and mix according to the box

Fill muffin pans about half full and then take chocolate cookie dough like above and put down in the batter (please excuse my old gross muffin pan. It's been through the ringer).

Then bake for 18-20 minutes at 350 and when cooled - top with the above - chocolate frosting and mini morsels.
I decided to forget the morsels because it almost seemed like TOO much chocolate (as if there could be such a thing). You will notice there are only 11 cupcakes on that platter. I HAD to test taste. I wouldn't want to give out something bad. Oh - it was NOT bad, not bad at all!!! It was DELICIOUS!
This recipe makes 24 cupcakes but there are only 7 people in my office this week so that would be crazy. I'm saving the batter and making them later this week for something else.

Chocolate and good hair - that will cure just about any bad day! :-)

P.S. Ya'll are amazing! I'm BLOWN AWAY by my friends - both in blog and real world. Thanks for your stories, encouragement and friendship. I will say that I'm still sad BUT I have a total peace that God is in control and I just have to be patient. I know that peace is one that only HE can give and it comes from being covered in prayer. I just want for all of you to get to see God's glory in the answers to your prayers for me. I know nothing makes me more excited than when I pray for someone else and then see my prayers get answered! I want you to see His hand. And I want to pray for you too! I just love all of you!!!!! When I have the baby (or the twins!) - can I have a "Sip and See" at my house and ya'll can all come and see that God is good and let me hug each one of you!?!?!?

The Truth

I'm going to be totally honest. (And you might not ever want to read my blog again after you read this. )
We skipped Sunday School today. I just didn't feel like being around people. I ADORE our class - they are like family - but I just couldn't put on a smile today. We found out this morning that there would be no baby again. Once again, our dream shattered, and I'm just finding it hard to be the super positive person that I usually try to be. It's the kind of day that I just want to wallow in my sadness. I want to lay in bed and cry and feel sorry for myself and eat ice cream. I don't want to talk about it this time. I don't want to have to call my parents and give them bad news ONCE again (sorry mom you are reading it here). I just want to hide in my house and be sad alone. And I don't think there is anything wrong with being sad.
Don't misunderstand me. I have NOT lost my faith or hope in Christ. I know He has a plan for us. I know He will bless us (he already has). I KNOW He will give us a child in His own time - but while I wait - I'm just overcome with sadness. And I think that's okay. Jesus wept. God is sad when one of his children turns away from Him. Abraham had the kind of faith that made God want to be His friend and he was sad. David was a man after God's own heart - and he had gut wrenching sadness that he wrote about in Psalms.
This week - I have been convicted as I read about the bloggers in Uganda to put things in perspective. To realize that I have more than I deserve when others have so little. But I have to admit - when I saw a picture of a home where 6 or 7 people lived and it was no bigger than my closet. My first thought was "how horrible - I have TOO much". But my next thought was "God - why did you let that mother have 6 kids to live in those conditions and you won't give us one when our child will have an entire nursery of things waiting for it?"
I don't understand. But I also know that I don't need to question God. He is not a fair God - but He is a just God. And a Holy God. And a Perfect God. And a loving God. And He has purpose for my pain. I don't know fully what that is yet - but I hope it is somehow to bring Him glory one day.
Please pray for us. If you want to - pray that God will maybe give us twins. I'm hoping he will just doubly bless us in His time. Pray that I will praise Him even when I don't feel like it. Pray that I won't feel like giving up. Pray that I won't be jealous of every mother I see. Pray that I will just keep trusting that God has a better plan that I could ever dream of.
I'm going to go get a spoon for my ice cream now and I promise I'll post about happy things the rest of this week.

Date Night

I decided it would be fun tonight to kind of play "deal or no deal" for a date night.

I wrote 3 different versions of a dinner/movie date and put them in envelopes and had Scott pick one.

The three versions were:
1. "Juno" and Outback
2. "Fool's Gold" and Chili's
3. "Bucket List" and Mimi's.

The envelope he picked had #3. On Saturdays - if we actually go to a movie - we always go to the matinee movie and then to dinner. That way we get home earlier and we save money.
The "Bucket List" is really cute. It makes you think about what you would want to do if you only had 6 months to live.
So after the movie we went to Mimi's and we sat down and Scott said "You aren't going to believe this but your blog friend Jessica is sitting behind us." So I turned around and there she was!!! We both squealed and hugged! It was so fun to see her live and in person! She is just as cute and sweet in person as she is on her blog. I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later whether we set it up or not - we just seem to gravitate towards the same places and NWA isn't that big! And we got to meet her husband David also!

Of Course I made Scott take our picture!

We had a great dinner! Scott got the Mardi Gras Burger which was HUGE - he brought half of it home and I had quiche, salad and my favorite banana chocolate muffin!
We were going to go to Sam's but it is raining so hard here that it would have been a mess so we will have to go later. Such a fun date night! With the added bonus of meeting a "bloggy" friend in person!

Chicken Breast Supreme

So here is my Valentines Post ( a little late)

This is me and my sweetheart

This is the cute card he gave me (it has little bichons like Dawson on the front)

And here is the recipe for our dinner. You should try it - it's a family favorite! SO GOOD!

CHICKEN BREAST SUPREME

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
4-8 strips of bacon
16 oz sour cream
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of sliced mushrooms
1 jar of dried beef (this is found near tuna or spam)

Wrap the chicken in bacon and put in pan

Mix up all the other ingredients. Tear up the dried beef into small pieces (this is what gives the meal the real flavor)

Pour mixture over chicken and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours

I always serve with white rice and pour the extra sauce on top. If we had company - we would add vegetables or a salad and rolls - but since it's just us - we just had this. TASTY!

The BEST Valentines

So I found my perfect Valentines gift. I have been reading along with my favorite ,Boomama, as she and some other bloggers are on a trip with Compassion international in Uganda. If you can read her blog and not cry - then come see me because you are super human. I am just overwhelmed with how blessed we are. I ask God a lot of days why He chose me to live in America, in a Christian home and have so much freedom and prosperity when others live in such terrible conditions. All I know is that God has said "to whom much is given - much is required" and I take that seriously. (But not seriously enough sometimes).

After reading this - I was extremely convicted. So I told Scott I wanted one of these precious kids for Valentines. I told him I would give up Sonic Drinks (gasp!) in exchange. It's only $32 a month and this gives a child meals and school. It gives them a chance at life. I don't even have to totally give up Sonic drinks. I could still have one a week and sponsor a child. It's really not much of a sacrifice for me - and it gives a sweet child in Africa so much.

I've been to a lot of Christian concerts where they talked about Compassion and always wanted to sign up but never did. Maybe it's because I want a child to love so badly and I know when we do have one - he/she will have SO much. The one thing I want our children to know in life (outside of our love for them and Christ's love) is how blessed they are and that the majority of the children in the world do not live like that. I want to raise them to not say "give me" but to say "let's give".

We are going to pick out our child tonight and I can't wait!

Update: We decided to pick a child from Nicaragua because my parents go there every year on mission trips and hopefully they can take him a care package from us and meet him. And maybe we'll go with them one day and meet him as well. His name is Richard - he is 4 - and he is PRECIOUS!

Busy Night

So Scott and I have a VERY busy night planned:

Thanks to the writer's strike - I am over whelmed with reality TV to watch. So tonight we have

It's on from 7-9

It's on from 7-9

and Big Brother 9!!! This is normally a summer show but they bumped it up and it's on 3 nights a week. (Plus a new bachelor is starting in a few weeks and Lost is back on - how am I going to keep up with all these shows?)
So somehow we are going to attempt to watch all of this and you can only DVR two things. (Well - Scott won't watch BB9 - so I'm on my own there)

This is our dinner at least two nights a week. I got the recipe from Jennie several months ago and I just love it. It's easy and fairly healthy. We are having it tonight. Yum!

6 tablespoons olive oil
2 lemons, 1 thinly sliced, 1 juiced
4 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
3/4 lb green beans
8 small red potatoes, quartered
4 chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 450. Coat a large baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Arrange lemon slices from 1 lemon in a single layer on the bottom of the dish. In large bowl combine remaining olive oil, lemon juice of 2nd lemon, garlic, salt and pepper. Add green beans and toss to coat. Using tongs, remove green beans and arrange them on top of lemon slices. Add potatoes to same olive oil mixture and coat. Arrange on inside edge of dish on top of the beans. (I think it’s so pretty!) I also add a lemon pepper mixture on top of everything. It adds a lot of flavor.Place chicken in olive oil mixture and coat. Place chicken in dish. Roast for 40-50 minutes. Remove chicken and continue roasting potatoes/beans if necessary.

I use canned cut green beans because I love canned beans. Put I'm sure fresh or frozen would be just as good!

Primetimers

So now that you know I'm a dancing queen.........................(ha!) - I need to move on!

Tonight Scott and I served at our church's annual Primetimer's Valentine Banquet. The primetimers are the over 55 crowd and they are a fun bunch! They have a thanksgiving dinner and a valentines banquet every year and I always sign up to help because I just love them and it's always a lot of fun.
I'm on our church's hostess committe so I work a lot of these functions but tonight was Scott's first time to serve and clean! I was so proud of him - he worked so hard!

Do we not look snazzy in our white shirts and aprons? ha!

So what are your plans for valentines? We aren't going out because we don't want to fight the crowds. I'm thinking I may cook one of Scott's favorite meals - chicken Supreme. I'll post the recipe if I do. We always exchange cards and Dawson gets each of us a card too! :-) (We each buy 2 cards). I used to LOVE getting flowers when I was single and when we were dating Scott sent me a ton of flowers. I remember one Valentines he sent me two dozen roses. It was the day I closed on my first house. Such a great day!
But now that it is coming out of my money too - I just can't part with the money for something that doesn't last. Just being married to the man of my dreams is gift enough!