A Gift

Elijah comes bursting through the back door today. "Mama! Mama! I got you something!" He's grinning from ear to ear. But that excited smile disappears when he hears Mama shriek, "Get it OUT! Take it out NOW!" I hold my hand to my chest and sink back onto the recliner. Elijah comes back in, whimpering--a little shocked and confused, and I think, a little hurt that I didn't like his present. Bless him. How was he to know Mama doesn't like.....

Dead, wet, flesh-exposed mice???

Shudder.

Shudder.

Grimace.

A Day of Play

This week we are having some bee-u-ti-FUL weather!! I've not done much housework this week--due to doctor's visits (Elijah has poison oak or ivy), trips to the store, going to church, and just enjoying the great outdoors a little bit more. If you can call our fenced-in backyard "great" :). Monday, the kids were having so much fun on the swingset--one that our neighbor so generously gave to us--so I ran and fetched the camera.

Step into our backyard and experience a time of play with the Acklen children...

Show & Tell Friday....

I've been itching to do a show and tell post, after seeing a couple of other ladies'. I've got SO much to Show and Tell about!!

I have been blessed to be a descendant of some highly talented and creative women who love to quilt and embroider. My grandmother, a.k.a, "BB", should be featured in an issue of Good Housekeeping or Quilting Wonders of The World, if there were such a thing.

I have stacks of gorgeous, tenderly hand-crafted baby quilts that have been endowed upon my three precious babes on the occasion of their births. These women look for a reason to make a quilt. It's like they will burst if their creativity does not have an outlet. They can outlet it upon me and mine as much as they'd like.

Today, I have chosen to show you my "wedding throw" that BB made, especially for me, and presented to me as a wedding gift. It's not a full-sized quilt, not even for a twin bed, but a throw, and it is covered in rich textures of satin, silk, lace, and intricate hand-embroider. It even has a piece of lace from my Mother's wedding gown in there....somewhere....I am going to have to ask them to point it out to me again sometimes because I just can't tell which one.

I have often told DH that if the house were to catch on fire, I would rescue my wedding throw before I rescued him.

He thinks I'm kidding.

Feast your eyes....



Note the intricate detailing...




I believe this may be the piece of lace from Mom's dress...


And the handwritten label......


It reads, "Houses are made of wood and stone, but only love can make a home." To: John and Amy, May 25, 2002 From: Your grandmother Betty Long, Handmade by "BB" for your Wedding Day. Love and prayers for a happy life."

I think I'll label this post "treasures", because this is one of my dearest treasures!

The Beauty of Easter

No, Easter is not all about the new clothes, the eggs, or the bunny...


It's about a very special occasion...


For He arose...Hallelujah, He arose!!


Isn't that worth dressing up for?

Redeeming The Time

Have you ever visited Above Rubies?
It's chock-full of good stuff. I read this article today, just thought I would share it with you:

Top 10 Time Wasters for Women
Written by Nancy Campbell

1. The Telephone.
You can waste hours of time talking and gossiping on the telephone. Not only is it time-wasted, but this is usually when your children get into trouble, or be naughty because they realize the phone has taken mother’s attention away from them.

2. The TV.
I would rather live life than watch it! Teach your children to ‘live’ life, rather than watch it go by. Remember that the day is for work, the evening is for relaxation. A good rule for your home is to never turn the TV on during the day. (It’s still a time-waster in the evening too!)

3. Reading novels when there is work to be done.
Don’t be tempted to read a novel during the hours of the night, only to wake up too tired to cope with your children during the day.

4. Self-Pity and Worry.
Thinking about yourself is a deadly time-waster. You can’t adequately nurture your children or bless others while you use all your emotional energy on yourself.

5. Lack of organization
If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it. It is important to have long-range goals, and a goal for each day.

6. Lack of Discipline.
Do what has to be done, not just what you feel like doing. This develops character.

7. Trying to do everything at once.
Tackle one job at a time and finish it completely. Then start another job. Clean one room at a time. You don’t have to get everything done in one day.

8. Inability to say, "No."
Stay focused. Don’t get sidetracked. Your first priority is to be a wife, a mother and homemaker. Everything else comes second.

9. Too Much Stuff.
The more "stuff" you have in your home, the more you have to clean. The more gadgets and ornaments you have, the more you have to dust. The more toys your children own, the more you have to pick up. They only need two or three at once. Put the others away. Continually ‘de-junk’ your house. Keep only what you need.

10. Inefficiency
E.g. When cleaning up, don’t carry one thing to another room and then come back for something else. Put everything for one room in a box, and then take one trip to that room. Save on unnecessary movements.

A Wonderful Weekend

This weekend my husband took me "home" to Alabama. Now I've been married for almost 7 years, but there's no place as dear to me as my small hometown in Southwest Alabama. There's just something about going home, to the place where you are loved and your presence is desired. There I can relax and be myself like no other. It's just home.

Saturday, I attended a Ladies' Conference at my home church. I always look forward to going. It's a time when I can join with other women and get some good spiritual food tailored to specific feminine needs. The speaker this year was wonderful! She gave me a good kick in the pants--just what I needed! I've been in a funk (rut, slump) lately and I think I had just lost site of my purpose for being at home and had developed tunnel vision in some important areas. She opened my eyes to the much broader experience that God wants me to have. I wish I could explain all the ways the Lord spoke to me and helped me this weekend. I just can't put it into words. Can't wait for next year!

I was very excited to get to see an old friend I have not seen in over 10 years! I hope we can keep in touch a little bit better from now on!



Of course, we had the big Sunday dinner at my parents' house with my Grandparents, parents, and my brother's family. I would rather spend time with my family than anyone else. They are the best people I know! And our family is growing.....



Two grandkids our absent from this picture. My brother and his wife are expecting, and Emma was napping.


On our way back to LA, we stopped at Bass Pro in Pearl, MS and gave the kids a little break from the ride. They had a blast! What a great, free place to take the kids! I think Elijah was a little bit more excited than Grace, but she enjoyed it, too. Here's some cute snaps I got while there:

It's finally here....

My new camera! It finally got here yesterday. After a long week, well, half a week of waiting and wondering. My DH told me on Monday he had a surprise for me this week. Well, I was hoping it was a new camera, but with John, you just never know. So yesterday, he sent me an IM and asked me had I "found" my surprise yet? You can imagine, I went to tearing up the house trying to find it. So then we played a game of "hot and cold". I'd say, "I'm looking in the pantry, am I hot or cold?" I finally got frustrated and was like, just tell me where it is!

When I did find it, it was a bag with a memory card and a pack of rechargeable batteries in it. I was so excited! But then the delivery man didn't show up until 6:30!! I've been snapping and there are some settings that are not just right, as the picture blurs if the object is moving even the slightest bit.

So, as I am seriously behind on some brag blogging, here is a picture Elijah drew on his Magna Doodle last night. He is becoming quite the little artist. I was very impressed. It's a cow and a boy holding a stick.



And here we have Grace, playing with Snowbell in a hut she built this morning:



Can you believe Emma? She's crawling, clapping, saying "Mama", "Da-da", and "No-no". Not bad for an 8 month old!