Time for a break (again)

I realize vacation time is in full swing for most folks at this time of the year.  We had ours a couple weeks ago (yay!) but with the lack of comments on my blog for the past two weeks (I've had zero comments but lots of page views..BUMMER!)..I'm taking a little break from blogging.  I will be reading others, just not doing any myself..so don't fear..I'm still around!

I 'hope' you'll miss me!!  ;-)

~~ White ~~



Not the best picture I could get of her on this particular day..but I couldn't help but think she looked like a little bride all dressed in white!

Be still, my heart!!

One fish, two fish, pink fish, blue fish!

We added another 'member' to our big fish tank over the weekend!  When we returned from vacation, I sadly lost two fish within a week.  One had been sick for a while, so it was expected.

The other one, however, was mortifying.

He had to of gotten caught or stuck in something.  I never figured out what or where either.  That's the worst of it.  One night, I was kinda doing a 'head count' as I do every night before I turn off the fish tank light.  Of course, I don't actually count all my fish (we have a lot)..just look them over to make sure nothing seems out of sort.  Well, we had two glow in the dark yellow tetras (they are hard to miss) and I only saw one.  I looked for a long time, even turning over some of my decor inside the tank. 

Nothing.

I gave up and turned out the light for the night, with only one fish 'glowing' instead of the usual two.  I knew something bad had happened.

The next morning, Damon was up before me as usual.  He called out to me when he heard me get up and brushing my teeth, "Were you looking for a yellow fish last night?".  Yes..I call back.  "Its lying at the bottom of the tank.".  Ugh..just what I figured.

Until..I turned on the light and HALF of the fish was there.  It looked like something really big had just bit off half of the poor guy.  I never found his remains.

We may have a piranha!  Kidding..but..I do wonder.....

So..we had to go fish shopping!  I saw that they'd come out with pink glow in the dark tetras since we had purchased our yellow ones (either that or I'd just never seen them before)..I really wanted one so thats what we came home with!  He's really pretty too!

 

Its pinky!

 

With the yellow one...

 

 

I think the next time we're out near Petsmart, I may get another gourami too.  At first, I despised the one I'd bought when we first got our tank set up. But since then, he's settled down a lot and has become one of my favorites!!  I love this BIG guy!  You can't tell it..but he's really big (probably 4 or 5 inches long at least)!

 

 

And like the title of this post says..I may just have to get a blue gourami!  ;-)



Summer Projects

Seems like the summer months is definately when a lot of 'projects' always seem to pop up on everyones 'to-do' lists.  We're definately no exception around here!  There are a few little things I've been doing (and the hubby!) and making lately..and a few still on the list....

This is the 'homemade' grill Damon has been working on for the past couple of weeks!  I gotta say..being made out of just some leftover cinder blocks and some morter mix (with liquid coloring added to jazz it up a bit)..it was a great and inexpensive project!!  I'd say the total cost was probably around $20-25 since we already had the blocks!  Great job, hon!

 

I bought this paint a couple weeks ago for my kitchen.  Yup..the paint bug has never left me.  This was on my list of 'next project to complete' and I figured if I went ahead and got the paint..I was one step into the process!  We chose a dark gray..I really can't wait to get to it..but the only problem is its just been soooo humid here lately..I fear that if I tried painting now it wouldn't adhere very well (you know what they say about painting in humid weather)..so until the weather cools off some..this project is on hold....

 

Cute, no?  The girl definately makes the dress!  I bought this fabric on clearance at Hobby Lobby (LOVE!!)..I think I paid $3 or $4 for it..and I love, love, love that print!!  Its the great kind where all you have to do is measure, cut, and sew up the seam! Easy peasy..but still homemade!  ;-)

 

 

I also refinished a diaper box (yes, you read right!) recently.  Sorry..I totally forgot to take a picture of it!!  But I saw the idea on pinterest (where else?) and thought it was a great idea.  I'll do another post on it..because I still plan on making another (I have the supplies, just need to get to it!).  The one I already made is in our living room housing some of Makayla's books and toys. 

 

 

What summer projects have you been doing lately?



Community

This is why I blog.

A lot of people blog for various reasons.  To keep in touch w/family and friends who live far away/apart from one another, to keep record of their family growing through pictures and posts, for recipes/cooking, to show off (yeah..there are some out there!), and lots of other reasons.

But I blog mostly for the community.  I blog because I had a desire to meet other people (aka bloggers) who were like me. 

Married, raising children, and who believe in God.

Where I'm from, I don't have many 'friends'.  Sure, I'm friendly with people that lives around me, but I don't have real 'connections' with most of these people to where we would hang out or go places together once in a while.  And that's fine with me. 

Through blogging, I have met a lot of fantastic people.  Some I believe, if we lived near one another, we might even hang out once in a while!  Kinda awesome! 

I've read a lot of stories of these fellow bloggers.  Felt like I've went on their journeys right along with them.  From getting married, to struggling with (or not!) pregnancy, being pregnant, reading birth stories (my FAVORITE!), and raising their children, mixed in with trying to be a Godly woman and keeping Christ in their homes.

Its not about being perfect.  About living in the perfect home, in the perfect neighborhood, dust and clutter free (don't I wish!), with tailored pants and form fitting blouses all neatly pressed.

Its about being real.  I want connections with those who are real people..who live life..who love life..and love God. 

I say all of that to say this.  I follow a lot of blogs.  A LOT.  Most of them I don't read on a daily basis.  One fellow blogger that was in my 'list of blogs' I follow, started standing out more to me over the past few months.  I admit, I hadn't read her blog much before.  She has a son who has a speech delay (he's making great progress!) and that was what first caught my eye. 

This week, she had her anatomy ultrasound on her second baby (Levi), and at first the doctors feared he had Trisomy 18.  It was devastating news, as you can imagine. 

I felt so upset about the news myself, even though we've never met and really never emailed or commented much through our blogs. 

That's community, folks.  When you are sad with your fellow bloggers and when you rejoice with them when they get good news.  I am happy to report, on her blog post today, they found that her son does NOT have Trisomy 18!  He will have difficulties and they will learn more about what that might entail in the coming weeks (and months).

We are rejoicing and Praising God for the miracle that baby Levi already is..even though he is still in his mother's womb. 



The "Cat" Days of Summer!

Nobody told our cat, Jake, that its actually called the dog days of summer!  I went out in the backyard earlier this week in the 90+ degree heat of the afternoon and found him lying in the shade.

Not moving.

Scared me something silly!  He was ok..just taking a break from the heat, I guess!!

 

How do you beat the heat?

Favorites!

Here are some of my favorites..what are some of yours?

Jewelry ~ Owl Necklace from Cato's

 

 

Dinner ~ Pioneer Woman's Flank Steak

 

New Solar Lights ~ Walmart

 

Line Dried Clothes ~ My Backyard (saves on the power bill!)

 

Orange ~ My Favorite Color

 

Flavored Water ~ Walmart