Our weekly M.O.M's (Meeting Other Mom's) group full of crafting!!!

We had sooo much fun at our weekly M.O.M's group!  We were crafting away this week. 

Casey & Jami prepping their frames.  Notice Ava hanging on tight to her mama's leg :)

Kris & Christy doing some damage with a staple gun

The frame that was made into a bow holder

The scarf  I made (!!!) from a tshirt

Consider this the start of my crafting "stash"

Rori & Ruby practicing being best friends

We got the ideas from the site Pinterest.  It is an extremely addicting site, but has a TON of ideas on any subject you could ever want to know about.

I love doing simple crafts.  Using a staple gun gives me the feeling of power!!!



What if your husband wants the house to be cleaner?

Darlene and her friends recently addressed a viewers question about what to do if your husband wants the house to be cleaner. I love all of the practical God centered advice these ladies give. LOVE IT! As I was watching this one other thought came to mind.

This is a personal issue for me. My husband LOOOOVES to have the house clean (we have 4 kids). For years it was a matter of contention between us. I felt like he was attacking me and he felt like I wasn't listening and didn't care. It wasn't until I read the book "The Five Love Languages" that I understood where my husband was coming from. Acts of Service is his love language. BIG TIME! I was neglecting his love language not on purpose but just because I didn't know. Once I realized how important it was to him, it became important to me too. Not important to have the house clean, but important to make my husband happy. If me cleaning the house makes him happy, I can do that. Really, it's just a small thing for me to do and it has made a HUGE difference in our marriage. His tank is full (read the book & you'll understand what I mean by this :) and it made a difference. Now he will help with things around the house. Just the other night he offered to do the dishes after dinner for me!!! Now that's a happy man right there!!!

Reagan is on FIRE for her new Kindle Fire

Reagan got an early Christmas present from her daddy.  I captured her response to share with you all.  It's priceless.

Reward for Rori

We are in the midst of potty training Rori.  She loves to wash her hands when she is done going potty.  I captured some cute pictures that I wanted to share.

I tried to take the picture without her noticing.  No such luck!

She was standing there talking away.  Couldn't understand many words, but she was having a great time!

Friday night tradidion

Every Friday night at the Hartzell house we have a tradition.  We always have homemade pizza for dinner.  I've experimented with different combinations of toppings and we've found a pie that works for us.

 Can you say CHEESE?!! We put 4 cups of cheese on 1 pizza pie. 

Rori watching and waiting for the "peeepa" to cook

The finished pizza.  It doesn't take long for us to conquer this beast!

I love that we have this tradition.  My family looks forward to this night all week. 

My guest blogging debut!

Today is the day I've been anxiously awaiting!  I was blessed to contribute to a  blog of a lady that I admire. www.time-warp-wife.blogspot.com  Her challenge focuses on ways to love on your husband.  During the time that I've shared the daily blogs, I've had ladies ask me "GEE! Is there a blog like that for husbands too?!" While I'm sure there are, let me offer this one bit of advice.  Don't wait for you husband to start "doing" stuff for/to you before you reciprocate.  There is a huge amount of responsibility  to be a biblical husband.  We should be our husband's biggest cheerleaders.  While your needs and desires are important, don't solely focus on  them.  I know that there are situations that this will not work in, but I STRONGLY feel that if you love on your husband -  he will love on you back.

How do you love on your husband? I recommend the book "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman.  This book will help you see how to best love on YOUR husband.

 

I also want you to know that no one is perfect.  My husband and I still argue and fight from time to time.  It's bound to happen.  We are such different people.  That's OK.  Just redirect and refocus and keep on moving!!! Always go forward, never backward.

Helping hands

Reagan helped me make supper the other night.  She is a great assistant.

Rolling up her sleeves and diggin in!

She's the best 7 year old helper I know! And she did a GREAT job! The chicken tasted wonderful!!!

My take on the Duggars

Yesterday, the Duggars announced they are expecting their 20th child.  Everybody has an opinion on this, and I'm not going to add mine.

When I heard this news yesterday, I will admit, my initial reaction was "why in the world would you have 20 children?!!"  Today I think "why not?"  Let me explain my change of thinking.  I read  an article that said the Duggars are debt free.  They teach their children responsibility. They live in a house that they built.  They have a deep faith in Jesus.  Their children are happy and very well cared for.  You tell me, what's wrong with this picture? NOT A THING!

How many stories do we hear on the news where children are NOT taken care of? NOT loved? NOT raised in Christ centered homes? In my opinion, one story is way too many and we definitely  hear more than one. It's not up to me to judge them because they make a different choice than I do.  Very possibly we could both be right even though we've each taken a different approach.

I choose to celebrate with the Duggars.  Every child IS a blessing from God.  I will not judge them or give any negative attitude.  Congratulations, Duggar family! Many blessings to you all.

Matthew 7:1 Do not judge, or you too will be judged  

Hartzell girls circa 2011

We have an amazingly talented friend who has taken our family pictures.  We do not buy the pictures from the school because I choose to feed my family for a week instead.  Besides, these pictures are waaaay better!  Have a look for yourself!

Renewal

I am so thankful for our church.  Not only do they have an awesome ministry for adults, but their ministry for students is OFF THE HOOK!  Recently, August was blessed to be able to attend a middle school retreat called RENEWAL.  It was such a great weekend for all of the kids.  I'm so thankful for this chance for the kids to get away mid year to re-focus and get charged up for JESUS!!

Huffy keeping everyone organized til time to get on the bus!

The Pink team!

Pink team so excited they can't stay on the ground!!

Thankful for other teenagers willing to speak truth to August!

My first mammogram

The suggested age to get a first mammogram (providing there's no family history) is 40.  Since I hit that milestone last August, I scheduled to get my first mammogram.  While I had heard from others what it was like, I really was not prepared for how it really was.

They set you up before you go inside.  "The Retreat" sounds like you're going in for a massage or something.

 



It doesn't look so bad does it? Nice and clean and white.  Almost friendly...Almost.

Then they turn it THIS way!  By the way, I had to face forward even though the machine was at this angle.

Some key things to know if you're experiencing this for the first time..

* Do not wear deodorant or powder.  You will be asked to remove it.

* "flat as a pancake" is relevant.

* while your ta-tas are being smooshed, you will be asked to HOLD YOUR BREATH!

* just when you think you are pressed as flat as they can be, they will push the down button once more

* you might want to practice standing with your ta-tas to your extreme left or right while keeping your toes facing forward while holding your breath.

While I am making lite of this, I certainly don't take this test for granted.  It is a HUGE way of catching the horrible and nasty breast cancer.  I have had friends who have had to suffer from this disease and be taken from their families way too soon. 

After all of that, I received a letter in the mail saying "We are pleased to inform you that the results of your screening indicate no suspicion of breast cancer".  I do not take this for granted and am so thankful for the blessings that God gives me.  Including the clear bill of health for breast cancer.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.