John 15:5

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/Five-Fingers-Classic-Womens.htm




These are the latest shoes I've ordered.  If you have never tried on a pair you should.  Barefoot running is a growing exercise and these shoes can help you get one step closer (no pun intended).  Now to order the socks, they just look weird!! LOL

Thanksgiving is now behind us. As my tradition I pulled the Christmas stuff out of storage and began to figure out what to do with all of it.
Over the years I have made an effort to reduce the amount of junk I have to deal with. When the older children where little the tree was big (not huge but a good size) and was surrounded by a lot of presents (junk). As the kids got older the toys became more costly and the amount of the them shrunk. Less toys means less tree. Then the daycare children required that I not only put the tree in a playpen but also suspend it from the ceiling. As the younger children have grown the tree has become thinner. Now that they are teenagers and a tween I'm ready to make the tree disappear.
The tree this year is only 2 1/2 feet tall. I think the topper is bigger then the tree. It's actually just the top portion of the bigger tree. I wanted a wall tree but didn't want to spend the money. I took the top 1/3 of the tree and moved all the branches to one side. I should be able to put it in the closet on a shelf without undecorating it.
The mantle is simple too. Four candle lights with flowers, two family photos and a wreath.
A small altar made from a small side table is decorated with garland, one crown ornament, lights, family bible is my favorite this year.

Next year the small tree may be history. The altar will come back and the flowers on the mantle will be replaced.

It's June already!!!!

The older I get the faster times slips away.  May and June are just flying by.  June is a busy month around our home.  We have three birthdays.  Ice cream and cake overload!!  June also is the beginning of a "nesting" of sorts for me.  I feel the need to clean out closets, drawers and cabinets.  Thankfully I get regular calls from not-for-profit groups who are more then willing to come and pick up our precious crap....I mean treasures.
I also seem to steam clean the carpets on a weekly basis because of all the dirt that gets tracked in.  Children and dogs can really track in the dirt.  Now if I could just hire a painter to tackle the inside painting jobs (because I just don't want to do it) the house would look wonderful.

I'm also working on getting my coupon binder back up and running.  Over the last few weeks I've been able to save around 50-67% weekly on our grocery bills.  I shop at CVS/Walgreens/Homeland to get the biggest savings.  Here is the start of my stock pile. 

You will never see me on Extreme Couponing.  I see no need to stay up all night cutting coupons then spend six hours shopping and two hours checking out so you can buy $2,000 worth of "stuff" for $47.34.  I need to save on the things that we really use. 

I can't wait for July.  I plan to spend way too much time in the pool.  Come on July!!

It's almost spring. So is it almost spring cleaning time?

Well the countdown has begun.  Spring is just around the corner.  If you are like me spring always means it's time to clean.  Blame that on my mother.  She would open the doors and windows.  The house would need a "good airing".   We would then start in the attic and clean from the top down.  Under beds, behind dressers, far corners of the closets and every nook and cranny she could find.  A pile would begin for the annual garage sale.  Windows and walls would then be washed.  New paint would go up on the walls.  Rose bushes, irises, and spearment would be planted.  Then the garden would go in next.    Winter clothes packed away and summer clothes brought out of storage.  Laundry would be hung out on the clothesline.

Now summer could offically start!

So now my spring cleaning has begun.  YUCK!!  Did I say that loud enough.
Over the next few days I will bore you with my spring cleaning.  Maybe if I promise to post it here I will actually get it done. 

First spot for cleaning will be front porch and entry.  It's the first place visitors will see.  How does your porch/entry look? 

Worrying

Matthew 6:27
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life

Luke 12:25
25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life

I hate it when I worry.  It does nothing but add to my stress level and who needs that.  What is really crazy is when I worry over things that I can not change or really need no worrying at all.

Are you looking for a new workout???

Check this out.  Looks like fun.  It was developed by a physical therapist for use on wounded vets.  If you go thru the balancing act website you might get a discount.

http://www.korefit.com/