Latest Thrifty Purchase

Ever since I saw these lockers over at Making Nice in the Midwest, I've been on the hunt for a set of my own. I saw some at Third Sunday Market last summer, but they were WAY out of my price range. I've been occasionally typing the word "lockers" in the Craigslist search bar ever since, and last week I found them! And can you believe only $5.00 each?! I had to drive to a neighboring town, but it was well worth the effort.

Now I just need to decide what color spray paint and which room in the house.

Truth Pandemic - Get the facts about HIV/AIDS and Adoption

Please take the time to watch and spread the TRUTH. ProjectHopeful.org

I had absolutely no idea how far modern medicine has come in treating HIV/AIDS. So blessed to hear Carolyn speak at the Connecting Hearts Conference in February.

currently

loving : the quiet time I get while my son naps
loving : this warmer weather. It's in the 40's!!
wearing : jeans and a comfy sweatshirt
deciding : what to make for dinner....probably lasagna
eating : a handful of pretzel M & M's
cursing : our big puppy for treating our couch as his new chew toy
planning : how to decorate Lucas' new room that now has drywall!
sorting out : ideas for the updated LFYC web site
wondering : if we're ever going to celebrate my birthday (Lucas was sick last week)
anticipating : sharing my favorite bottle of wine with the hubby tonight after our son is in bed
loving : that my son woke up just in time to dance with Ellen
wishing : you all a Happy Valentine's Day!

Sugar Cookies

I spent the majority of my morning decorating these:

They're not my best work, but they will have to do. I thought I would try Martha's recipe this year. She hadn't failed me yet. Now wishing I would have stuck with my original recipe. I like it a lot better. My frosting wasn't as shiny as usual either.

My husband tonight asked me at dinner why the snowman had a broom. I said I don't know, I thought Frosty had a broom—my dad always made his snowmen hold a broom. I handed him the cookie cutter and asked him what he thought it was supposed to be. He thought it was supposed to be a scarf. It totally could have been a scarf and I felt extremely dumb for a second for making Frosty hold a broom—"like a witch" as Matt said. Then I started singing the song in my head and redeemed myself when I told him it was in the song. "Down to the village, with a broomstick in his hand…"
I win!!  …Although, next time I may draw scarves instead.

time for some Christmas music

My sister-in-law, man can she sing! This is a clip from the Christmas concert at the church she attends.

She lives in Nashville and you can check her web site for shows if you're in the area.

share the love

It's *share the love* week over at The Anderson Crew's blog.

They are in the process of adopting a little girl from Ethiopia, and are having a fundraiser. Donations can be exchanged for entries into a fabulous giveaway of five different bundles full of handmade goodness.

I don't know this family and just happened upon their blog via Smile and Wave. …But I do know they love God, and that's what matters. I've already subscribed to their blog, and look forward to hearing more of their adoption story.

look what came in the mail today!

I ordered this from Olive Manna's lovely shop on Etsy. I first heard about Olive Manna on Elsie's blog. I have been wanting colored baker's twine for a loooong time, but didn't want to commit to purchasing whole spools. Now I have a little bit of each color. I can't wait to play! …Now if I just had all my photos edited and printed =p

And if you were wondering—that photo in the background is from when Matt and I worked at camp. It was me vs. him and the kids brought money in for a good cause. I lost that year and got covered in "worms 'n dirt" (you know… the Oreo and chocolate pudding dessert kind). Fun times!!

stargazer lilies

The entire kitchen smells like these right now and it is wonderful! I find myself spending more time in the kitchen just so I can smell them—browsing the newest issue of Martha Stewart Living and enjoying our new tabletop as well. Stargazer lilies are my all time, number one, favorite flower. …and I even grew these myself!

P.S. Information on my next class at The Keepsake Element is coming soon.

the Gocco

Now that is an entirely different story. I've had a Gocco B6 (that I purchased off Ebay months ago) sitting in its box under the upstairs guest bed for entirely way too long. No immediately out of the box for that tool. I've had the hardest time deciding what I want to print with it. Well, I'm finally going to dive in tomorrow. I need to finish Lucas' birthday party invites. Wish me luck! I'm off to Youtube to see if I can find a good tutorial for burning screens.

another clip to share

so I was watching Ellen earlier this week and saw this clip and just thought it was so cool I had to share it with everyone.

You really must take the time to watch the above clip. It's from the Easter service at our church. It was absolutely amazing. Our God is an awesome God!

much needed

I did some spring cleaning today....
to my blog.

Like the new look?

A Special Valentine

Isn't he the cutest!

Photo frames are by Rhonna Farrer at House of Three. Patterned paper and banner is by Liz Tamanaha at Paislee Press Designs. And photography by me, Valerie O'Neall.

Help Haiti!

My heart and lots and lots of prayers go out to the people of Haiti and everyone involved!

Our church has been working with a church in Haiti for the past 20 years and has several connections within the country. Several members of Eastview Christian Church were actually in Haiti when the earthquake struck, but with God's protection were kept safe and made it back to the states safely last Wednesday. Eastview has set up a relief fund and 100% of the money given goes directly to Haiti (there's no administrative fees!).

To donate money please send all checks to:
Eastview Christian Church
Help Haiti
1500 N. Airport Road
Normal, Illinois 61761

Checks can be made payable to Eastview Christian Church with "Help Haiti" in the memo line.

Read about Eastview's Plan of helping Haiti

Can you believe it?

Only 16 days until our due date! The baby could decide to come at any time now. I usually try to keep the blog business related, but thought it would be fun to share some pregnancy thoughts (especially since I'm sending a lot of you here for the poll). A couple weeks ago people were commenting about how fast the past 9 months have gone for them and I agreed—once I got past the first 16 weeks, the time really did go fast. Now that I'm so close, my feelings have a changed a bit and it is feeling more like an eternity waiting for this little one's arrival.

What I'm looking forward to once he or she finally arrives:
1. bonding and being a family of four (can't leave Scout out)
2. sleeping on my stomach again
3. weighing less than Matt again
4. eating Avanti's gondolas (the one down the road needs to bump up it's opening date!!)
5. a not so limited wardrobe
6. using only one pillow instead of four
7. no more heartburn, acid reflux, and swelling!

Yay for David Cook!!!

David Cook at the end of year Craftsmen's Club BBQ at Dr. Rankin's house in May 2004.

At the House of Blues in Chicago during Graph Expo 2003. That's me in the red jacket and David's the one in the back row with his arms in the air.

Yes, it's true, I know David Cook and have been religiously watching American Idol all season. We both attended the University of Central Missouri where he and I attended Craftsmen's Club meetings when I was president of the organization. I occasionally went to The Setlist in downtown Warrensburg to see he and Bobby's band play when he was the lead singer of Axium.

Back to TVHS

Tomorrow is my first substitute teaching job. I am so excited because I get to sub for Mrs. O'Brien, my high school art teacher! So glad she visited my booth at the craft fair on Saturday! Art I is doing weaving....must be a new project because I don't remember doing any weaving, so I get to show-and-tell some of my pieces. In Art II I'm showing them how to make origami lilies. Not sure what is in store for Technical Applications or Advanced Studio...It will be a surprise. More to come tomorrow about my first substitute teaching experience.