Twin Sister

Time away from others isolated and alone

Is something we cannot comprehend;

It's something we’ve never experienced or known.

Tying our shoes, riding bikes and making friends,

Lots of new starts and starting over agains.

Accomplished together first steps and first words we said;

Same as the first day of school and the very first books we read.

Best friends since we’ve been living.

Always close,
A choice wasn’t given.

Arguing - non-existent; disagreeing – rare;

Frequent instead,
Times spent together and memories we share.

Making mistakes and falling down

Part of growing up, learning to stand our ground.

Picking ourselves up was never hard to do,

We leaned on each other ‘til difficulties were through.

I appreciate time by myself and thinking things through

But it’s nice to know I always have access to her point of view.

In a group or solo – it doesn’t matter where we’ve been.

We were never alone,

That place doesn’t exist when you’re a twin.

Fun Stuff!!!

I was nominated for a Liebster award over at By Breenah!


This is a new experience for me and I'm excited (it takes so little to make me happy). You should check out her site; it's all about fun, fashion and family! I should know, she's my daughter!

"The Liebster Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, value, cute, endearing and welcome." - Christen (An Unordinary Hello)

The Rules:
- Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
- Answer the questions that the tagger set for you PLUS create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.
- Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
- Go to their page and tell them. *No tag backs!*

Eleven Things About Me
1. My faith in Jesus Christ is the most important thing to me.
2. I've been out of school for almost 25 years and I've just completed my first quarter in college!
3. I love thunderstorms.
4. My favorite activity is reading.
5. I am a compulsive editor. If you send me an email, a letter, etc...in my head I'm editing it.
6. I have no athletic capabilities whatsoever. Wait! Does walking count as athletic ability?
7. I have a weakness for high heels. Extremely high heels.
8. Someday I would like to get my poems and/or other writings published.
9. I'm terrified of failure.
10. I have 7 siblings.
11. I'm a twin!

Questions Breenah Asked
1. Who's your favorite superhero and why?
Stay-at-home moms because they are AWESOME!

2. What's your favorite color?
Bright purple, bright pink, bright blue (etc); basically jewel tones.

3. Why did you start blogging?
I love writing poetry and I'm often asked for my opinion.

4. What is your favorite non-blogging hobby?
Trivia games, brain teasers

5. If you could choose one decade's fashion to come back into style, which would you choose?
The 1950's! I love poodle skirts, rolled up jeans, etc. Fun.

6. What are you favorite names?
My favorite names are nicknames: Monkee, Pumpkin, Sunshine, Buddy, Bear, etc

7. If you could tell anybody in the world anything right now, who would it be and what would you tell them?
Everybody: There is a God, he does care, he does love you and he wants to introduce you to his Son, Jesus. Whatever you're going through (good or bad), He's there with you.

8. Do you have a big or small family? What do you like and dislike about it?
I have a HUGE family; which is good because I love family and all that it entails. I dislike the juggling act it can sometimes be. (But I wouldn't trade it for anything!)

9. If you had a superlative right now (like they gave in high school), what would it be?
If I understand the question properly (and I'm not sure if I do...) I would say 'most discerning'.

10. What one thing do you spend too much money on each month?
My kids.

11. How do you like your pizza?
Thin crust pepperoni with crushed red pepper!

My Questions for You
1. What's your favorite restaurant?
2. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
3. What do you love most about your mom?
4. Who's the person you respect the most?
5. What is your dream car?
6. What's your favorite coffee-type drink?
7. Five miles under, five miles over, or the exact speed limit?
8. If you could eat as much as you want of one food and never gain weight from it, what would it be?
9. If you could have your dream job, what would it be?
10. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
11. Do you know Jesus Christ? If not, I'm more than happy to talk you about Him.

Tagged Blogs
I don't follow many blogs yet and the ones I do follow generally have over 200 followers. However, I am tagging my nephew at Writer because he writes some pretty amazing stories! Check him out, you might find a new site to follow. Also, Rebekah Jo at Simply Rebekah - trust me, "y'all" will have a fun time if you visit her too! For insight into an abundant life, check out Sadie at Brambles & Honey and you might just learn something!

ALSO - check out the new link on my right sidebar! Shabby Apple has some great stuff and I think you'll really REALLY like them. Take a look and let me know! As always, I'm more blessed than stressed and pray the same for you! CAS

PS: If you've tried to comment before, but couldn't because it required a log in, it's fixed now. But please leave your name or initials if you don't sign in so that I know who you are!

Home -- A Perspective

Flashback 6 years - My new husband and I, along with 4 of the 6 children, were moving into a brand-new house. Not just ‘new to us’ but BRAND NEW! Wood floors, stainless steel appliances, textured walls, recessed lighting, walk-in closets, etc. There wasn’t a scratch, a stain, a mar ANYWHERE and it was beautiful. A short while later we even added a yard (thanks to sod!) and a garden. Fast-forward to today. The wood floors are scuffed and dusty, the carpeting is matted and stained (thanks to a dog who joined the family several years ago). The cabinets are scratched up, the walk-in closets are NOT as big as they appeared when empty. The walls are marked up, scratched and dirty and the yard is dry and dead in some places (thanks to two very hot & dry summers). Keep in mind, the house is not falling apart. There are no broken windows, no doors hanging off of the hinges, no holes in the wall, no busted plumbing. Just normal everyday wear-and-tear. I no longer see a beautiful house, but I see an amazing HOME.

The difference between men and women: My wonderful husband looks around the house and will become upset about the way he perceives people treat the house. “They treat it like a disposable home.” He believes they are being disrespectful to him by not keeping it as pristine as it was when we moved-in. He gets frustrated with me for not following guests (family and friends alike) around to keep them from accidentally or carelessly scratching something. My opinion is the opposite of his. I believe the children (the ones who live with us and the ones who are grown), our grandchildren and our guests actually show they feel welcome in our home because they feel safe enough to be “at home” with us. I’m not raising a house and I don’t want to live in a museum. I’m raising children, I’m entertaining family and friends. Even if I’m alone in the house I look around and see them. The toys left out after the grandkids left. The kitchen where the kids and I make Christmas cookies and the evidence of dishes put away in a hurry. I see the fingerprints all over the sliding glass door that leads to the back deck where my husband makes his family famous ribs. I see the stained carpet and remember the joy the dog brings my husband (which is the ONLY reason we still have the dog). I see a glass coffee table covered with a thick blanket to protect it and the grandkids from each other. Every mark, every scratch, every dent is a memory I wouldn’t trade for anything. It’s all in the perception.

Thank you God for a home, not only for me but for those whose receive shelter there, whether for a moment or for a lifetime. I pray you will bless every scratch, every speck of dust, every fingerprint and every dirty area. I want my home to be a haven for those who enter it.

Proverbs 14:1

 I pray for wisdom to build the HOUSE in a way that honors my husband and pray my husband embraces the HOME that provides a place of refuge for our family.
Today, as always, I pray you will remember blesses outweigh stresses!

It's the Weekend!

Sorry I've been MIA with my outfits, but I am back with another outfit. This time it's weekend wear!

Obviously you don't want anything too fussy so jeans it is! Along with a tee, tennis shoes, and a few accessories you're ready to go! I chose the bright colors and white and brown accessories because I thought they'd look good on my mom and because they look nice and put together while being super simple. Heck, the more I look at this outfit the more I want it!

bracelet $16
t-shirt $25
jeans $37
bag (similar) $16
earrings (similar) $16
bobby pins $10
shoes $33
watch $35
nail polish $8
socks $1

total: $197

So, I went WAY over on this one. In my defense, most people own jeans and I probably wouldn't spend $25 on a tee. Either way, it's a cute outfit :)

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Is the outfit for you or for me? For you I think it's adorable. If it's for me...not so much. I don't wear anything that bares my upper arms (although the color is awesome). The earrings aren't really my style. The jeans are good and if my husband would let me wear a color besides red I would LOVE to try the color nail polish.

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Okay, since I was off on this one I made some changes that she suggested. I think she'll like these.

tee $10

sandals $50

earrings $36

God Answers Prayers

Do you wonder if God answers prayer? I don’t wonder, I know.

Years ago I was a divorced mom. My life consisted of work, church, and my children. I was finally overcoming the pain, low self-esteem, and baggage that come with divorce when I felt God calling me to be married. But dating… Uh, no thanks.

 I told God “I don’t know how to do this. If you want me to be single, please give me that desire, if you want me to be married you’ll have to bring him to me because I’m not looking!” However if God wanted me to be married and if he had someone for me, then I had some requirements. Isn’t that funny? “It’s in Your hands, but…”

Being a protective mama bear I was concerned for my cubs! My prayer request “Heavenly Father, I want a protector, someone willing to defend me and my cubs. Someone hard-working, able to provide for himself, mama and the cubs. He should be generous and serving, aware of the needs of others, giving of his time, talent, money, and/or abilities. Let him be fun. Someone who can relax and enjoy a blessed, but stressed life. A Bible believing, church attending, born-again Christian. A father-figure for my cubs; to encourage, discipline, teach and love them. To hold them accountable and care for them like their mama bear does. I want a partner I can share my secrets, hopes, and dreams with. Someone I will willingly submit to, honor, respect, love and commit myself to ‘until death do us part’. Someone I can disagree with, work out conflict with, and still trust with my heart. God, I want my husband to be bear-y.”

via

Within months of my prayer request, I was introduced to the “bear-y” man I had requested from God and today we are celebrating our 6th anniversary. Guess what? God has a sense of humor! BARRY and I have our ‘good times and bad times’, ‘sickness and health’, ‘happiness and sorrow’, ‘richer and poorer’, but we are more devoted and in love than ever.

Yes, God answers prayer. If you’re struggling with trusting God’s plans for you, I want you to know something. God is good and able to provide for us above and beyond what we ask. I know. I married proof! My Bear is answered prayer! Today, as all days, the blesses outweigh the stresses!