My birthday weekend

My husband did a great job planning...first he took me to lunch at Mama Mias restaurant (mmmmm) then antiquing, then surprised me with a tea date with my favorite chickies at a wonderful tea room in Plymouth mass. Then we met up with the boys and played games the rest of the night...I laughed so hard that my head, stomach, and cheeks hurt. What a great day. The next day we had my parents (my mom is the short one in the pic with me) and mom in law over for a little cake and ice cream. Nice way to end the weekend. Here are some pics....enjoy!

A weekend to remember

I'm sure everyone that reads this has a wonderful marriage.....but here is a nugget. My husband and I will be attending "A Weekend to Remember " a marriage conference, which will be located in Newport R.i. This is pretty exciting considering 1. We'll be without the kiddos for the weekend 2. It will force time to focus on us, and build a stronger and better marriage.
I'm always looking for ways to be a better wife, I want to love and serve my husband better. Most importantly I want to serve my God better, I take the role God gave me very seriously and know their is always room for improvement. Here is a link to the website...they travel everywhere, so if you are interested here is the link....http://www.familylife.com/site/c.dnJHKLNnFoG/b.3082787/k.BF6A/Home.htm..... They have advice from parenting to sex....Holy moses did I just say that, well yes I did.. christians have sex...and honestly they should have the best sex since they are in covenant. Anyways I hope you check them out.

Note of the day....things I live by

Getting married is easy. Staying married is more difficult. Staying happily married for a lifetime would be considered among the fine arts.

I feel like it's my birthday all month

So my birthday is this month...honest to me it's a big because it always mean a start to a new year...a new year of growing deeper in God, and learning and molding into who God wants me to be. Aside from that I feel that my father (God) has been spoiling me all through this month. The best part is it all started from a simple nudge from God that I finally obeyed. A beautiful, talented friend of mine that I am so happy that God introduced me to; blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. She sent me a package filled with beautiful clothes and amazing shoes. I'll be honest having three kids go shopping for myself doesn't happen often if ever, but to receive a huge box with amazing clothes, and shoes just brighten up my pep in my step to a whole new level. So again thank you God for loving your daughter so much that you spoil me, and Thank you my friend who blessed me so much more then you'll ever know....may you be blessed in return immensely.

My Love Of A Lifetime

I had a longing in my heart that kept me searching. I've have had on purpose and that was to find you, but was I chasing you or were you chasing me? Then you caught me by surprise, you gave me a freedom I never knew existed. You allowed my spirit to fly, and showed a love so true, so pure, so forgiving. You took my tears and made them yours, you took my pain and my shame and bared it for yourself. I hear my heart beat inside of you, and you free my soul. I have learned it is only in my surrender that freedom comes, so I run and abandon all I know and hide myself in your arms. How sweet your embrace is. How special is this love. How intimate is this love, that only you know my true desires, my dreams, my sins. Yet you call me every time I fall and wipe me clean, you rejoice with me in times of celebration, and give me dreams I would have never envisioned for myself, all the while in every situation you never stop telling me how you love me. You know all there is to know about me and still love me. You created me and molded me together as priceless pottery, and when I break from my own short comings you piece me together again and remind me how lovely and priceless I am to you. You are my love of a lifetime. It is because of you I know how to love others and finally myself. You have taught me to be a wife and a mother. It is because of you I see the beauty in the simple things, and have joy in the hard times. You are the one I adore, you are the one I desire, you are the one I need, you are the one I want. Nothing on this earth can now separate us, the world can not entice me with her false hope and love. No I will not gain the world and lose my soul, I would rather lose this world for the promise of eternity with you. Only your arms my heart desires, only you I aim to please my love, my love of a lifetime. You are my God, my Savior, and the Lord of my life who I freely give all of me.

Some thursday tips...I'll take any excuse to have whipped cream ;0)

Instant remedy for a mouth burn....when you scorch the top of your mouth or your tongue grab generous spoonful of whip cream hold the cool in your mouth where the burn is for a minute, repeat if necessary. The sugar in the cream triggers the release of pain-relieving endorphins instantly soothing the burn....ahhhh another reason to eat whipped cream mmmmm

Being married to a diabetic ...this would come in handy. A cup of black tea with a sprinkle of cinnamon automatically improves glucose metabolism and lowers blood sugar....now if I could get my husband to drink this.

Because of my new found love for sewing..I have experienced quite a few pricks on certain materials so this tip tickled me pink. Replace your normal pincushion with a bar of soap. The fatty agents lubricate the points of the pins and needles so they effortlessly slide in and out of even the toughest fabrics, which makes my hands happy.

Need to fluff your pillows well instead of beating them just stick them in to the dryer with two tennis balls for 30 mins. The heat and movement of the dryer shake dust particles loose, while the punding of the balls plumps up the fabric.

Sos for a sticky can opener. If you are having touble with a manuel can opener simply insert the edge of a 3 inch wide strip of wax paper between blades and turn handle as usual. The friction of the paper will remove rust and grime while lubricating the blades and wheels.

My wonderful friend...Susanna

My friend Susanna had posted that she used her "Deceptively Delicious" cookbook to cleverly disguise veggies into food and be undetected. So I remembered I had that book to and so I have used it myself and all I can say is WOW. I made the chocolate chip cookies (with chickpea's shhhh) for my family. They are so yummy it's silly. So I decided to share the recipe, because 1. you will love them with a glass of milk and 2. you won't mind your kids pigging out on them because they are actually good for you.
Oh and I also sneaked in sweet potato to in to my lasagna last night and completely undetected and delicious. I just followed my usually lasagna recipe, but after the meat was cooked I add cooked sweet potato (smooshed it up in the magic bullet with a little water) in to the meat mixture and then I added the pasta sauce (mix it up really good) and then proceed as normal.

Recipe for chocolate chip cookies (with chickpeas shhhh)

Items you need
nonstick spray
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup of fat free margarine spread...."smartbeat" or what ever you have
2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons of pure vanilla etract
1 can of (15 ounce) of chickpeas...drained and rinsed ...I also poured into the blender and pulverized to nice and smooth.
1 bag of milk chocolate chips
2 cups of flour...I used 1 whole wheat and 1 all purpose
1/2 cup of old fashion oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt


Preheat oven 350 coat pan with nonstick spray

In a large mixing bowl beat broen sugar and margarine on medium speed until smooth. Beat in the egg whites and vanilla, then ground up chickpeas and chocolate chips. Add hen flour, oats, baking soda, and salt and mix on low till soft dough forms.

Drop dough by the tablespoon onto baking sheet, the gently use a fork to press the down to flatten. Bake until brown 11-13 mins....do not overbake. Transfer to rack to cool then enjoy with a cup of milk mmmmmmm