I Know Nothing!!!!!!!!!!!

I really enjoy blogging.
I know that I'm not that good at it.
I don't have great grammar "skills" (thank you high school English teacher).
I know that the "insightful" things I write may be elementary.
I even realize that not many may even be reading.

But...

I do LOVE the Lord and love sharing what He is doing in my/our life!
I love showing you cute pics of our kids!
I love sharing about our adoption and other family adventures.
And I love documenting what is happening in my heart and home.

So...

If something intrigues you on this blog, talk to the Lord about it, see what He says :)
If something annoys you or puts you off, offer Grace :)
If you Love (or even like) something I write feel free to share our blog.

In Closing...

I hope you continue to read.
I hope you learn more about our family and our life through this blog
And most of all I hope this blog screams God's Love, Mercy and Grace!!!

Blessings and Prayers - Dawn

WAIT... just because I really love Francis Chan, check out this video. 

little garden

We have our fist little (I do mean little) garden, actually a "deck garden".  As a family we would love to be eating all organic, farm raised meat/dairy, etc etc.. And it would be really nice if we could grow fruits and veggies that we knew how they grew and could walk out on the deck to get some yummy stuff for dinner!! BUT in the mean time we are making baby steps with our little potted plants!

I am pretty sure this is where we will spend the majority of our summer evenings! We eat dinner out here when we can and can't wait to have some friends over to enjoy the deck and the view with!

So since we don't have much room we researched what would grow well in buckets.

We have planted - onions, peppers, cherry tomatoes, spinach, snap peas, strawberries, and herbs.

believe it or not they are growing!!!

We are also using our fun Nutriplant on our plants - which is basically vitamins/probiotics for your plants. We are excited to experience the good effects that this wonderful product will have on our plants. If you would like more info on this for your garden or farm please email us!

And really ... we can't complain about the view!!!

I'll keep you posted on our little garden and summer deck adventures! What do you like to do in the summer?

Prayers and Blessings - Dawn

You are what you eat??

So this post is funny and GROSS!!! prepare yourself!

This week I ran across a Facebook post that Todd's cousin posted. It was the following -

Our fast "food" display is now 2 years old. The word food is questionable, since the bread-like and meat-like substances have not molded or spoiled in any way. Bugs won't even bother with it. Please think twice about giving this to your kids. You have a choice, but they don't. We truly are what we eat.

This was from his wellness center that I believe a local doctor decided to do... and the scary part is that it was from 2 years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

So of coarse I immediately showed this to Todd because lately I have been feeling like the list of foods  I feel good about giving our kids is getting shorter and shorter... I literally don't go to over 1/2 the grocery store these days! I'm not claiming perfection in feeding our children just scared that I'm poisoning them! 

Anyway I digress, after I showed this to Todd I was surprised that his response was "NO WAY, that's not real!"  I couldn't believe it.... as they say on nemo - "DENIAL"  lol... so bless his heart we now have this gracing our kitchen counter -

YEP that's right our own at home experiment! I am so excited about this because not only will it be great for my husband but also for our kids! We can teach them that just because something claims to be "food" it may in fact NOT BE!!!! 

So I will give you an update in 30 days! If in 30 days this burger and fries has not changed a bit, has not molded, shriveled, etc, etc,. Todd says we will no longer eat fast food (mind you we rarely eat fast food but steps in the whole food direction are great)  so with that we will see?  You can't deny anything if you do the experiment yourself, right???  Maybe you and your family would like to do one as well? The basic burger and fries costs us just under $2.50 - a cheap experiment if I say so myself. 

I know that the organic - whole vs "regular food" can be a huge debate, and I am definitely not here to judge but please comment with your thoughts. I am just dipping my toe into all this information, thoughts, and , ideas and would love to hear all of yours!!!

Prayers and Blessings - Dawn

Kitchen Appliance

I never thought I would Dream about kitchen appliances, but I find myself doing that very thing lately!

What's on my wish list?

I REALLY AM a spoiled girl already. But will definitely be saving my "fun money" for these items!!! Excited I can get them at a discount at least! And will be purchasing the juicer first! For many reasons but watching "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead" is one of them (highly recommend)!  What's on your "WISH" list?

Hope you had a great Valentine's day, and don't forget to enter this week's GIVEAWAY! Who doesn't like winning something FREE! Drawing a winner on Friday :)

Prayers and Blessings - Dawn

Daydreamer

If you really knew me ;) .... you would know that I'm a DAYDREAMER! (and a crazy night dreamer for that matter), but that's probably another post!

I use to think that being a day dreamer was not a great quality I possessed. I am always distracted by what is going through my mind and my mind is going 100mph all the time! But the older I get the more I love this about myself. I love that I'm a dreamer with BIG dreams. It leaves me excited for life and looking for the next adventure. I have dreams about now and dreams for the future. I may not accomplish all my dreams, but I know they will give me a zeal for life that maybe others are left without. 

As a little peak into my mind (its a crazy place) here are the things I daydream about:

*Serving - I am always thinking about how God may want to use me (us) to serve. At church, in the community, across the world!  Trying to make sure that we don't spread ourselves too thin, but not miss an opportunity at the same time. Thinking of what book to read next and scripture to study to make us better servants and disciples. And doing a gut check to make sure all our actions are geared to Glorify God.

*Adoption - wondering where our child will be from, what situation the family is in, what the relationship with the orphanage will be, will they be a boy or girl, what will their name be, how will our family adjust, how will our extended family and friends adjust, will they have a good adolescence in a family that doesn't look like them, and so on...

*Owning a successful at home business - I love anything that requires my hard work to succeed. we have already made steps on this dream with becoming involved in Amway. I think about how to grow this business, how to communicate the quality of the product without being a nag, how to offer this business opportunity without being pushy. I also think long term and what I want from this business 5 years from now.

*Crafting/Creating - I love to do anything creative and crafting feeds this addiction quite well, and a pinch of pinterest and my mind is swirling in this department. What to make next? (usually relates to the season, event, or gift) Thinking of what I want to create that is original and not just a pinterest copy cat. I think of having a booth at a craft fair and selling bows, bow-ties, headbands, and other fun stuff, and then wonder if anyone would buy them. I ponder my next Michael's or Hobby Lobby purchase. And then wonder how many times I will burn myself with the hot glue gun!

*Blogging - I think about what will people want to read about if they are reading my blog? Mostly what fun stories I want to tell our family and friends. I think about changing the lay out (again), and maybe trying to make it a profitable blog. I contemplate trying to get more followers or just enjoying the writing/creative outlet. 

*The Mustard Seed - our future cafe ;) We imagine this will be a dream that will come to be when our children are grown and probably out of the house, a retirement dream. I think about recipes (I even have a little notepad I write my favorites in). The business logic of owning a restaurant. What the place would look like, what kind of vibe I want it to give off, what kind of events we could have, if we would sell any books/art/products there. I note that I must learn how to make coffee drinks to make this a reality (this terrifies me the most... lol). This is one of my go to daydreams for sure!

*Cooking - another creative outlet. I love creating new recipes - I hate following a recipe to the T (thus not a fabulous baker). I love making my food look and taste as good as what I could get in a restaurant. I often eat things and try and dissect them to figure out how it was made so I can recreate it if I like it! I have thought of having a catering business and even make cupcakes, cake pops, and cakes for some events. 

Other things I daydream, but not as intensely:

*Techy stuff - web layouts, marketing, photo editing, video making, worship image creations

*Photography - while my camera right now leaves much to be desired I have always loved photography and capturing a moment

*Interior Design - I am ALWAYS rearranging our furniture, thinking of new ways to decorate, and looking at everyone else's home for inspiration and ideas. I absolutely love to look at people's homes - from how their furniture is laid out to what wall colors they chose. I would love to help people with interior design but not sure I am quite qualified.

*Writing - while I am not a great writer, I enjoy it, I think of writing a book but when I have started I get to about page 35 and take a permanent break... lol 

*Children Lesson Planning - wondering what creative things I can think of to help Eliana, Owen, and our future children learn. Not just learn their basics of reading, writing, math, and such. But also learning to be someone with a good heart. 

*Party Planning - I love to plan an event, or just have people over in our home. I try not to go overboard but sometimes it happens. I would love to help others plan a party (especially children's parties) 

*Sewing - thanks to my grandma I understand the basic skills of sewing but hope to brush up on this more

*Traveling - I want to see the world and show the world to our children

*Cleaning - Yes, I know its crazy but I think of this often - what I want to clean next or organize. What can I say, I get great joy out of the end product of cleaning!

*Adventures with my hubby - I love trying to plan fun dates, daydream about a future get away, and so on!

*Family and Friends - I often think of what they are up to, how to pray for them, or what I could do to speak love to them!

*Sports - Mostly golfing and running, but think of playing all kinds and when and where.

*Stuff - Yes superficial but I do think of stuff I want to buy, what I would love for a present (cursed with a love language of gifts. lol ), fashion, hair, kid fashion (this one can get me), kitchen appliances, and so on...

Well I may have forgotten a few, but you get the idea - I AM A DREAMER! I know that this turned into a lengthy post, but hopefully this entertained you and didn't scare you!!! LOL!!! Just another peak into our lives, who I am and what my hubs has to deal with! ha ha

What do you daydream about???

Blessings and Prayers - Dawn 

Tattoo?

For a few months now I have been contemplating a tattoo. I was convinced that Todd and I would get matching tattoo's when we got back from Africa. I didn't quite have Todd convinced but was looking forward to something meaningful when we got home. We were strongly leaning towards the word PRAY in the Jula language (the language the people speak in the tribe we are working with). But then when plans changed and we were not headed to Africa, I thought "why not get the tattoo anyway???"  I decided instead I wanted to get something that reminded me to rely on God and not myself.

I had envisioned the perfect tattoo in my mind and I wanted to put it on my wrist. I gathered up some friends and the hubs and took a trip to the tattoo place. But when I got there they told my my idea would not make a good tattoo :( The artist drew something up for me that was similar but I wasn't 100% convinced and didn't want to put it on my body FOREVER unless I was. So I came home and have been drawing different versions of the tattoo I want on my wrist and trying it out. (funny I know) I do now understand why my original idea wouldn't work for a tattoo... but am still really wanting the same concept. The only thing that is holding me back is wondering if my kids are going to be embarrassed when I'm in my forties and beyond.. LOL! Here is the pic of a basic idea of what I'm wanting on my wrist... (it would be able to be covered by a watch or bracelet) But the question is.. To Tat? Or not to Tat??

 - Dawn

Taxes

There are many things in adult life that I have really not enjoyed - mortgage payments, utility cost, expense of groceries, laundry, dirty bathrooms, etc... But one thing that I really don't enjoy are doing our TAXES!  I put them off every year and this year is no different. I am determined to accomplish them this week despite the fact that I really don't want to do them. Last night though I got to thinking about our taxes and how the last two years has been a funny spiritual journey with them. Let me explain.....
Since I am a realtor (or was a realtor) we have to do itemized taxes (loathe this)! And because of this it is often a question mark of if we will be receiving money or paying money in. Two years ago was my first year to sit down with Turbo Tax and go through the itemized tax process. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and it was miserable!  When it was all said and done we were blessed with a return! It happened to be that our return was just enough money to pay for my husband (Todd's) mission trip to West Africa. We literally received the money and handed it over to the church for his trip. So that turned out to be quite a blessing! Then last year we knew that we were probably going to be paying money in. I had a decent year for doing real estate part time and didn't have any significant write offs.  I was really dreading doing our taxes and knowing once we filed them that the reality of how we were going to pay for my husband's second mission trip to West Africa would sink in. I literally put them off until the last week of march. That Monday I told Todd that I would finish our taxes by the end of the week. On that Thursday our church mission council had a meeting and at that meeting offered to pay for the bulk of my husband's trip as the group leader. After receiving this news it gave me the push to finish our taxes and we came out dead even. After the cost of Turbo Tax, we didn't receive anything of have to pay anything in. Crazy HUH!?!
So here we are year three!  Itemized taxes waiting to be done. We have had some significant write off opportunities this year: had a baby, lots of hospital bills, didn't make much in real estate, etc... But yet I am dragging my feet. Because this year if possible, my husband and I would both like to go to do mission work in West Africa (the thought both excites me and frightens me). But that is a HUGE junk of change! If our Tax return covers a good portion then that means we could both go. If it doesn't that means its likely that this year again it would be just Todd making the trip. 
It is funny to me that as I was pondering my hatred for taxes, that it isn't just the work of the taxes that holds me back, but the meaning behind the outcome. It really has been a funny little joke with God about our taxes and will be interesting to see what he will have in store with us this year! 
So with that being said.. I am vowing that by the end of this week I WILL COMPLETE OUR TAXES!! Who knows what the outcome will be, but at least we will know :)

And who knows, maybe we'll both get to see some of these beautiful faces this summer???