What Make a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle's flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

Them god combined these qualities,

When there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was completed,

And so,

He called it...Dad

~~Author Unknown~~

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Hugs,

~Cindy~

I have to give a shout out!!
It's a birthday!

You will never guess who!?!

That's right - it's the Army's Birthday! Who knew!!

Kathy from Kat Kollects and I both have sons at Ft. Benning, Georgia going through basic training. She and her family live in a different state, but our sons left for basic training on the same day, have our family weekend at the same time and our sons will graduate from basic training on August 13-14th - that's in 8 wks. and 4 days, for those of us that our counting!
She has been an absolute God send to me!

To have someone who knows exactly what you are going through - means the world!

Twyla from Two Crazy Crafters brought us together! Twyla, I will be forever grateful!

Go Army!

Hugs,

Cindy

I did something today that made me jump up and down I was so excited about how it turned out!

I have been in the process of re-doing my daughter's room/guest room.

Well, the bed is totally done, throw pillows and all, there's only 12!

When I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday they had all their wall decor half price!

I found this cute little 'RELAX' sign in just the right colors, so I thought surely I could find a spot for it. When I got home I just threw it on the bed when I was unpacking everything and thought 'WOW, that looks good!' I propped it up against the middle throw pillow and I think I really love it there. It just might have to stay there!

Here's a close up view....

Then, this is what I am really excited about! I found these pictures!

They contain the exact colors that are in all the bedding! And, I just love the sayings!

I decided to throw in a white plate to tie in the white that is also in the bedding. I am going to be doing a vignette with white plates, 1 red plate and 1 black plate on the opposite wall. I also have another idea for above the chest of drawers.

Here's the view from the door!

Yep, happy dance!!

Well, I'm going to go and layout plates and see if I can come up with an arrangement for the opposite wall that I just love! Sometimes I have to ponder things a while!

Hope that you are having a relaxing Sunday!

Hugs,

~Cindy~

A quick Saturday afternoon project!
I've been told that spray paint can be a wonderful thing!
So....I thought I would try it for myself.
I have been unhappy with this vignette since I re-did my bedroom.
Can you say boring!
Well, a little spray paint and drying time later....
This is what I ended up with!

A closer view....

Yep! I think I'm liking it!

Not quite so sure about the figure...but, it's a piece I've had since I became a mother, that's 26 years old. I'm attached emotionally!

I have a clock that I might try there instead and find another home for the little boy figure.

Loving it!

What next?

It's amazing that such a small thing can bring me joy!

I hope that everyone had a good week!

We buried a family friend this week.

My son that is away in basic training, it was one of his baseball coaches and boy scout leaders.
We have known this family since my son was in the first grade.

I decided that I will wait to tell my son when I see him for family weekend next month. I didn't want to tell him that kind of news in a letter.

Well, I'm off to Hobby Lobby.

I have another decorating idea...

Hugs,

Cindy

Some things to think about:
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry - God never blinks!
Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special!
Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
Forgive everyone.....everything.
Time heals almost everything. Give time.....time.
Believe in miracles - there everywhere!
Your children get only one childhood.
All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
The best is yet to come.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
Yield.
Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves!
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Hugs,

~Cindy~

Remembering Jim Leckie who lost his battle against melanoma Saturday, June 6th.

Stacey at Poofing the Pillows was kind enough to share her Manhattan Deli Salad recipe with everyone.
That is where I started - and then I just started adding things.
I figured with a pasta salad you just can't go wrong - right?!
I followed her recipe, and then added things like cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, cubed cheddar cheese and pinto beans. I even considered adding sunflower seeds, but didn't have any!
I love Kraft's Tuscan House Italian Dressing and have used that on boxed pasta salad mixes that I have used in the past.
The Hormel 'Mini' Pepperoni makes it even easier!

Thanks Stacey! I now have something to eat this week when I get home from work. And, no more boxed pasta salads for me!
Hugs,

Cindy

Look what I found today! I think that I have admitted that mixing bowls can cause me to go weak in the knees! I found this cute little set at TJ Maxx today for only $4.99!

Now, I wasn't quite sure about the color, but then it hit me, Halloween!! I thought that they would be perfect at Halloween time!

As you can see they are not very big. They will probably be great to serve condiments in. Any way, when I saw them, I just had to have them!

I thought today that I would also share one of the best desserts ever! It's very simple to make and who doesn't like simple!

It's called:

Crescent Sopapilla Cheesecake.
Using a 9 x 13 baking pan, unroll one package of refrigerated crescent rolls and line the bottom of the pan. The Recipe Creations one works perfect here.
Mix together the following:

3 8-ounce packages of cream cheese

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract

Mix together these 3 ingredients and spread over the crescent rolls.

Take a second package of the refrigerated crescent rolls and place on top of the cream cheese mixture.

Pour one stick of melted butter or margarine over the top and sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

And Wa-Laaaa!!!

I'll be taking this with me tonight to friends that have invited me for dinner!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Hugs,

Cindy

Today has been a good day!

I got a letter from my son, Kale, that continues his Basic Training at Ft. Benning!

5 wks. done and 10 wks. to go!

5 wks. until we go for our Family Weekend!

Not that anyone is counting!

He survived the pugil sticks, starting an IV, live grenades and the gas chamber!

His unit has lost 18 soldiers due to heat strokes! They had to have 5 ambulances come to take care of everyone! Just what this nurse mother wanted to hear!

Hug and hold your children close - because one day they grow up and they just might want to join the Army!

Hugs,

Cindy