Laken' It

This past weekend we were fortunate enough to be invited to our friends' parents lake house. It was our first time up there and it was beautiful. We had a blast and enjoyed the great company. Here is some photo documentation of the weekend:

I don't know what is up with my pictures. On my computer they are normal...on blogger they are all pixel-ly and to be honest...I am too tired to deal with it!

Please Pray

I had intentions of posting about our trip to the lake. Instead, I am simply going to ask that you pray for Baby Stellan and MckMama. Lift their names up to the Lord. Pray for the doctors and nurses involved in Stellan's care. Pray for peace and comfort during this weary time for this precious family. I will post about the lake tomorrow...but for today, let's pray!

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

I am posting this via my cell phone so excuse and spelling errors, the lack of my cute little name and spacing issues...

Setting the scene: It was bed time last night and Ava had NOT had a nap...

Matt to Ava: "Ava, why are you whining?"
Ava to Matt: read in a whining voice "Because I neeeeed toooo!"

Cracks me up everytime I think about it. I love her!!!

Prayer Request

Will you guys say a quick prayer for me? I've been presented with an opportunity that would be an answer to my prayers.

Word Of God Speak-MercyMe

I love me some MercyMe and this song just speaks so much to me right now. It is one of the songs at the bottom of the page. Scroll through and find it and then read along (or sing along) with the words. It kind of sort of maybe goes along with our Women's Bible Study. We are doing "Having A Mary Heart In A Martha World" by Joanna Weaver. The verses we use are Luke 10:38-42. The lyrics to this song reminds me of Mary from those verses. She is just in awe and wants to know more and more about Jesus! I want to be like more that...I'm working on it guys. Here are the words to the song.

Word of God Speak-MercyMe

I'm finding myself at a loss for words

And the funny thing is it's okay

The last thing I need is to be heard

But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty

To be still and know

That You're in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness

Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You

Beyond the music, beyond the noise

All that I need is to be with You

And in the quiet hear Your voice

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

Excuse the lack of spacing...blogger is being difficult with me and no matter how many times I go in and respace it, it ends up smooshed again. Oh well!

An Award

I recieved this award from fellow blogger Valerie. Thanks!

I am supposed to now tag 7 of my bloggy buddies and then tell you 7 things you may not know about me. Here goes:

7 Bloggy Buddies-
1-Kristi at Bringing Lucy Home
2-Susan at Life With The Cooper's
3-Jen at Mommy to 3 Blessings
4-Shana at Serendipity
5-Jennifer at The White's
6-Whitney at It's All About Me
7-Katie at My Heart Will Always Burn For You

OK...Now 7 things about me-
1-There is nothing on TV that I have to watch...if I miss something that I like...oh well...Now Matt is a different story.
2-Ava starts dance in the Fall. Not technically about me but I am excited nonetheless.
3-I am addicted to my phone. It's an iPhone and I can't leave home with out it.
4-I hate to sweat. Perhaps that's why I have all this extra "love".
5-I don't iron. I wrinkle release.
6-I sew button holes by hand because I don't know how to make my sewing machine do it and I am too lazy to learn.
7-I rarely wear full on make-up. A little mascara and chap stick will work...most of the time.

There you have it...take care!

Have you seen the light, er, recipe?

Have you checked out my Recipe Blog, Cooking Up A Storm? I have posted my salsa recipe in hopes that you will go check it out and maybe, just maybe follow along with my cooking creations. (Thanks to my 4 original followers...Susan, Maggie Elizabeth, Whitney, & Kristen). Anyway, go check it out!

Blog Makeover

So I just entered to win a free blog makeover from The Design Girl! Check it out and enter!

Has It Really Been That Long?

I'm exhausted guys...we have been so busy here lately but we are enjoying our summer! Ava has had a blast swimming and playing outside.

I know I have been absent here lately. Like I said, we have been busy and it isn't slacking up just yet. I am going to make a very good effort to start posting again. All I know to do now is to start from here...I've missed too much to catch up.

Thanks to all those who have been praying for me. While I am still not ready to share details (none of us are sick or anything like that) I do want you to know that our prayers are being heard and I am gaining some perspective as to God's Will for my life.

I wanted to share this really fast. Our church started a Bible study last night at my MIL house. We are using the book "Having A Mary Heart In A Martha World" by Joanna Weaver. It is good so far. We are taking it chapter by chapter. I will post more about it later. Right now, I just wanted to let y'all know I'm here and making an effort to post.

It's Been Awhile

Sorry it's been so long guys. We have been busy little bees. Summer time is just so precious to us so we try and spend as much time outside as possible.

I have alot running through my mind...some I can share and some I can't and I can't wait to find time to sit down and write. I promise to try and write it all out soon. Until then, would you pray? Pray for those things in my mind that I can't share with you. God knows! Pray for peace and guidance and wisdom. Thank you Blog friends...you are a great group of people.

I'm still recovering...

Hey guys! I am still recovering from VBS last week. We had an amazing time! It was so much fun! I will do a full run down soon...in the meantime I am preparing to go to the beach...Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus!!! We can't leave soon enough! I need a break from this place. Please pray that we have a safe trip!

Here are a few pictures:

Works For Me Wednesday

Since I am busy with Vacation Bible School stuff this week I am leaving WFMW up to you guys...leave a comment with your tips, tricks and shortcuts that you think we all could use. Happy commenting!

To My Husband...

Matt, you are such a wonderful Daddy. It melts my heart to see you interact with Ava as you do. You never cease to amaze me. Ava is so lucky to have you as her father (accept maybe when she gets older and you are scaring off the boys...)! Thank you for striving to me a good role model for Ava and teaching her right from wrong. I love you so much!

Works For Me Wednesday

It's that time again...Works For Me Wednesday is here!!!

How about some helpful outdoor activities...since it's summer time and all.

*Side walk chalk-let your little one lay down on the ground and you trace them with a piece of chalk. Once your finished tell them to draw all their body parts...hands, feet, eyes etc.

*Wading pool-give your kiddo plastic kitchen toys and let them make you delicious meals.

*Bubbles-blow bubbles and let your little one try and pop as many as they can before they hit the ground.

*Clover flowers-you know, those little white flowers that grow in and around clover patches...we make necklaces and crowns and bracelets out of them.

*Picnic-nothing gets my little one more excited than eating somewhere out of the ordinary (the table). We take a blanket outside and eat our breakfast or lunch on it. She gets so excited!

Hope you all have a great and fun summer. Posting for the next week and a half will be kind of small...it's VBS time at our church next week. Take care!

We're Sad...

Have I mentioned that Ava has been battling a contact allergy? She continues to have the remnants of it and it all resorts back, sadly, to Lexie...our new puppy. We are so sad. We have found her a good new home (where hopefully her new kiddo playmates won't have an allergy to her). Pray that Ava continues to do well with her leaving. It breaks my heart. Maybe we are destined not to have pets any time soon...remember the fish?

Follow Friday

Welcome to the first ever "Follow Friday". I am joining my sister, Chickie, in this fabulous new series. Each week one of us will spotlight someone we follow in the bloggy world that we think is pretty spectacular and encourage everyone to share the bloggy love with them. Stop by their blog and say hello and maybe even start following them if you already aren't. Hope you all enjoy!

This week I am spotlighting my good friend Whitney at "It's All About Me". We have gone to church together for several years now. She is the nicest girl ever and has the sweetest heart. She recently started a series call "Hollywood Wednesday" in which she plans to share all the latest celebrity gossip. If you are anything like me you don't have time to site hop and find it all out...she is going to post the highlights!!! So looking forward to that!

Anyway, hop on over to Whitney's Blog and let her feel the love today! Leave her a comment and share the bloggy love!

Let me know by leaving a comment if you would like to perhaps participate next week. Maybe we can do a Mr. Linky and we can all share some bloggy love.

PS Check out Chickie's Blog next Friday for the next installment of "Follow Friday"!!!

Works For Me Wednesday

Here it is folks...Works For Me Wednesday!

This week I am spotlighting some of my favorite cleaning tips. Hope these help...

*My favorite cleaning supply is Clorox Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner. This stuff rocks! It has a spray option and a foam option. I love the foam option because it clings to the sides of the tub...thus breaking down the germs etc. and requires minimal effort in scrubbing...fabulous!

*Peroxide...it removes blood stains from your sheets. When you have a little one they are bound to have scrapes that can (and more than likely will) break open during the night. Peroxide will remove them in the early stages.

*Dryer sheets are the new air freshener. Do you have a hidden vent? Place a dryer sheet under the sides (in a dome shape over the vent) so that the air flows through the dryer sheet...instant air freshener.

*When I dust I use a Swiffer Duster with my favorite furniture polish (currently the Pledge Multi-surface). I spray my cleaning spray directly on my duster and go to town. Super easy people...super easy!!!

That's about all I have right now. Sorry it took me so long guys. We enjoyed our day at the pool. It was fabulous! Check back on Friday for a pretty cool series I hope to get off and running!

Works for Me Wednesday- Coming Soon!!!

Hey Guys! This weeks WFMW will be up tonight. I am taking a break and enjoying the sunshine.

Be sure and check back later tonight for some great tips!

Also, peak in on Friday for a little special series that I am going to try and start.

Hope y'all have a sunshine-filled day!!!

Check, Check, Check, Check It Out!

Have you checked out my Recipe Blog "Cooking Up A Storm"? (It's not pretty yet...still working on a layout...) Go check it out and try my newest recipe...Steamed Broccoli!!!

Who Am I?

Well, I am Karmen, of course!

Welcome to my blog! Chickie over at I Love You To Pieces is opening everyone up to introducing themselves so everyone can get to know us even better. Hop on over to her blog and check out the others participating....

Ok, so here goes my "more about me"...

I have brownish red hair and I so badly want to do something to it...but I am afraid since I have never done anything to it.

I have a new found love for Hummus.

I am a twin. Her name is Chickie (Kristen).

I like to decorate...and redecorate...and redecorate!

I enjoy blogging and reading blogs.

I don't like to be hot. I would love to move somewhere that never really exceeds 70 degrees.

I love a tomato sandwich. Yummy! I may have to go have one...maybe for lunch.

I have recently discovered the Reuben sandwich. Very good...very good!


Well, that's about all my excessively tired brain can think of. Go on over to Chickie's blog and participate.