Hello My Love...

I've fallen in love with these.
Especially since my trainer introduced them to me! ;)

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas to Me!

Adam has finally stopped peeing his pants, even at night and during naps! I took a leap of faith last night and put underwear on him. He was nice and dry this morning!

After 10 long months of potty training I can now say that my son is potty trained. He will go to the bathroom on his own without assistance from anyone. However, he can't pull his pants up on his own so he usually walks out into a room full of people with a silly grin on his face and his pants around his ankles.

I'm an Aunt!

Eva Marie Surowiec was born this evening at 8:54 to Brian's brother Dave and his wife Dianne. Without all my husband's siblings I would never be an aunt (I'm a lonely only child).

Second Snow (today)

Whoa daddy, that's A LOT of snow!

(don't mind the pink playhouse in the back yard. heck, it was free and my son doesn't know any better.)

First Snow (a couple of weeks ago)

Look!!

Look what we got to do at a Christmas party on Friday night!

We made flowers out of hot glass!! I've decided I'm having my mom's 60th birthday party here in July. See the rest of the pictures here.

Little Geek

Now if only he could make us some money on this thing.

A Company I Would Not Recommend

Clark Color Labs They royally screwed up my photo Christmas card order. I received an email from them about a month ago and there was a great deal on photo Christmas cards so I ordered them.
Then when I received the order the portion where you write your message has our message typed over the text "your message here". So I contacted them via email (because they don't have a phone to call them on, which is another reason they suck). They sent out a new order and a good couple of WEEKS later I got the new order.
The new order had the text correct but the picture of our family is zoomed in so close that our heads are cut off. When I opened this I was shocked and just said "oh, COME ON!!!"
I emailed them AGAIN and they said they would refund my money and then I can re-order them. Well, I certainly re-ordered them, it was just through a different company. Those came out perfect on the first try.
Even more odd is that in the end they mistakenly sent me an email saying that my Clark account had been credited a certain dollar amount and that I can only buy certain size photo prints with it. I was so utterly confused because I'd already been refunded my money.
This company is totally out of wack, just stay with shutterfly or snapfish they are reliable.

Currently Reading

Mad Props

I've been working out with a trainer for 8 weeks now and I've had some great results. I've lost approximately 6% of my body fat, a few pounds, an inch off my waist, and a little bit off my hips/thighs, etc.
I have to give mad props to my trainer Grace because she's awesome. Not only does she push me and train me 2 times a week but she helps me eat right. The program I'm in focuses on your total well being so they also create a diet for you. But, Grace is even better because she gives me all these yummy recipes and food ideas that are good for my diet.

Grace is in my prayers because I want her to get paid well for what she does because she's so dang good at it. I'm always looking to refer people to her and so I thought I'd post this for her. A.M. Total Being Fitness is also offering a holiday special of 3 sessions for $99 (if you have ever looked into personal training you know this is a great deal!)

Bowler

Too cute!

The Creation of Adam's Lamp Shade

This is what is started as.

And then after a while turned into this.

Then back into the glory hole.

Those are my bosses.

The finished product is almost ready. They just have to drill a hole in the bottom and then I'll post a picture of the lamp. Pretty sweet!

Designed by Daedra

I've uploaded new card creations and there's still more to come. If you're lucky enough to be in my Bradley classes you could win a mini pack of Thank You cards.

Goodbye Precious Naptime....

The naps have ended this week and I'm sad. I don't know if it's normal for naps to end at this age but Josh seemed to experience the same phenomena 3 months before his 3rd birthday. After many recent fights and screaming sessions when it came time for bed (not nap) I've now realized that without a nap in the day Adam is so exhausted that he zonks right out at bedtime. Which is AWESOME! In a way it's nice, now I don't have to plan the activities of the day around a nap schedule I can just go and do things, as long as there's a restroom at every stop!

Because I Did

This coversation happens about 3 times a day. It's nothing short of frustrating!
D: Adam, why did you pee your pants again?
A: Because I did.

He's suddenly into this obvious question and answer thing.

D: Adam why did you yell at daddy?
A: Because I did.

We have A LOT of pointless conversations in the course of one day. I need adults around just to keep me sane.

Circus

Not bad for $20 seats.

Adam really enjoyed it and so did I!

Currently Blessed

This is no joke people. My class starts tomorrow and I have ***8*** couples!!!
Keep me in your prayers, I'm nervous now......
But I know once I get past the first few minutes of class #1 I'll be comfortable and the nerves will wear away.

*Update* Yesterday I had to turn away couple #9! But thankfully I was able to bless another teacher with my overflow!

What's all the hoopla about?

I started work today at the Glass Academy. I had to do data entry for about 3-1/2 hours working in Excel to organize their mailing list. I was working on a Mac for the first time. I was not impressed. If my jumpy mouse moved too far one way or another I suddenly lost the window I was working in. It just disappeared into oblivion and I had to click all over the place to try to find the stupid thing. Not very user friendly if you ask me. It made my job 10 times harder.
I like my dull Dell. Simple and straightforward..... just like me :)

Currently Reading

Currently Reading/Cooking

Love it!!! I made these today. Homemade ice cream sandwiches that are actually good for you!!

Autumn

I love that Adam is old enough to enjoy the seasons now.

Dinosaur Cowboy

The Great Pumpkin

It took me 2 hours on the evening of my anniversary to make this creation. I made it for Caren's wedding shower the following day. I enjoyed making it and forced Caren to vote for my pumpkin to win a prize! (they're HUGE Hawaii fans and are getting married there in February, hence the Hawaiian themed pumpkin).

I need to get more pumpkins, this was really fun!

6 Years and Still in Love

Happy Anniversary sweetie! I love you!

Hard to believe it's already been 6 years.

Overwhelmed with the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is just flooding in on my life today and it feels fabulous.

I feel kinda stupid and haven't admitted to many that I took the test for the Google job and actually failed. I'm really bad at test taking and had this feeling while I was taking it a few weeks ago that I was going to fail. I'd done the work before via Sarah and that just made me feel even more stupid. How did I fail at a test for something I've already been doing!?!?

Anyways, I was upset for about 10 minutes and then the Holy Spirit gave me peace with the situation and I was OK. I was assured that the Lord was taking me somewhere so I just decided to go along for the ride.

A few months back I had talked to someone about a job at the Glass Academy near me. Anyone who knows me knows that this place is right up my alley. And the owners are this really cool husband-wife team who understand who I am and that at first I am a mother! I'd talked to the wife (Michelle) many times about a job with them but it just never worked out, mostly because they didn't have the budget to hire someone.

Guess who I got a call from today! Michelle at the Glass Academy!! They now have a budget to hire me part-time and I can work my schedule into their schedule. I'm not doing anything fancy like blowing hot glass but it will bring my family some income! I start working the weekend after Thanksgiving at their holiday show (I'll be selling tickets all weekend so if you want to see some really awesome artwork come visit me at work!). Then, starting in November I'll work a couple days a week helping Michelle with some tasks.

And then tonight I received interest from a 7th student about my November class!!

Thank you LORD! I'm really looking forward to November! It's so awesome when your faith is majorly tested yet you stay strong and are greatly rewarded for it. Don't tell me there's not a God out there.

Idiocracy

Since Sarah (aka Ruth to the Rescue) is out of town I thought I'd take over for her tonight.

New recall: The Bumbo Seat.

Apparently it should be called the "Bimbo Seat" because parents were using the product on tabletops and *duh* the kids fell out and fractured their skulls.

With this recall if you're that unintelligent you will get a warning sticker to put on the seat telling you not to use it on tables. We just watched the movie Idiocracy and it's really hitting home with this recall!

Memories

I spent this past weekend in Harrison with my 82 year old grandmother and my 2-1/2 year old son. It was quite tiring because I was the translator between the two of them for three whole days!

My gram has had this little place up north forever and it's always so weird to go back there as an adult. The memories just come flooding back and they make me kinda sad. Sad that I don't really spend time with my cousins anymore. Sad that I don't do some of the things that I used to. And sad that my grandma is getting very old. She's still kickin it like she's 65 but I think she's pretty lonely. Everyday she would reminisce about memories she has and it made me wonder... is she making any new memories? Because the only thing that makes me not feel too depressed about the memories from long ago is that I'm making new ones all the time. I guess that by spending time with her I'm helping her make new memories and that's pretty great.

Yes, I live in Dearborn

And NO I haven't been raped.

I never watch the news and so a few people have decided to tell me about this serial rapist in the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights area. It is very close to my house and that is scary.

However, yesterday I had my storm door open because it was so nice out and Brian was gone most of the afternoon so I didn't lock the screen (he gets kinda irritate when I lock him out). At about 2 o'clock I had this weird feeling (I now know it was God) telling me to lock my screen door. I didn't but I should've! I just happened to be watching Rachael Ray when the 4 o'clock news came on and I heard the report about the rapist. I now know I should listen when God tells me something!

Currently Blessed - Update

This weekend I got a call from couple #6 to join my class!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yipee!

What toy recalls?

Who needs toys when you have cardboard boxes?

At least I know these don't contain lead. (I hope)

Currently Blessed

Wow, in the last week I've had 4 couples sign up for my next Bradley class starting in early November. I'm going to have to move my class into my living room because the family room where I usually have class isn't big enough! The most I've had in one class has been 2 couples.

I'm convinced this is happening because I've been passing referrals onto teachers that I can't accomodate. Instead of being selfish and trying to make it work out so that I can teach them I just pass them on to a teacher that I know needs students. Kind of like giving an offering in real life. I know that God tells me what to do so that I can further His kingdom not my own!

Awesome

MEME from Meagan V

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. sales girl at Dunham's
2. waitress
3. architectural designer (not quite an architect yet)
4. mommy

Four Movies I have watched over and over:
1. austin powers (watchin it right now. "baby, the other other white meat")
2. 50 first dates
3. mean girls
4. (I'm looking for a new one to put here)

Four places I have lived:
1. redford twp., mi
2. detroit, mi
3. florence, italy
4. dearborn, mi

Four Shows I love to watch:
1. the office
2. grey's anatomy
3. dancing with the stars
4. rachael ray

Four Places I have been on vacation:
1. all the way across the US to California and back
2. nyc
3. italy
4. maui

Four of my favorite foods:
1. cold stone founder's favorite
2. pierogies
3. unsulfered dried apricots (look em up at Trader Joe's, they're delish)
4. chicken tawook sandwich

Four favorite drinks:
1. water
2. mojito
3. chai tea latte
4. water

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. camping
2. on a beach anywhere
3. on a scenic drive in michigan
4. driving highway 1 in california

Four people I will tag:
you read this and you're tagged sucker.

My new favorite photographer

Tophe Dannug is so talented and I'm so grateful for him! These are just a few of the great pictures he took of our family. I highly recommend him for your photo needs and I will be using him much more in the future. I uploaded the rest of the photos here. (a couple of them still need to be cropped)

Adam Eating

A giant sweet treat in downtown Detroit

(I don't recommend these, there was sticky orange everywhere)

A nice healthy treat at the apple orchard

Currently Reading

I'm too cheap to buy a book so instead I got this one out of the library and it's so popular that I could only get it out for a week. I just read half of it last night and this afternoon. I have to go return it right now and I was done so I had to photocopy the last 30 pages. What a loser. Just buy the stupid book! Anyways, I highly recommend it, so far.

Simpsonize Yourself

Look familiar?

Simpsonize yourself here

Currently Cooking

This is a new one from RR, I made it last night and LOVED it!! So yummy.

Sorta Soba Noodles serves 6-8

1 pound whole wheat spaghetti or soba noodles (I used pasta and it was great)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 package medium sized shrimp, tails off and de-veined (I used chicken b/c shrimp is icky)
1 bunch of scallions, cut into 3 inch pieces
2 handfuls (about 1/2 pound) of string beans, about 1/2 pound, cut lengthwise into strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 green bell pepper, cut into strips (I didn't use this cause I don't care for green peppers)
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 jar (about 1/3 to 1/2 cup) orange marmalade, about 6-8 ounces
1/4 cup tamari
1 tablespoon chili oil (I didn't have this so I just used a pinch of chili powder)
1/4 cup chicken stock (if needed) (yes, use it)
1 palmful sesame seeds and/or slivered almonds


Place a large pot of salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the noodles and cook according to the package directions to al dente.

Toast sesame seeds and/or almonds in a skillet over medium-high heat. You can tell they're done when you can smell them!

While the noodles are cooking, heat the marmalade, tamari, chili oil and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper (this is where I added in the chicken stock) in a small saucepot over low heat. Stir to combine.

Place a large skillet over medium-high to high heat and add 1 tablespoon canola oil, about once around the pan. Once the oil starts to ripple, add the shrimp to the pain and cook, about 1 minute on each side (if using chicken cook it all the way through before adding veggies). Once the shrimp start to turn pink add the veggies to the pan and cook until the shrimp are cooked through and the veggies are tender, about 3-4 minutes.

Drain the noodles and add them to the skillet with the veggies. Pour the tamari/marmalade mixture into the skillet and give it a good toss to make sure everything's nice and coated with the sauce. Plate the noodles onto dishes and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and/or almonds.

Goodbye Baby Curtis

My current (and only) students just lost their baby boy.

September 21st at 5:00 AM
Curtis Finian Collison
He weighed 2lbs. and was 17 inches long at 25 weeks gestation

I just got back from Orlando and called the mom to talk to her. She had been very sick the week before last with flu-like symptoms for 8 days and then last week out of no where she came down with it again. (BTW, she did visit the ER a couple of times when she was really sick the first time but they couldn't determine what was wrong) The midwives and doctors at Providence were testing her blood, etc. and couldn't really find anything wrong. They knew she had some sort of infection but couldn't figure out where. They monitored the baby and he was doing fine so they decided to move her to L&D to monitor the baby more thoroughly. When they got her on the next monitor they couldn't find a heart beat.

She labored like a trooper according to her husband and she told me the classes really helped her, even in this awful situation. She was still really sick too and was laboring with flu-like symptoms, I totally giver her props for that!

They just got the blood work back from Thursday and it turns out she was infected with listeria bacteria. I never knew that you could kill your baby if you happened to get this bacteria in your system. The docs told her she could have eaten something with the bacteria in it a few months ago so there's no way of knowing where it came from. And SHE had a 30% chance of dying from it too. I guess you can get listeria bacteria from produce, leftovers that have been in the fridge too long, or even from something that has been sitting around a restaurant for too long.

I don't think I'm going to be able to eat for a while because that's so disgusting.

The last three days have been so crappy that I'm ready to just lay in bed and sleep for the next three days.

Can't sleep... gotta blog

Have you ever been face first, head on with the devil? Tonight I was.

After the deodorant episode I was trying to be light hearted and funny with the baby daddy (BD). I said to him this evening in my joking sort of way "Hey, BD, I bought some tampons and lip gloss this evening and they're in the bathroom. Just don't want you to think they're Desiree's and use them as your own." To which I got the response. "Please do not disrespect me in my home. I wear the pants in this family and I deserve respect."

Now, here's a little history on this BD who thinks he's a man. For the last 2 years he has not had so much as a steady job or a home for that matter. My cousin works her butt off to support herself and her daughter without any help from him. He actually disappears for months at a time and then will reappear in their lives for a few months. Imagine what that must be like for a 2 year old little girl. For some reason my my cousin "loves" him and is addicted to him and doesn't stand firm on him leaving them alone for good. He does not live in her apartment and just showed up the night before I arrived. He does not pay rent, he does not pay child support, nothing. He lives out of a backpack and a bike. He makes me sick to my stomach.

So, fast forward to his "I wear the pants" comment. Anyone who knows me knows that I stick up for what I believe in and I believe that this guy is full-o-dookie and just wanted to start a fight with me. Looking back I should have just let it go but instead I did what my whole family has wanted to do since day one. I let him have it, first verbally. I don't even know what I said it is all a blur. I do however remember asking him to step outside.

At this point we're screaming at each other. I realized that nothing is coming from this screaming match so I stop talking. Then he proceeds to tell me how I am just a B (rhymes with witch) and that the reason Adam pushes Madelyn around (which he doesn't BTW) is because I am abusive to my son and have no idea how to raise a child. OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!!!! So being that I'm a B, I B-slapped him, twice. Then I went back inside hoping that he'd cut out the yelling at me. Nope, the verbal abuse continues so I kick him (I tried for the jewels but got him in the thigh instead because he's really tall). Meanwhile my cousin is calling 911 because she's never seen me like this and doesn't know how to stop the madness.

Fast forward. Cops come (I'm sensing that I'm going to be on the show COPS and really start to freak out) I'm standing outside crying so hard on the phone to Brian that I thought I was gonna puke in the bushes. BD is threatening to press charges against my physical abuse. (why can't I press charges against VERBAL abuse!? Verbal abuse is what starts physical abuse). Anyways, BD says that as long as I leave the apartment he won't press charges. So my cousin decides to go to a hotel with me, Adam and her daughter who are asleep. Which I think is a load of bull because he doesn't even live there!! Then the male cop decides that BD should be a man (for the first time in his life) and leave the premises so that the women and children can stay in their house.

I don't feel super safe here which is one reason I can't sleep, but I know that the Holy Spirit will protect me. I'm going to stay at a hotel tomorrow night and then I leave the next morning (thank God, get me outta here!)

I'm repenting right now on my actions which is one reason I'm typing this. But, I'm also praying that I can offer forgiveness for the harsh words that were thrown my way. I know that it was purely demonic what was coming out of his mouth, my mouth and my actions so I'm asking the Lord for complete healing so that this doesn't dwell in me for even one minute.

Thanks for listening :) I'm going to sleep now.

Utterly Disgusted

I'm still in Orlando at my cousin's apartment. Last night I went to take a shower and happened to look at my deodorant sitting on the counter next to the rest of my travel toiletries. On it was a nice long brown arm pit hair!!!!!!!! I was SOOOOO grossed out!
I immediately told my cousin to ask her skeevy baby daddy if he used my deodorant. And YES, he DID!!!! Who uses someone else's deodorant, that is so nasty!?!? Let alone a guy using women's deodorant. Now I'm wondering what else he used, my toothbrush, my underwear, why stop at deodorant?
Apparently he thought it was my cousin's deodorant and just slapped it on without thinking.

Now, I'm not selfish, I like to share but sometimes you have to draw a line. I already don't care for this dude and now he's really on my list.

Time to go buy new deodorant. I'm ready to go back to my home :(

Later Gaters

Adam and I are off to Orlando to visit my cousin and her daughter.
But first, my son has to take a nap so that we can leave for the airport at 3:00. I successfully gave him lunch and got him to sleep at noon. I run up to Target for a few things (don't worry Brian was home). When I get back he's wide awake stating that he's hungry. AHHHH, I JUST FED YOU!!!! Eat a banana, now go back to sleep rug rat!

30 minutes later I hear "mama my tummy hurts, take care of me." Oh, I'll take care of you.

Now he's sitting in his room reading a book while I finish getting everything ready. How much do you want to bet that he falls asleep at 2:45!!
Guess what book he's reading. All I hear him saying is (the raspberry noise "pbbtttt") "fart thee well!" and then "plip, plip, plip"
This is a good book although probably more a humorous adult book than a good educational children's book.

From the Cross to CBS

This weekend was spent being dunked (aka immersed) in the cross and Jesus Christ. I got so much out of this experience that it's hard to put into words.

Last week I started a new bible study with CBS. I was really excited about learning until I opened up my homework this evening and practically fell asleep doing it. (sorry Josie, but it's true) It gives a very "religious" take on the bible and I'm not very keen on that. The Beth Moore Daniel bible study we just finished over the summer was absolutely fantastic, even Brian wanted in on that action. Uh, it was so great that it gets me all excited just thinking about it!!!

I've told myself I'm going to give it a chance, even if I have to choke down the homework just to get it done. (It really feels similar to eating something you totally despise but you choke it down anyways knowing will it be good for you. This was tofu when I was a child.)

Time to testify from the weekend:

On Friday evening Jess prophesied over me about burdens in my life. In the past Brian prophesied the same things to me about removing burdens from my shoulders.

Well, on Saturday evening during worship I was soaking in the the presence of the Holy Spirit asking Him to show me how to rid myself of feeling burdened. I saw Jesus being removed from the Cross, beaten, battered, lifeless. He raised me up onto his shoulders and carried me to the tomb with Him. Jesus took all my burdens to the cross so that I can be FREE!!

I then asked for a Bible verse to meditate on. I like to play game where I just open up my Bible and the Lord shows me what to read. I opened to John 11:25-16, check this out:

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Holy moly could you be more specifically talking TO me?!?! The verse even ends in a very specific QUESTION!

It's very difficult to go back to any sort of religious context after this wonderful word from the Lord. I'm just praying that I will be lead the right way to an enjoyable experience.

Currently Cooking

Sorry no picture, it went down too fast..
A Rachael Ray low-fat, high flavor favorite!


Inside out Turkey Burgers serves 4

1-1/2 - 2 pounds ground turkey
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 t spicy brown mustard
1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
5 slices of turkey bacon, cooked and chopped
Fresh tomato, sliced
Green leaf lettuce, chopped

Place ground turkey into a mixing bowl. Add mustard, salt and pepper and combine with your hands.
Divide meat into 4 portions and make patties out of each. Add some of the bacon and cheese to the center of the patty and carefully form the patty around the filling ingredients.

Grill on a outdoor grill or grill pan on a stovetop. Serve over a bed of shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoe.

It sounds simple but it's really good! You won't even miss the buns and excess carbs.

Lil' Baker

Yes, we bake half naked in our house.

Thanks Sarah!

Thanks to the generosity of Sarah we won't have to buy new 2T winter clothes. She brought enough of Josh's old clothes over for us to borrow that we have a whole winter wardrobe! What a blessing!! Adam's found a favorite in the cookie monster fleece, he refuses to take it off and wants to put it on even when he's otherwise naked.

One (or 2) of Those Days

I don't know if you've ever experiecnced this but I ran out of gas today. It's quite embarassing actually. I was really mad because my husband ASSURED me that 2 gallons of gas would get me to Birmingham and back this morning for CBS. That's the last time I believe that!! A lack of money is what kept me from easily refilling my tank before leaving this morning.
Surprisingly while I was waiting for Brian to bring me gas (I was stopped at Southfield and Joy Road with Adam in tow) a nice lady stopped to see if I needed gas. She says "I saw this nice van stopped in the middle of the ghetto and figured you ran out of gas." I thought for sure she was sent from God to make sure I was ok.

And last night I realized that I'd worn my shirt backwards all day. what a loser. kriss kross'll make you jump! jump!

Mammal Babies

Sesame Street had it right all along! Why don't any of the other mammals have a bottle of formula to suck on? Oh, that's right... it's not natural!

Pachelbel Bedtime

Love it! Especially all the crap in the background, that makes it more real.

A terrible last name...

Why oh why is my last name Surowiec? It's the hardest thing for people to spell. I just got a rebate check in the mail and my last name is spelled SAROWLEC. Mind you I filled out the form myself and I'm pretty sure I didn't spell my own last name incorrectly!!! Also understand that I went to architecture school where they teach you how to print nice and legibly. UGH! It's so annoying.

Sweet Ride

Thanks for the new trike Papa, I love it!!

Labor Day Family Fun

We had a great time today here. Lots of cute aminals (as Adam would say) and a hayride too!

Designed By Daedra

My most recent creation, a baby shower invitation for a friend of Josie. It doesn't look like much in this photo (they're much nicer in person) but I had to create 33 invitations in 3 days and still be a mom to my 2 year old, go to Bible study, teach a Bradley class, go to a doctor appointment, and clean a church! This was not an easy task but it got done very quickly thanks to some wonderful timing and energy from above! Get a better view of this card and others here. (my camera is acting up so I could put any other photos of my work up right now, more coming soon..)

Currently Blessed

What a day/week/month

At dinner with my son I must have heard "mmmm, delicious" 6 times out of his mouth. Then he states "I love you cause you made me this squash". It about melted my heart.

Then I've been wanting to go visit my cousin and her daughter in Orlando. I've been checking airfare for something reasonable. I get updates from Spirit Airlines every once and a while. Well, today I got round trip airfare for both Adam and myself for $89 out the door! Before taxes and junk it was $12 one way for each of us!!

Then after I put Adam to bed I check my email to find that I've been accepted for a job as an Ad Quality Rater with Google!! This is a HUGE financial blessing that can only be credited to God for making it happen. I can earn $15/hour while working at home from my PC whenever I have free time.

A couple of days ago I got an email from a couple inquiring about the Bradley Classes I teach. She actually emailed 6 different teachers at the same time. I think I must have been the first (and maybe only) one to respond because she decided to join my session starting in November. Oh, and she said to expect to hear from her best friend because they want to join the same class as her and her husband. This would bring enough income to attend the Soaking Seminar in Toronto the following week! So awesome.

I've also been praying about a specific house. A couple of friends of ours have a home they built in Lyon Twp. We went to visit them a few weeks ago and discovered that they are building a new house and plan to sell the one they currently live in. In the instant that she said this God struck me and clearly said "THIS IS YOUR HOUSE" and then MY brain took over and I said "nah, no way, we can't afford this". Well, God made me look around and made me realize that this house is perfect for my family. I'd had little hints about moving from our house, some things have become less than desirable in our neighborhood. But I never said "I have to sell my house NOW" I just said "OK Lord, just show me what to do and I'll listen to You."

When He showed me this new house he also gave me a ton of signs that this is the right thing to do. I'd go on forever if I listed them all but trust me it is amazing. Please pray for further guidance and clear answers from the Lord as well as financial blessings. In a market where most houses won't sell and it's really difficult to get a mortgage we are the little guys fighting a BIG battle. But I know that with God on our sides we can do anything!

Currently Cooking

White Pizza

Pizza Crust recipe:

1 cup warm water

1T white sugar

2-1/4 t yeast

3T olive oil

1t salt

2-1/4 cups flour

In a large bowl stir together water, sugar and yeast until dissolved. Add oilve oil and salt and mix. Stir in the flour until well blended, you may need more flour than the recipe calls for but don't use too much or else your dough won't move around like it should. Roll dough out on a flt surface with some cornmeal on the bottom for added crunch to the crust

White Pizza recipe:

2 cups whole or part skim ricotta cheese

2 garlic cloves

a handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped

2 cups grated provolone or mozzarella cheese (I use a combo of both)

1 cup of grated parmigiano reggiano cheese

hot pepper flakes and fresh basil (optional)

Grate the garlic into the ricotta cheese and stir to combine. Mix in the parsley. Drizzle olive oil over pizza crust and spread cheese mixture on top. Top with grated cheeses and bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes or until crispy. Top with hot pepper flakes and fresh basil if desired.

And a lovely summer vegetable salad to go along with it:

Sliced cucumber

tomatoes cut into bite size pieces

feta cheese

garbanzo beans

fresh lemon juice

olive oil

Mix all the above ingredients together and season with garlic salt, celery salt and some pepper. mmmmmm... and so easy!

Beautiful Bounty

I love summer because I love my garden and being able to share my bounty with others.