My New Signature!

I made a new signature!  I'm not too sure if I really like it though.  I was just messing around.  I just taught myself a little about HTML code by trial and error.  Some words/names look really good with some fonts, some don't.  In this case, my name doesn't look good...I had to capitalize the "K" because it was cutting it off.  Okay, I'm exiting Nerdville now...back to paying the bills.  I hope everyone has an AWESOME day! 

Happy Independence Day!

This is the point at which I should add a bit of history about the 4th of July and remind you about this great nation we live in, and how privileged we are to be free, etc., etc.  You get it.  You know this stuff already.  So I'll just skip it!  Just remember to REMEMBER please!  Okay, so I hope your day was SUPER-FANTABULOUS!!!  We got really ADVENTUROUS and must have been suffering from some form of temporary insanity that affects the decision-making process due to sleep-deprivation and decided to take the kids to a Drive-In Movie.  Yeah, I know...
WHAT were we THINKING!!! 
Why were we willing to risk our sanity for such an adventure you ask?  TOY STORY 3 & THE KARATE KID...all in ONE night!!!  And what a great experience...they've never done this before!  Plus, we love our kiddos so much!  It really did sound like a good idea, but we should have known it was a recipe for disaster though...
1.  2 little girls who can't sit through movies in public
2.  1st movie started at 9pm!!!
3.  Past the baby's bedtime! 
4.  We got there at flippin' 7pm! (We wanted to make sure we got tickets...we weren't aware that we couldn't leave once we purchased them...vehicle had to stay!)
Don't ask me if I liked TOY STORY 3...I don't remember much of it!  We chased the baby all over the place and the other little girl was in and out of the car every 2 seconds!  It was hot and sticky and I think some of the reason was because I got that nervous sweat that parents sometimes break out in when their kids are going BONKERS!!!  Don't ask me if I liked THE KARATE KID either...we DIDN'T stay!!!  We probably peeled out when we left!  I'm sure our tires were squealing! No, we probably left so fast people's heads were spinning!  No, we probably left so fast we traveled faster than the speed of light!  Amazingly though, the kids LOVED it!  They had a lot of fun...the 3 who can talk told us!  They loved the movie and it was a fun experience.  They absolutely loved watching a movie outside.  Hey, it's all about the EXPERIENCE, right?!!  I'm glad Hubby and I could lose our minds for a few hours for our little Loves!!!  For that my Friend, it was worth it!  This 4th of July will definitely stand out and go down in our memories as another great family adventure!  :)

Frugal Tip #1

Have girls?  Here's a tip.  As you're building their wardrobe throughout the year, consider dresses.  I'm not talking about anything formal or super dressy, but the cute little cotton or knit kind.  They can be so versatile.  (More on the versatility later!)  Consider the price of a dress, which can be one full outfit vs. buying a top AND a bottom piece to make a complete outfit.  Sometimes it can be much cheaper!  I really love dresses on little girls, and my little girls wear a lot of them!  So what's my fave dress spot for my girls?  Target!  In the little girls section (up to size 5T), I usually find them at an average of about $6-$12 for plain simple basic little dresses.  Slap a bow in their hair, and WAHLAH!!!  You can't beat that for one FULL outfit, right!  And don't get me started on their clearance section...a hoarder's dream!  You can stock up and buy for next season a whole wardrobe for what you'd pay regularly for just a few outfits!  YAHOO!!!  Now go...toot your bugle!

Freedom!

Happy Flag Day! As I think about our Nation's Flag, I think about the freedom we are privileged to have. It truly should be celebrated and remembered! Our flag reminds me that the road to our freedom was paved for you and I, and I am so grateful! I often think about one such freedom as we're driving to church on Sunday mornings. With four small children now, it seems like it's more of a struggle to just make it out the door. And forget being on time! But I always remind myself that I have been granted the freedom to go and worship while many people are persecuted for their faith. We have so many freedoms in our wonderful country that many others in the world simply don't have. We are a blessed nation!  My heart is filled with such gladness!

Today we are also celebrating the birthday of one of the most awesome people I've ever known...my youngest brother, Jonathan. (I could seriously write a book about him...hopefully I will someday!) He is with the Lord now, but he would be celebrating his 26th Birthday with us.  He would've been 26...I cannot believe it! We all miss him so much, and it's hard to believe he's been away for 8 years now. It seems like forever ago, yet seems like just yesterday. I often wonder how things would be if he was still here with us. I feel like he's missed so much of our lives. I think about how he might have looked as a young man...what he'd be doing today...his future...  I always thought he would've made a great husband and father.  He was so loving and had such a tender and compassionate spirit.

I am sad. My heart is heavy. His life was so short...17 years. But I am thankful too. It's bittersweet. I know that although we miss him terribly, he is experiencing true freedom. He is free from his earthly body, from sickness, pain...free to be fully in the Holy presence of our God, to enjoy all the beauty and wonderment of Heaven, to wholly experience Christ's love without earthly limitation, to know NOT in part.

(1 Cor. 13:12 "Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." )

He is free to be with the lover of his soul, the one who loves him more than any of us could ever have the capacity to. He is free to be in the place that was prepared for him by his Father.

(John 14:2-4 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.")

My heart is happy for these things. There is no greater joy than to be in the presence of God! Yes, my heart aches for Jonathan, but I can't help but remember the freedom he's enjoying now. I often whisper a prayer to God to tell him that we love him and we miss him. I talk to Him a lot about Jonathan and it helps, because I know he's with Him. We are now separated, but still connected through Christ, who gave up His life so that we could experience true freedom. As with our blessed nation, freedom always comes with a price. Christ paid the price for our freedom. He conquered death for us, so that we could live and enjoy our lives! His death set us free from the law of sin and death. I could go on and on! I am so thankful for this. When this sadness comes, it never really stays too long because I remind myself of where he is now and who he's with. A precious child of God born June 14, 1984, received by Heaven March 19, 2002. What a privilege God granted me to be his sister. What an honor. Thank you, Jesus.

We bake a cake each year to celebrate and talk to the kids about Jonathan. I know they would've loved their uncle so much! (Garrison was only 3 months old at the time, and Abri was 3 and barely remembers him.) We usually make his favorite...chocolate! But this year we made a flag cake since his birthday is on Flag Day. I am a horrible cake maker! My cakes usually taste great, but I could use some help in the decorating department! I'll have to share some photos of my cake disasters some day. We all pitched in to decorate this one, and it wasn't too bad! 

Happy Birthday, Jonathan!!!

 

Rev. 1:5(b)-6 "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-to Him be the glory and power for ever and ever!"

The house is quiet.  I should really be sleeping.  It's 12:30.  Uhhh...that's A.M.!!!  I could swear I'm allergic to sleep.  I'm allergic to nearly everything on the planet, so it 's possible...right?!!  I am tired, but I'm staying up to watch something.  I don't really even watch much t.v.  No time for it.  But while I was nursing Lily tonight I decided to channel surf and came across something ever so delightful.  The problem was that it wasn't coming on until 12:30.  Yes!  A.M.!!!  No problem, I set the DVR to record it.  Except I really want to watch it now.  Why you ask?  (And I know you were asking!)  Because Silly, it's House Hunter's International.  And guess what this episode is about?  Yes, you guessed it...SPAIN!  I couldn't resist.  This is where our family wants to move.  No, really!  Hubbers applied for a position in Rota, Spain.  We're praying.  Waiting.  You just never know.  So of course I just have to watch.  I'm excited!  I'm relishing the moment.  Then afterward, I'm heading to bed.  Early soccer game tomorrow.  Night night!

TARGET LOVE and A FEW SIMPLE RULES

I have a confession to make.
Okay, so I admit it.  I'm in LOVE with...

C'mon, do you blame me?  Super cuteness wrapped up in one place!  It's a recipe for trouble!  And these little boogers give me 4 more reasons to shop there!

  WHEW!  

4 more reasons it's harder to resist!
Now let me give you another...
This girl!

P

Please don't be fooled by this sweet innocent face.  She's DANGEROUS!  Why, you ask???  She asks me to go.  Did you hear me?  ASKS ME TO GO!!!  What's a mother to do?  I'll tell you...take her sweet innocent daughter to Target what else?!!        

I try to be so good.  I won't go there for days...DAYS I tell ya!  Then...I start getting this funny feeling.  Maybe you get it too.  A feeling like, "I HAVEN'T BEEN TO TARGET IN DAYS!!!"  Do you get that feeling sometimes?  Am I the ONLY one?
I have a theory.
There's a big, HUGE magnet somewhere in that store.

I think it's IN the BULLSEYE.  Think about it!  Huh?  Make sense?  Only...this magnet attracts people!  (Especially ones that look like me and have the name NIKI! ;)  Seriously!  It attracts metal AND people!!!  Those clever Target folks are probably using some type of mind control.  Think about it now.  How many times have you been driving along with a LONG list of errands...when ALL OF A SUDDEN you change course!  Just like that, and you find yourself on your way to TARGET!  Some lame excuse pops in your head.  It doesn't make any sense whatsoever, BUT...IT WORKS!  And...it feels SO GOOD!!!  'Cause you're on your way to TARGET...AND...you have a REASON to be going!  So when your hubby calls you on your cell and asks, "what store are you in today?"  You can PROUDLY tell him, "I'm at TARGET, BUT...(fill in the blank here with your lame excuse!)  Works like a charm!!!  Really, I do it all the time and my hubby still loves me!!!  

Here's my latest story in a nutshell...

 Going to a movie night with my Bible study gals (M.O.M.'s group-I Love ya'll!).  On the way, I figure I need some sinus meds.  My solution...TARGET!  Understand?  Let me break it down for you.  It's simple math.  Really!

Girls Movie Night + Sinus Meds + NO CHILDREN, NO, NOT A SINGLE ONE = TARGET

Make sense?  I was on my way to the movie night.  I decided that I needed to buy some sinus medicine.  (I really was suffering from a sinus headache!)  I had no children with me, so I could get in and out so quickly I told myself.  The more I thought about it (BEWARE...they use MIND CONTROL!), the more the car just drove towards TARGET...it's the MAGNET!  THE MAGNET I TELL YOU!  Let me break it down with another math lesson...

CAR=BIG HONKIN' HUNK OF METAL

DRIVING + BULLSEYE (I'm not going to metion any names here...TARGET)=ATTRACTION & LESS MONEY!!!

Maybe there's a bit of Science going on here too.  I can't explain it.  3O minutes later, I'm walking to the parking lot with at least 3 bags in my hands!  TERRIBLE!  I was just going to watch a movie, People.  A MOVIE!  How does it happen?  Well it all goes back to the MAGNET and MIND CONTROL.  True, it's just my little theory, but I can no longer suffer in silence.  I must tell the world, particularly the women of the world to please BEWARE of this evil beast TARGET!  This sweet, deliciously, super-cute evil beast that I oh-so-love.  It's POWERFUL!!!  Don't go in there, I BEG of you, please!  For the love of your husband, your wallet, your dear sweet children...

WAIT!  Those are all GREAT reasons to go...oh no, stop!  Wait, go...RUN...run to TARGET!  Run like the wind...to the BIG RED BULLSEYE.  It's calling you...do you hear it?  But please, DO NOT look immediately to your right when you walk through those sweet precious double doors that open so nice and automatically for you!  PLEASE DON'T!  For if you do, you will have one more lame excuse to come to TARGET...

 

STARBUCKS! 

We just won't go there!

TARGET + STARBUKS= DOUBLE THE TROUBLE AND EVEN LESS MONEY!

What clever genius person thought to put a STARBUCKS store inside TARGET?!!  Evil...pure evil I tell you!  I'm not even a regular coffee drinker, and I just can't resist!  Got another theory for you...

The TARGET people and the STARBUCKS people are working together!  Think about it!  C'mon now...why else would STARBUCKS be inside TARGET?  It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out!  And get this...my theory...hear me out...the lady on the STARBUCKS sign...she's helping out with that mind control thing!  SERIOUSLY!  Have you ever seen her?  Sure you have...every time you get a cup of that sweet goodness you can't help but stare at the logo and wonder, "what the crap is she all about?"  I'm telling you, they're working together.  BEWARE!  The first time you walk through the doors and look to the right (DON'T DO IT!), and you see STARBUCKS and take a big whiff of that fresh brewed goodness...you will find yourself mindlessly walking through the TARGET doors and grabbing your cup of Joe and things will start flying into your basket at the speed of light!  WATCH OUT!  Don't let me get started on the Clearance stuff!  Okay, enough of my madness.  I really do have a problem.  If you love me, here are some ways you can help me (or someone you know...or yourself!).

A FEW SIMPLE RULES:

 1. Please DON'T tell me you got it at TARGET!

2. PLEASE don't tell me you got it on CLEARANCE at TARGET!

3.  If I ask where you got it and it's from TARGET, don't lie to me (I hate lies), just ignore the question...I'm easily distracted...quickly start a new subject and talk really fast!

4.  Please NEVER ask me to go to TARGET with you!  We will no longer be friends...seriously...you won't like me anymore.  No really, I don't know when to leave.  I stay way too long!  For friendships' sake, please just DON'T!

5.  Please don't ask me to go to the STARBUCKS in TARGET.  C'mon...we know what that will lead to...SHOPPING!  Need I say more?

6.  Call me occasionally.  If I don't answer my home phone, QUICKLY call my cell phone.  Ask me if I'm at TARGET.  If I am, tell me to leave.  :)

7.  Put my cell phone # on speed dial.  Thanks! ;)

AND...MOST IMPORTANTLY...

8. NEVER, EVER bring up TARGET in a conversation with me...or anyone near me that's within earshot!  It causes me to get that feeling...you know the one...where "I haven't been to TARGET in a while...hmmm!"   

And the cycle continues!!!

Okay, I'm sure my husband (and yours) will thank you if you follow these simple rules.  

The madness has to stop, People.  I can't go on like this.  I've become a "if I don't find it at one TARGET, I'll go to the 2 other TARGETS to get it in the same day," kind of gal.  I've got it bad I tell ya!  Is there a cure for this?  Seriously.  There is a worker at the TARGET by my house (4 minutes up the road...I've timed it!).  It's gotten this bad...this worker will see me sometimes once or twice a week and still ask, "Where have you been?  I haven't seen you in here latlely."  Yeah, they know me...they know my kids...they know how often I come.  Scary!  I'm wondering if there are others out there like me?  Don't suffer in silence.  We can talk about this!  If you're interested, maybe we can go shopping at TARGET and discuss it over a cup of WHITE CHOCOLATE MOCHA!!!  HA! ;)  

(Ya'll know I'm kidding, right?  I just love TARGET that's all!)

Go now.  Grab some coffee.  Shop.  Look at all the Clearance spots.   

Be Happy!

Please feel free to comment or tell me about your own TARGET stories.  I'd love to hear from you!

Dose of Hope

My heart is so heavy tonight for those who are 

sick, 

hurting, 

 less fortunate, 

sad, 

the flood victims, 

any victim, 

this world gone astray...

LORD please give us HOPE.  

You have the answers.  

You ARE the answer.  

We need YOU!

 For those who are sick,

I pray you may be healed.

I Peter 2:24
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

If you're hurting,

I pray you find comfort.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through His grace (unmerited favor), comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them (make them steadfast and keep them unswerving) in every good work and word..."

If you're in need of HOPE,

my prayer is this...

Romans 15:13 

"May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope." 

And I pray you'll say... 

Psalm 71:14 

"But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more."
And for my heavy heart tonight,
I remind myself...
Psalm 45:3
"Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my [sad] countenance, and my God."

 

Word to the Mothas!

To all of you Mom's out there who can totally relate, I dedicate this video to you!  It's really cute! You know this is what you've been thinking all along...the Sienna folks probably took the words right out of your mouth!  

Happy Mother's Day!

Enjoy!

Birthday Stuff and more CrAZy Stuff

Kaylani had a wonderful time at her  

Build-A-Bear Party!  

It was kind of crazy and chaotic, but she had fun!  I think I kind of like

CrAzY CHaOs!

My life feels like it's full of it.  I feel like a camera crew should be following us around.  That would be some good television!  There's never a dull moment in our household that's for sure!  But I love it! 

Seriously, what would life be like if everything was perfect?  My life is far from perfect (contrary to popular belief!)  Ha!  Just kidding!  But I really do love it, and I'm so blessed and so thankful.  Now back to the
CrAzY CHaOs! 

 I will hopefully post some birthday pictures sometime in the next decade!  My dear husband recently called me a "picture hog."  Can you believe that?  A picture hog?!  Actually, I must confess I am guilty of taking enough pictures to annoy the crap out of any sane person, child, animal, or object...and those same pictures never get past the save button on my computer!

So to all of those whom I've excitedly snapped tons of pictures of...which they've never gotten the pleasure of ever seeing...

I'm so so very sorry...a very BiG SORrY.  

It must be all of the

CrAzY CHaOs!

&

 CrAzY CHaOs!

But don't worry...

I will get those to you someday! 

Someday...ah yes, someday!

I can't believe my sweet angel girl is 4!

FOUR!!!

Always remember this...

"It's not a sandwich, it's a Tortada! 
(What the crap is a Tortads btw?)

Word to your Mutha!

No seriously, Sunday IS

Mother's Day!
Don't forget about yo Mommas!

I love me some my Momma!

(Hi, Mom!  Look I'm on t.v.!  I mean computer!)

Okay, I better go to bed before you start to worry about me!

Toodles!

 

Happy Birthday, Kaylani!

 My sweet precious little angel girl is turning four soon!  I can't believe it!  What a little treasure God has blessed us with!!!  I love her so much! 

I saw/heard this song and thought I'd dedicate it to my little (soon-to-be) four-year-old girl!  I could just cry.  I am truly blessed to know her and oh so very thankful that God chose her to be our little girl!

I know God has wonderful plans for her life and I'm excited to see how it all unfolds.  She is so unique and FULL of Life!  She loves BIG, gives BIG, dreams BIG...makes BIG LOUD noises on a regular basis... makes BIG HUGE messes all the time...but I love EVERY single bit of her a WHOLE LOT!!!!