Please Pray for Gabriella

Please pray for sweet darling Gabriella. She is only 4yo (born the same month and year as Clay). She is awaiting a heart transplant and has suffered a stroke. You can offer your words of support at her mother's blog, Gabriella's Heart.

While I was typing this, Reedy ran in crying with a boo-boo for me to kiss on his arm. Right now, Gabriella's mother would probably give anything in this world to just be able to kiss away her little one's pains. Remember to thank God for your children and for their health.

Fall Decorating (on the cheap!)

Adding little touches of Fall to the house...inexpensively

Using what I already had - the candle, stones & holder from last year's Christmas centerpiece; shells and a small foam pumpkin from the Dollar Tree

A thrifted bowl, more Dollar tree pumpkins and pine cones from the yard

First Day of Fall

Last Day of Summer

Ah...sweet Summer memories!

Goodbye Summer. Till next year!

Reached Our Baby Step 3 Goal

With Dave's unemployment finally coming in, we were able to reach our initial Baby Step 3 emergency fund goal last week! And as usual with us, Murphy showed up to help us celebrate. More car trouble. But this time, it was an inexpensive fix - a new battery for the van. Since we are still in the midst of our "storm cloud", we are going to continue adding to the emergency fund for now. Then we'll move onto increasing retirement and college savings and paying extra on our mortgage (which Dave is really excited about!). So that's where we currently are on our journey of financial peace and freedom - sorta, kinda, not really finished with Baby Step 3 :)

Money Saving Mom - Monthly Financial Check Up

A Second Chance

We've all had moments where we've regretted an action - or inaction. Spoke too soon or with an unkind spirit. Most times, we're only left with our regrets and thoughts of what we could have, should have done differently. That's why today, I feel like I've been witness to a small miracle.

Remember when I wrote about missing an opportunity to provide a meal for a sick co-worker? God had placed a call to service on my heart but I delayed in responding. Well today as I opened my email at work, there was another request for meals! This time, I promptly replied that I would fill both dates if they were still available. Somehow in the short time I replied to the first email, another was sent saying only one date was left. So I picked up the phone and called to claim the remaining date!

Thank you God for giving me a second chance to answer Your call!

Share what you're thankful for today - visit Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday.

There's Gonna Be A Heartache Tonight

Kyle Busch finds himself in an unlikely spot - on the outside of the top 12 looking in. If he's going to make the Chase, he'll have to do it at tonight's race in Richmond. Go Kyle!

September 11th

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

~ Saint Francis of Assisi

A Do Nothing Kind of Day

The kids playing on a swing set gifted to us by neighbors. It's showing its age, but it's still sturdy enough for hours of play in the backyard.

9 Years Ago...