Friday for Friends- Automobile Meme

Sometimes on Fridays I try to remember my friends in the blogoshere, either by playing along when they tag me (like today) or just by blogging something with them in mind. This really helps me share some Linky Love as well.

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Kimberly at Altering Life started this Meme and tagged me over a year ago and I am just playing along now. When she tagged me I saved the post knowing I would eventually do it, so here I go... this was a fun one.

Here are the rules...

1. List all the vehicles you've ever owned, including photos. (I googled mine)
2. Tag four other people. (Don't forget to tell them you tagged them)

Simple huh?

#1 - I can't remember if my hubby still had this car when we were married, but I know he had it when we knew we belonged together :). I really liked this car, the long front end was perfect for my long/tall 6ft 3" hubby.

It was a 1984 Buick Riviera...

#2 - Then my hubby ended up driving around in my car that was like a matchbox to him. This was my first car. My uncle gave it to me in high school before I could even drive. I'm pretty sure my dad put off teaching me because he wanted to use my car and did not want to hand it over. So I got my friend to teach me after I turned 18 - I got my license - I showed my dad and took my truck from him.

I couldn't find the pictures we took after someone hit it while parked out in front of our house. But I did find a scrapbooked paper piecing of it from my honeymoon album :)

This was our little 1989 Toyota pick-up...

... yes someone hit our PARKED car! God totally used it for good though. We were pregnant with baby number one and this car obviously had no room for a carseat!

We needed a different car and were praying for exactly that - a "different" car. So God - with His sense of humor - let this car get totaled so we could use the money from it to buy a "DIFFERENT" car :). Be careful what you ask for. It was a great truck - thank you Big R!

#3 - Obviously this is the car we bought in place of the totaled pick-up truck. It belonged to my sister-in-law. Totally perfect timing, she was looking to sell it and our truck money gave her the perfect amount. This was our first "family car" :).

It was a 1997 Mercury Sable...

#4 - While we had the previous car we got pregnant with baby number two and eventually number three. We decided we needed two cars. So we prayed for "another" car. Well... I told you before - God and His sense of humor - be careful what you ask for! He gave us "ANOTHER" car. This one came from friends who had it on their heart to GIVE us their car, totally God!!!

Another 1997 Mercury Sable (just a different color - lol)...

... we got rid of the white Sable back in 2008 and just this week got rid of the blue Sable as well.

#5 - Back in February of this year - when our blue Sable was giving out on us - we went and bought our first newer car! We needed a bigger car anyway, with baby number four on the way soon, not everyone would have fit in the Sable together.

We got a 2009 Chrysler Town and Country...

... this being my first van I was really afraid I would miss my trunk, but the back here is actually one of my favorite parts. It's nice and open so I can still see and talk to the kids, but it is also not closed in where I am prone to using it as a trash can!!!

... but my WAY favorite part is the fact that we can practically turn this thing into a pick-up! The second and third row seats all go into the floor! My hubby actually picked up a used tv armoire for me with the van - I LOVED it!


Only 5 cars on my list over an eleven year span. You're right Kimberly my list is smaller than your 12 car list! :) Ps. I loved your husband's little LeCar, LOL!!!!

Now onto tagging others to play, shall we?

1. Jeannette at Counting our Blessing
2. Lisa at Sweet Chatter that Matters
3. Rebecca at His Wifie and Their Mommy
4. Tracy at Tracy's Treasures
5. Melanie at Through our Children's Eyes

Oops - I tagged one too many - well maybe that will make up for being a year late!

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I also wanted to add some photos from our new van experience. I may not have pics of my cars, but I have pics of the people in them :).

This is my daughter the night we bought the van being pre-occupied with gum and a giant balloon...

... and my son being pre-occupied with paper :)...

... other my younger daughter being pre-occupied with Daddy :)!...

... and Daddy being pre-occupied with me?... no - I am happy he's still smiling at me at this point... with all the attitude he puts up with! Sorry hunny and thank You Lord for a patient, understanding (and cute) husband...

Here's JJ on our way home in the new Van - way in the back - she seemed kinda lonely...

Here's our silly boy happy to be in his new seat...

And Mini was excited too...

This is Daddy in the new van about a month after we got it on our way home from Jr. High Winter Camp...

And here I am on my way to my sister's house with the kids :)...

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Added for some laughs...

Mmm! Musical Mom Meme

Here's another game I as tagged with back in February of '09... thank you Linda.

This one was really quite fun! And I am actually glad it took me so long to play along, because now I have more music than I would have a year ago :).

Instructions:

1. Put your iPod (MP3 player or iTunes) on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag some Moms you admire who could use a laugh and a song.

If you wanna play consider yourself tagged. Then let me know so I can come peek at the way your music writes your story as a mom! :)

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1. HOW DID YOU BECOME A MOM?
   Marathons (lol - they do compare childbirth to running a marathon :)



2. WHAT DID YOU THINK THE FIRST TIME YOU SAW YOUR BABY?
   I Give you my Heart (Totally and completely perfect!)



3. WHAT DID YOU DO THE FIRST MORNING AFTER A SLEEPLESS NIGHT?
   Comatose (Meaning inactive, lethargic, sluggish - another perfect one - lol)



4. WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN SOMEONE COLORS ON THE WALL?
   King of Glory (Not sure how that one would work for me, because I certainly wouldn't take His name vain.)



5. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH A TODDLER’S BODILY FLUID ISSUES?
   I'm Never Alone (This one made me smile - He is always here with me to help me handle the difficult things in life... and every mom has to deal with very sam thing :)



6. IF SOMEONE SAYS “Can I have a snack?” YOU SAY?
   Famous One (How do YOU think this applies??? - like "no, nice try kid!"?)



7. IF SOMEONE LEAVES THEIR STUFF ON THE FLOOR, YOU SAY?
   A Whole New World (Is what it could be if we could see the floor and not trip on toys.)
   



8. IF SOMEONE ISN’T SICK TODAY, YOU SAY?
   Everyday (I don't "say" it, I pray it! Lord please could they not be sick EVERYDAY?)
   



9. HOW DO YOUR KIDS ENJOY YOUR COOKING?
   Things of This World (They pass away like the song says, we need to be thankful for what we have no matter what quality it is.)
   



10. HOW DID YOUR KIDS DO IN SCHOOL TODAY?
    Contact (That's a good start :)
    



11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHILE SITTING IN CARPOOL LINE?
    Satisfied in You (So true, the car is where it is always so easy to remind myself that God's overwhelming good overcomes my puny bad.)
    



12. HOMESCHOOLERS, WHAT IS THE FIRST SUBJECT TAUGHT OF THE DAY?
    Don't Stop Dancing (A-men!)
    



13. WHAT DO YOUR KIDS WANT TO BE WHEN THEY GROW UP?
    Low Rider (LOL)
    



14. WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR KIDS TO BE WHEN THEY GROW UP?
    Love is a Verb (A-men again!)
    



15. WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY AS A MOM?
    Love Song for a Savior (I am blessed to think God let this song come up to encourage me that He is blessed by me as a mother :)
    



16. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE AS A MOM?
    Breathe (Just breathe :)
    



17. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO AS A MOM?
    With Arms Wide Open (A-men again again, WOW!)
    



18. HOW DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE REALLY A MOM?
    Burn for You (I am nothing without Christ who strengthens me and I know it is all real when I feel that strength burning through me.)
    



19. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MOST OFTEN AS A MOM?
    Go Your Own Way (If I went my own way it would be a bunch of lonely days.)
    



20. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY AS A MOM?
    Gone (Hopefully I am not absent as a mom... but more true to the song that I would live each day if it were my last, Carpe Diem, "you never know what you got till it's gone".)
    



21. WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET AS A MOM?
    Baby be Mine ("and girl I'll give you all I got to give" - I regret my laziness and not giving it my all.)
    



22. WHAT IS THE BEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE AS A MOM?
    He Works (I let God work on me and through me.)
    



23. WHAT DO YOUR KIDS DO THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
    First Love (My daughter's first crush is one of our old youth boys and it always makes us laugh when she says she's going to marry him and that she loves him - in our opinion she couldn't pick anyone better!)
    



24. WHAT DO YOUR KIDS DO THAT MAKES YOU CRY?
    Here I Go Again (Sometimes I get frustrated and cry when they don't listen and I have to tell them a million times.)
    



25. WHAT DO YOUR KIDS DO THAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
    Since I Met You (When they get older I am scared that they will have nothing to show unless they turn to the Lord.)
    



26. HOW DO YOUR KIDS DESCRIBE YOU AS THEIR MOM?
    L-O-V-E (This is a very sweet answer if you know this song... and I only hope they see me as very loving, sometimes I feel it is the only thing I get right.)
    



27. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
    I Dreamt of Edward (Oh dear - I gotta get those Twilight songs off my computer - or at least make up my own name for them :)
    



28. WHAT WILL YOUR MOM OF THE YEAR CERTIFICATE SAY?
    I Wanna be Just like You (A-men - I wanna be like Jesus.)

*I tried to get a clip of as many of my songs as possible so you could hear them if you wanted to see what song I am talking about. Some of them are not the same artist I own, but you get the point. Others like 18, 23 and 28 aren't even available. 18 was a song my friend Bethany wrote (beautiful), 23 is a (GREAT) song by a band that is no longer around called Footstool and 28 is by another old group called Go Fish.

What does your purse look like?

This was a post I saw on my friend Alicia's blog and I thought it would be a fun one to play along with. If you want to play as well, go ahead, because I won't tag anyone this time :).

Here are the rules!

1. Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you cannot go up to your closet and pull out that cute little purse you used back before you had kids. I want to know what you carried today.
2. I want to know how much it cost :) And this is not to judge, because I’m honestly telling you I was ready to put down some cash; I just got lucky. This is for entertainment purposes only. So spill it. And if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, I’d love to hear it.
3. Tag some chicks. And link back to this post so people know why the heck you’re showing everyone your diaper bag/non-diaper bag.

This is the bag I was carrying a year ago, back when I bookmarked this post to play along with.
It was probably under $20. It's from Target and I bought it because I wanted something bigger that I could use as both "purse" and "diaper bag"...

This is the smaller one I would use when I wasn't out with the babies. It was a hand-me-down from my sister-in-law which is how I got most of my bags...

...Till I bought this one! I love my current purse! It's my POP of color and it even fits a couple extra things for the kiddos in there when needed! I bought it shopping in San Francisco with my close, good friend. It's from H&M and it was probably under $30...
The other thing I like about it is when the kids spill something on it - which has happened many times - I can just wipes it off with a baby wipe and wha-la! :)

A Year and a Half Later

... I am playing along with another Meme I was tagging with.

This one is vEry similar to the last one I did. I have to share 6 random things about myself. Ahorne who tagged me posted her 6 things here at The Testosterone Palace. As as it seems I have posted 7 random things and 8 random things before for different tags. The numbers are going down :).

1. I quote movies in everyday conversations...
   
   - "What an incredible smell you've discovered!" Han Solo - Star Wars
   
   
   - "As you wish" Wesley - The Princess Bride
   
   
   
   - "Maybe I will, Gosh!" - Napoleon Dynamite
   
   
   
   - "No Touchie!" Kuzco - The Emperor's New Groove
   
   
   
   - "Too close, a little too close!" Merchant - Aladdin
   
   
   
   - "Sor-rry!" Ron Wilson, Bus Driver - Sky High
   The list could go on.... :)
   
   
   
2. I was in choir for 6 years back in Jr. High and High School...
   
   
3. I used to operate roller coasters at an amusement park...
   
   
4. I think dreadlocks are beatiful and have thought of locking my hair many times.
   
   
   
5. I am getting impatient waiting for the day I can get to my sister's house for her to take pics of my kiddos. Especially when I see how good she is getting - I mean she started with a great eye - but look at how cute this is!...
   
   
6. I just ate a great turkey and salami sandwich, with lettuce, tomato, pepper jack cheese and the most amazing dill pickle! :) That random enough???

   

Now I have to tag 6 others to share 6 random things.
I would like to learn more about my fellow CTMH Consultants, so I will tag some of them...

1. Jamie at A Happy Scrappy Place
2. Leisa at Big Red Scraps
3. Barbra at Can't Stop Dreaming
4. Dina at Dina Loves 2 Scrap
5. Cheryl at Even More Scrapping
6. Emily at Faith Hope and Art

Finally playing along

I have been tagged by Schotzy from Wings of Eages to list 5 things I love.

I was tagged over a year and a half ago but I bookmarked it and am FINALLY playing along!

1. I love that I managed to program the universal remote we got ages ago and haven't figured out how to use - till now! :)



2. I love that my hubby wants to sell a game system and a ton of games before he gets more.
3. I love that I found a pattern to crochet a cozy for my new compact camera.
   
   (I was looking on Etsy to buy a cute case, but then I remembered something from my good friend's blog that struck a cord... "Since I’m at at home momma, I think it’s important for me to contribute to our family by making our single income stretch out as far as it can." - so even if it's only saving $30-something from a camera cozy when you already spent $200-something on the new camera... it's a start!!! :)
   
   The pattern I found was even on another promising blog - Slugs on the Refrigerator - I altered the pattern a bit since I wanted to use the cozy for a camera not an iphone :) but it was simple and perfect! My ring of single crochets was only 15 stitches, to make it less wide. I didn't complete as many rows, so I could make it shorter...
   
   
   
   

   I also made my closure tab thinner and longer :)...

   
   
   

   I added a snap under the button since my button was too big to make a hole for...

   
   
   

   And I love it!!!)... that's right - things I love - back to the game......

   


4. I love that I can order from Close to my Heart on a Tuesday and it comes Friday that SAME week! I ordered 4 times since January and all the packages were shipped to me within the same week!!! :)
5. I love that I have a husband who is capable of unconditional love.

And finally many moons later I say...

TAG! YOU'RE IT!!! :)....

1. Jayma - Playing with Paper
2. Sarah - New Every Morning
3. Tonya - Heart and Soul Scrappers
4. Rebecca - His wifey and Their mommy
5. Kat - Slugs on the Refrigerator

I am a Queen???

Thanks Shelly for crowning me Awe-Summm :).

Here are the rules for playing along...

• List 7 things that make you Awe-Summ.
• Pass the award on to 7 bloggers you love.
• Make sure to tag your recipients to let them know they have won!
• Link back to the Queen that tagged you.

Now here are my 7 things that make me Awe-summ...

1. I love Jesus Christ with all my mind, soul and strength.
2. The Holy Spirit is with me, in me and upon me.
3. The Holy Spirit is the power that gets me through my days.
4. The Holy Spirit gives me fruit for life that make me loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.
5. I have a boldness for Christ and a heart for worship.
6. I know that nothing is possible without God.
7. I live in the hope and knowledge that Christ will not leave me how He found me, I am a work in progress - always under construction :).

Now to the ones I consider Awesome! I dub thee...

• Rebecca the Not so Desperate Housewife
• Angela at Free Spirit Haven
• See Saw - Focused on the Center
  
• Beth in NC
  
• L2L - Learn to Love and Love to Learn
  
• Natalie proclaiming - Jesus Saves
• Alicia with More than Words

Friday for Happy Mama

Okay! Back in August and October Happy Mama sent me some awards, and I am finally now blogging for her. Thank you Happy Mama for loving my blog and encouraging me to smile!!!

Now... that last award comes with some questions...

1. Do you have the same friends since childhood? Yes, but only one, and I LOVE her to pieces!!! :o) Here is a picture of her in middle school I think, but we've known each other since 2nd or 3rd grade.2. What do you value most about your friends? I love that they are real with me, if they were not we probably wouldn't get along the way we do :o)

3. Are your friends your sounding boards? One friend is mostly, my best friend = my hubby.

4. What is your favorite activity to share with your friends? hmmm... I'm not very active now-a-days but I would probably have to say CAMPING! :o) That's always been some of the best fellowship I can remember!
That first picture is from 2006 when my daughter was about 18 months old.

And those last two were from 2007 when JJ was 2 1/2 and B.Boy was 15 months or so!

Now I have to pass this onto 5 friends :o)...

Natalie

Alicia

Jenn

April

Mary

All of whom I know in real life! I am so blessed to actually have a handful of blogging friends now :o)!!

For a Dear Friend

My friend (IRL) Alicia from More than Words has tagged me three times and linked me other times on top of that and I am just now getting to it all! I'm sorry Alicia! I love you!

She even put this cute picture of us on her blog last month from a Christmas party we went to together. I love hangin' out with her and all her adorable kids, and she is such an example to me with 5, since I have a hard time with 3!


The first thing she tagged me with was back in November and I thought it was the best thing I've been tagged with yet - it has a recipe attached!....1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate 3 or more blogs.
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs telling them they've won an award!
6. Start preparing the bread starter (whenever you want)

Amish Friendship Bread Starter
It is very important to use plastic or wooden utensils and plastic or glass containers when making this. Do not use metal at all!

Ingredients:
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110°F)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar1 cup warm milk (110°F)

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes. Stir well.
2. In a 2 quart glass or plastic container, combine 1 cup sifted flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or the flour will get lumpy when you add the milk.
3. Slowly stir in warm milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Loosely cover the mixture with a lid or plastic wrap. The mixture will get bubbly. Consider this Day 1 of the cycle, or the day you receive the starter.
To the balance (a little over one cup) of the batter, add the following ingredients and mix well.
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs1 tsp vanilla

In a separate bowl combine the following dry ingredients and mix well:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar1-1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 - (5.1 oz) box instant vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup nuts
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix and pour into two well greased and sugared bread pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

If you keep a starter for yourself, you will bake every 10 days. The bread is very a good quick bread and makes a great gift.

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe
Day 1: Do nothing (This is the day you receive the batter, but go by the date on the bag).
Day 2: Mush the bag
Day 3: Mush the bag
Day 4: Mush the bagDay 5: Mush the bag
Day 6: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Mush the bag. Don't worry if the starter smells, it is fermenting.
Day 7: Mush the bag
Day 8: Mush the bag
Day 9: Mush the bagDay 10: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Stir. Take out 3 cups and place 1 cup each into three separate plastic containers. Give one cup and a copy of this recipe to three (real life) friends.


She also gave me a very cute and colorful award saying that...
"My blog is exceedingly charming. I am a kind blogger that aims to find, and be friends. I am not interested in self-aggrandizement. And my writing deserves more attention."

Thank you my dear!
(This award is supposed to be passed on to 8 others.)


The next Meme is a new one called Marvelous Musings!
And here are the guidelines....
1. In your post include a link back to the person who has tagged you.
2. Post one of your intriguing, or shocking, or challenging passage of scripture from the Bible showing scripture references (chapter and verse) with Bible version.
3. (Optional) You may choose to state what you currently understand it to mean; You may also encourage others to comment or share on what they understand that excerpt to mean.
4. Tag at least 5 or more new people to participate.

Here is my Musing to share:
Jesus died to save us, but He lives to keep us.
(this was my favorite quote as a baby christian in high school :o)

Picture Tag
This next Meme is not one she tagged me on, probably because I never played along before, but it was just on her blog the other day... hey I'll play!

1. Go to your 4th folder where you store your photos.
2. Select your 4th picture (no exceptions)!
3. Post the picture with an explanation and link it back to your tagger.
4. Tag 4 people to do the same!!

An explanation huh?! Oh dear! Well that's me in middle school playing around in my backyard with like my only, dearest, closest, bestest friend ever... I remember my sister came out with a camera and told us to pose or something... weirdos!!! :o) I must say though, I miss my friend and that backyard.

And now here are ALL the people I TAG!!!!.....

Jenn @ Our Adoption Journey

April @ Two in Blue

Rebecca @ A Not so Desperate Housewife

Karla @ Ainsley's Mom

Jill @ Live Laugh Blog

Ruth @ Life's Journeys

Creative Gal @ Creative Blessings

Amy @ Tiny Blessings

Jan @ Making Scrapbooks

Mocha with Linda

He and Me + 3

Trish @ My Creative Journey

Miss Sniz

Nell @ Casual Friday Everyday

Crumbs on my Floor

Heather @ Needles and Pens

The Happy Housewife

Michelle Pendergrass

Lisa @ Pockets of Time

Jenileigh's Journey

Now if you were tagged you do not have to do all the Meme's just pick one :o) Love you all - thanks for being my blogging friends!