Just ramblin'

We met with our new realtor Friday morning. We asked her to reduce our price, which she did. Hopefully that will get the ball rolling and get the house sold! I am getting VERY tired of living in a house that's for sale. Friday, we did a little re-arranging that Phyllis suggested. Basically just taking a leaf out of the dining table and moving a cabinet to another wall. It made our dining room look larger. We went ahead and packed up a few things that we don't need out all the time. That helped with a little clutter. Maybe our extra effort over the weekend will help!

I am really needing prayers for patience right now. It's so hard for me to know that I want to make a change, but it's not happening. Maybe God's saying no? But when everything else seems to be pushing us in the direction of change...

In other news, a week ago today we started potty training Meredith. After a rough start of being gone unexpectedly a couple of times, the kids being gone to Aunt Amy's while Momma went to the doctor, then Momma getting sick and sending the kids to Nanny's for a day...we finally got started good and strict on Saturday. After cleaning up more accidents that I cared to count, I think we had a breakthrough last night. For the first few successes, she acted like she didn't know what she'd done. But last night, she jumped up and started squealing and asking for "cammies" (candies - I've been treating her with M&M's). Today, she's only had 2 accidents! I am sure she'll love the fact that I'm blogging about this when she's 16, but I am so proud of her! :)

Tasty Tuesday

The recipe that I decided to post today is very special to me. It's a layered chocolate cake that my Grandma taught me to make when I was about 11 or 12 years old. It was the first layered cake I'd ever made, and that is such a special memory to me that I know I will remember for always. I hope you enjoy!

Ding Dong Cake

Chocolate Cake Mix, of your choice. Bake in layers, as directed. Cool. Cut each layer in half with a string, dental floss or thread.

Mix well:
1 stick butter, softened
8 ounce cream cheese, softened
12 ounces Cool Whip
16 ounce powdered sugar

Ice between layers of cake. Frost with your favorite chocolate icing.

Tasty Tues-err-Wednesday

Yesterday was a busy and crazy day, so I never did get a recipe posted. So, I'll just post it today! :) A little background on this recipe, my Mom had given me a bunch of recipe books not long after Will and I married. One of which was the 1984 Festive Foods. For my 19th birthday, Will found this recipe in that book, and made me dinner. We usually just went out for my birthday, but he decided to cook that year. It was so nice to just sit back, relax, not have to worry about dinner or clean up! When he said he was making meatloaf, my heart dropped. I don't like meatloaf! But, I couldn't tell HIM that! So I quietly dreaded dinner. When it was ready, I sat down at the table, he blessed the meal, we filled our plates, I took the first bite. This didn't taste like any meatloaf I'd ever had! It was filled with HAM and CHEESE! It was delicious! Since then, it's become one of our favorite meals. I made it last night for dinner. We had company over, and Will loves for me to tell people how I came across this recipe. :) I hope you all enjoy it!

Sicilian Meatloaf

2 pounds Ground Beef
3 Eggs, beaten
3/4 cup Bread Crumbs
1/2 cup Tomato Juice
1 Tablespoon Parsley
1/4 teaspoon Dried Oregano
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Pepper
1/8 teaspoon Garlic Salt
8 Thin Slices Ham
6 ounces Grated Mozzarella Cheese

Combine ground beef with eggs, bread crumbs, tomato juice, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper & garlic salt. Mis until well combined (I use my hands) On a piece of foil, about 15-inches long, pat mixture into a 12x10 inch rectangle. Arrange ham slices on top, leaving margin around edges. Sprinkle with cheese, reserving 1/2 cup. Carefully roll up meat, using foil to lift. Seal edges and ends. Place seam side down in 13x9" baking dish. Press down slightly. Bake 350* 1 hour 15 minutes.

I love to serve green beans, ceasar salad & rolls with it...Yummy! :)

Movies

Will's working late tonight, so I'm spending the evening with the twins. We can get Netflix streamed instantly onto our TV, and they just put up this movie:

It's a wonderful movie for little girls to watch! Its all about how true beauty is on the inside. We will definitely be adding this to our DVD collection soon!

A couple of months ago, the twins and I were out of town, and Will watched this movie:
He told me that I should watch it. Since he was working last night, I did. I have to admit that through the whole movie, I thought Will was playing a joke on me...not my kind of movie at all! But the ending brought tears to my eye...I think I gasped when I realized what was going on! I will put a disclaimer on it, this is NOT a movie for children! There is language, and LOTS of violence in it. It's not the kind of movie I would normally recommend, but the ending was so powerful! It touched me so much! I would like to watch it again, I think it's one you will get more and more out of each time you watch!

The frustrations of selling a house...

A real estate agent showed our house today. It's been a while, so I was thrilled to get a phone call this morning. We've been rather frustrated with our realtor. She was super nice when we met with her and signed our contract. At the beginning she was pretty good at keeping us informed on things with our house, even though there wasn't much to tell. Since we signed with her, 3 months ago, today was the 5th time it's been shown (and never by her). We've e-mailed her 3 times in the last 2 weeks and never heard back from her. We have talked about dropping our price a little, and can't get in touch with her to get that done! We found out over the weekend that she has pretty much quit the real estate business, and has become a teacher. Which is great for her. She's great with kids (Meredith loved her) and I know she can be very successful as a teacher. However, I'm pretty frustrated that we didn't get a telephone call!

This is the 2nd time that's happened to us. A few years ago, we tried to sell the house. We signed a contract with a different agent at a different company. Our agent retired not long after we signed with her. And we didn't get a phone call then either!

We are going to go to the company's office later this week to see what they'll do for us. I hope they'll either let us out from under our contract, or let us transfer the contract to another agent.

Please pray for us right now. We are wanting to sell the house and buy a larger house in the country to raise the kids. So we hope that they will be understanding with our frustrations, and get our house sold SOON!

EDIT: Will just got a phone call from our NEW agent! The agent we signed with finally e-mailed Will this afternoon (probably while I was blogging...lol) to let us know about her career change and to let us know that she is asking another agent be a co-agent on the listing. The new agent has over 20 years experience, so I hope she'll get it sold. We're meeting with our new agent Friday morning to discuss the details and we'll talk about reducing the price. Will mentioned it to her on the phone and she seemed to agree. I'm excited about this change, and hope that our new agent will get it SOLD! :)

Starting a Business?!

When the twins were first born, I wanted to get Meredith some of those big, crazy bows...you know the ones as big as her head? (Ok, maybe not THAT big...lol) I checked into buying some of them, and decided that I could make them for her. So I e-mailed a cousin of Will's who makes bows, and she sent me some how-to information. After several failed attempts, I finally got the hang of things...and I LOVE it! Meredith pretty much has a bow to go with every outfit, and if I get her something new that she doesn't have a bow to match, I'll just make her one! :) I've made some for friends with baby girls to give as gifts, and while I was wanting to make them to sell, I have always been overwhelmed by the thought. I've reciently had several people come to me to make some bows for their daughters. I have 1 order right now that I am working on, and others that I am waiting to hear back from. So it looks like I may be starting a business!!! Eek! I'm still overwhelmed by the thought, but I am going to just take it a day at a time.

Tasty Tuesday

Monster Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
12 oz chocolate chips
1 cup & 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
3 eggs
3/4 teaspoon light corn syrup
2 cups peanut butter
2 teaspoons soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 1/2 cup oats
1 package M&M's (Don't add to dough)

Mix all together. Drop on pan & mash down with 3 M&Ms per cookie. Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes per pan.

*I made these one Christmas with green & red M&Ms, and called them Grinch Cookies. :)

Enjoy!

John 13:1-17

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet: Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter said unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I was thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed needeth not save to was his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you: Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well: for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master., have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. John 13:1-17 KJV

As a special surprise to Lindsay (and many guests) Samuel washed Lindsay's feet at their wedding reception, while Matt read those verses from John.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnes

My little sister is now married!!! Samuel and Lindsay were married last Saturday, September 4th. They had a lovely wedding, and I was honored to be apart of it...and to have my babies be apart of it! I was so thankful that they did so well, and that they walked down the aisle, and even stood at the front for a few minutes! We had such a great time, lots of wonderful memories were made!!! Here are a few pictures from their special day...

Beautiful Bride

Handsome Groom

Flower Girl & Ring Bearer
(Meredith & Seth)

Parents of the Bride
(Gig & Paula)

Samuel's Mom (Annunziata) & Samuel

Mom (Paula), Lindsay, Dad (Gig)

Lindsay & Bridesmaids

(Jessica, Kayce & Nicole)

Samuel & Groomsmen

(Matt, Brett & Barry)

Wedding Party

Mr. & Mrs. Barnes

Wedding Shirts

My little sister is getting married on Saturday!!! She had shirts made for the bridesmaids and a few others for a girls night out (Pedicures & Dinner!!!) as well as the rehearsal/rehearsal dinner. I decided the twins couldn't be left out! So I went and got them each a shirt and iron-on letters and made them these shirts. I thought they turned out super cute!