tender mercy

I have been running errands all day long.

Got to Wal*Mart for one of the last ones, and paid for my goods, hopped in my car, and wouldn't you know it; the derned thing would. not. start.  

If you've been a fly on our wall, you'd know that we're having car issues all the way around over here.  BUT we're so blessed to have two cars...for convenience...and luckily at least one is always working.  

Anyways, back to my tender mercy...

The car parked directly in front of me (hood-to-hood) 's owner happened to get in his car as I got in mine.  For some blessed reason, he didn't quickly back up and go on his way as I've done leaving each parking lot today.

I got out, popped the hood to see if the battery was corroded (as we've had to wire-brush it off on occasion), but it looked clean to me...good thing, because I just cleaned out the car and put the wire-brush in the garage.

I got back in, and said a little prayer.  I had left the phone at home, and that was the only thing I thought to do...When I turned the key, the engine wouldn't turn over...really?  I prayed!   

Thankfully, this gentleman got out of his car, and asked if I needed help...and you can guess the rest.

Moral of the story:  Tender mercies.  Always be available to listen to the Spirit so you can help be somebody's tender mercy.  God answers our prayers, but it's usually through somebody else that he get's through to us.

the {bag}

Projects like THIS one (my sister's senior pictures) and THIS one (graduation announcements) have been on my bucket list, and are checked off.  I think we finally finished my sister's grad announcement, which isn't pictured in the group I linked to....it's a surprise, since I know our aunties and cousins read this.  *wink, wink*

Oh yeah...this is supposed to be about the {bag}. I LOVE how my bag turned out! I loved sewing it; simple, fast, and I did it while watching my friends' kids last week...well, they watched a movie during nap time while I sewed.  I didn't really follow any directions, but instead dreamed about it for three months, how I would put it together, and wouldn't you know it, it went together JUST LIKE A DREAM!

Finally got pictures of it today...

Yes.  That's my breakfast sitting on the table, still.  I had Turtle Cake, complements of a very dear friend.  Thank you Becky!  Ryan said to me as I was taking this picture, "That is an AWFUL background!"  Uh...  I have since washed the floor (and cupboards and walls) and done the dishes.  And I do agree with him...it's just hard to take a picture of yourself holding a bag, and I feel dumb asking him to take one...especially since I was still in my bathrobe when I took this.  *sigh*

I really need to work on my lighting skills...they kinda stink, but here you can see the fun make-up of the bag. I totally ditched the ruffles I had in mind.  I like it's geometric simplicity, which is what its designer, Renske, had in mind.   Afterall, she calls it the minimalist tote bag.  But nothing about me is minimalist...hence the lovely print!  (If you know anything about fabric, you'd appreciate that it was printed ON GRAIN!  You'd also be disgusted to find that after I washed it, I discovered it was cut OFF GRAIN by about 5 inches on each side=wasting 8 inches of good fabric. *sigh*)

Just because I'm in LOVE with the leather strap.  Thanks dad, for the scrap!  I think it might have been intended for the straps on my mom's new chaps, but it was 'cut wrong' so he let me use it.

Here the {bag} is, with the pocket for my trusty new-to-me cell phone, since I washed the old crappy one in the washer.  I SWEAR it was a mistake.  On my honor.  I forgot it was in the back pocket.  And I don't check pockets unless I'm looking for spare change. 

And here's the cool hardware my dad helped me to set.  Okay.  He put it on, I just told him how I wanted it.  Don't you LOVE the grommets, and the star-split rivet backs?  Yeah.  Me, too.

And this is next on the docket:

I can't wait!  Pillows.  For the couch.  I am getting really tired of the brown, brown, and brown furniture. I found the solid at Home Fabrics for CHEAP!!!  ($2 a yard) and plan to do some very FUN fabric folding with it...and the sweet Fleur-de-lis-ish pattern on the left will be plain-ole square pillows.

I told you.  I just can't help myself.  Plus, I'm looking forward to some color in my life.  We got another four inches of snow this morning.  It's kinda-sorta melting, but I was really looking forward to a fun day of bike riding ... I've already put away all the snow clothes.


Speaking of color; I had two sweet surprises last night.  Ryan came home with a beautiful bouquet of the most gorgeous salmon (not peach, not pink) roses, and then my sweet and thoughtful friend Becky brought us by that yummy Turtle cake and some gorgeous red roses to finish off our interesting anniversary day.  (Between the ER visit, skipping out on preschool and not having swim practice and having sick kids and feeling like a zombie, it was just a really odd day.)

I think they complement each other very nicely.  Just pretend with me that those curtains are adding in some gorgeous back-lighting to my even more gorgeous subjects.

In unrelated {bag} news, we were able to finish off the night with some chocolate covered strawberries, more freezer jam and an early bed time.  We were wiped out.  I fell asleep the second my head hit the pillow.

*breath*

And now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get started on my bread, so I can then clean my bathroom, so I can take a shower, so I can go to the mall, so I can buy a new bra that will do what it's supposed to do.  

Toodles. 

Love {you}

Seven years ago today, I woke up to rain, drove in sleet, and came out of the temple as Mrs. Poulsen, welcomed by four inches of freshly fallen snow.


Amazing. Dreamy. Beautiful.

Love {you} babe!

I can tell today's going to be an awesome day!

You left at 5:30am with only 3 hours of sleep (if that) under your belt...Maybe I'll see you before four this afternoon...you go slay those dragons, my shining knight! 

I spent the night in the ER with Kortlen because he had such a hard time breathing with that dumb croup...but we make beautiful babies, even if they DO keep us up at night.  Silly bedlams.  

The floor went unwashed yesterday so I could make Freezer Strawberry Jam instead.  Please know I really wanted the house to sparkle when you got home at the eleventh hour.  Maybe today?  

Hopefully this afternoon you'll have some fun father-son bonding time while I go visiting teaching and to Pack Meeting.  We always manage to plan the funnest activities on our special day, don't we... *chuckle*

I sure hope there's 70 more years of adventures awaiting us.  

I Love {you}.  

I Cherish {us}.  

XOXO

Is it just me?

I get weekly updates as to how many persons and WHO is visiting my blog.

Cool, huh!  Thank you, Sitemeter.  You ROCK.  Kindof.

What isn't cool, is the "WHO" is specified by an ip address, and so I don't REALLY know who all is looking at what I'm writing and the adorable pictures of my kiddos...I have a few of you narrowed down, like three.  LOL!

I LOVE it when I see a comment or two, and I can say, "Oh!  Great!  So-and-so from where's-it visited!  It was great to hear from them...yadda, yadda, yadda."

I must admit, it's a little disconcerting when I see that about 40 people visited, yet there's those TWO (now 12) AWESOME comments...so where are the other 38  28 of you?

So, is it just me?  or am I hearing an echo...

I realize that not everybody has time to read blogs all day long.  Even I don't have that much time after getting rid of so much online time, BUT, SOMEBODY is a frequent visitor...maybe a few of you are???

If you don't mind, PLEASE let me know you've visited by a "Hi!  I was here"  and you're off the hook.

Otherwise, you might find yourself out of the loop.  And I would really like to stay away from that option.

That's it.  My one request.  Please don't lurk.  (friendly reminder: it means to exist unpercieved or unsuspected.)


P.S.  It TOTALLY makes my day when I see a "hi" (thanks, Keith!) or a novel Either is totally acceptable.  I also realize that you (and I) cannot possibly comment on every. single. post.  That's insane, and I don't expect that...but if a comment is left on occasion, I assume you're reading occasionally, too.  Get my drift?  Okay.  Over and out.  Onward and Upward to bigger and less petty things...like taking pictures of the awesome bag my dad helped me finish.  :)  Super excited to post about that one...Oh yeah...over and out. 

Easter Weekend at {home}

The boys and I packed up and headed to Chesterfield for Easter Weekend to take Katelyn's Sr. Pictures (link coming soon)  and to have another egg hunt...this time at Grandma and Grandpa "Tw"andalls.  We are having the darndest time with our speech these days...


Reader be warned, this post is picture heavy.  But I LOVE it.

Friday afternoon was spent taking Katelyn's pictures...I have the most gorgeous sister...who is starting to look like the sister between us, on her mission.  It's so funny how she looks like Stephanie's twin in some of the shots! That was fun...windy, cold, and BRIGHT!!!  But we got a few good ones.

Saturday brought many adventures...

Instead of paying over $1000 to fix Ryan's car, my amazing brothers offered their time and expertise to help fix it...so Ryan ventured down early in the morning to bring parts.  Something about coolant part not working...and come summertime, it's death to the car; better get it fixed!

This is the corroded part that we've been driving with for over a year...ouch!

Reed explaining the part he's holding. It all sounded foreign to me.  

After a quick and brisk hot-dog roast with delicious salads and the famous Easter Cupcakes, (sorry, no pictures; i know you're crushed) we waited for Grandma and Grandpa to return from the funeral of a dear friend.

While uncle "Tw"ay (Clay) was helping the Easter Bunny hide eggs outside, Tanner needed to show off his new skills (with Deseret's encouragement): 

He LOVES using the noodles now...LOVES it!!!

And Taylor is just too cute. 

not quite willing to let go, yet.

Then onto the Easter Egg hunt!

He made this rule up...he's all about rules right now.  LOL!

Easter Bunnies are so good at leaving little toys, too!

What does Kortlen have??? 

Oh!  An egg!!!  Fun for baby! 

His pants 'crack' me up.

I don't think there's any more room, buddy! 

Aren't their bucket's cute!?!?
They were super easy to make.
I drove to Target and paid $2 a piece.
Brilliant, I say, BRILLIANT! 

after all their hard work, they got to go for a fun
and relaxing (not to mention freezing) ride. 

Easter Egg Hunt

Grandma and Grandpa Poulsen invited us up for an early Easter Egg Hunt and dinner.

I didn't get many pictures...I was having to much fun in the moment...which is important, right? 

But I did get a few (okay, more than a few) when all 'hail' broke lose.

super annoyed at the hail...

And snapped a few in the house when opening the eggs and playing with treasures.

I can't help myself.

I'm thinking THIS...

From this...

Only not so minimalist...I just like how it closes.  :)  There's gonna be ruffles, accents, and that amazing closure system.

Today.  Tomorrow. and Thursday.  It's gonna ROCK.

Fun Fillers

Not that Christ and the Resurrection needs fillers, but we do have Easter baskets for the boys.  In them we put useful things...like a new summer shirt, maybe a toy, something educational, and limited candy (this year, they're getting Candy Goggles...they're goggles for kids that smell like candy...okay, really I just wanted to get them swim goggles.  LOL!)

But this is probably my favorite filler in the basket this year:  Quiet Books

From Heather at Simply Fresh Designs, I printed these FREE quiet books.  The printing itself was NOT free (about $35 total, done through SnapFish) but the images were lovingly put together.  I even added in a few of my own.

Check it out! (please forgive my 10 pm picture taking skills...they're lacking.)

(some friends wanted to see how they printed up and were covered, hence the silly descriptions and random pictures.)

She even has some NEW ones!  Man...it's going to blow my budget to get these printed.  *sigh*

Here's the links to the books I printed:

2011 Primary Theme

Book of Mormon Stories

Prophets & Apostles

Articles of Faith (I added a few pages of my own to this one.)

I Believe (I also added our own pictures to this one.)

Be sure to tell Heather 'hi' if you stop in and download her awesome work!