Testimonial Tuesday

I really do like blogging...I've always enjoyed putting my thoughts on paper, I'm more used to ink, but typing is growing on me. I have learned so much and been motivated and challenged by others blogs so I hope that for someone this will be encouraging. Maybe a topic for each day would keep me more focused on my blog...we'll try it and see, but there is no condemnation, right!? I have been learning so very much in the James study that I'm currently doing on wed nights with one of the most beautiful group of Jesus followers you ever did see. They are so authentic and that is rare and something I've longed for. I'm forever grateful. I praise the Lord for how he is teaching me and changing me! He has reaffirmed to me my calling through this study and I've found that its even in my name. I'm so thankful that He calls us by name, aren't you? He knows our name, calls us by it, and hears us!...when we're hurting, happy, searching or all of the above! He's calling us all by name, and it begins by calling us to the cross. I'm so humbly grateful! The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;[a] he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;[b] 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.[c] Isaiah 61:1-3

Celebrating His Majesty and Rejoicing in His Goodness!

Fletcher Fall Fun!

Well, the second weekend in October, I had a Premier event on Saturday. Fall is a great time to be a Premier Jewelry lady, (but so is every other season!)so I had a fun day. The rest of the weekend we just hung around the house enjoying each other!




The third weekend of October began a new family tradition. One of my very favorite places on this earth is Valle Crucis, NC. I enjoy the entire area, but something about Valle Crucis makes my heart smile. My favorite park ever is there, and we went there for a picnic on labor day. While there I ask a lady if they have any events for the fall and she told me about the third weekend in October. Every year they have a Valle Country Fair, famous for it's Brunswick Stew. I knew then it was a must go.


The leaves were absolutely gorgeous. I really feel they were at or close to peak. When we got there early afternoon they had already sold out of Brunswick stew, apparently it's very famous! Sarah Anne was able to go with us and they had also sold out of there vegatarian rice and beans. However we all found something yummy to eat and enjoyed the day at one of my very favorite places on Earth :)

It's Fall Ya'll...

It's fall ya'll...my very favorite season! Winter is my favorite, but Fall my VERY favorite! Summer is my least favorite and somehow I managed to not blog at all during summer...how I've missed it so! However we did have a great summer, entirely tooooo HOTTTTTT, but still a good summer!
This Fall has been fabulous...one of my favorites to date! There are five weekends in October this year, so without a doubt I thought they all deserved to be celebrated in a Festive Fall way! The family expects no less from me :)
Of course the first weekend in October is a Fletcher Family Favorite: The Erwin Apple Festival!

We all enjoyed the Apple Festival! The highlight this year was the Minninite Fresh Doughnuts! They were as big as Clark and Harrison's head, made fresh on site! The smell was the best! Chloe Laine enjoyed them too!

The weather was beautiful, perfect Fall temperatures and we all anxiously awaited for God's beautiful creation to be turned into a pallete of beautiful colors! We didn't have to wait very long...four more fabulous weekends in October 2010 to go!

A Great Good Friday!

Today was a very special Good Friday! It was the first Good Friday that Bob had the entire day off! (Thanks to a vacation day) We were able to go as a family and participate in the yearly Good Friday witness walk in Erwin. It was so special to be able to do this as a family. I know our children even though they are young are able to see and better understand what this weekend is about!

Thanks to my good friend, Nicole...as we were walking down Main Street of Erwin following a wooden cross being carried down the street, I could only imagine as Christ carried his cross (my cross) down the Via Delarosa and the crowd that followed!

This is one of my very favorite weekends of the year...special in a way only my heart understands.
Tonight we're going to make an Easter Tree, and tomorrow after the egg hunt we are making Resurrection Cookies. So excited to do these with the children. Bob and I love showing the children Christ in our lives in this way!

We'll try to post pics soon!

Happy Easter!

Groundhog Day Fun!

Me Tuesday Morning: Good Morning Boys! Happy Groundhog Day!
Boys: Mommy What's Groundhog Day?
So...I decided we'd have a lil Groundhog Day Fun. I did a little research and found out that Groundhog Day is actually the midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. I found out the history behind Groundhog day and found some fun crafts for us to do!
Chloe Laine was down for a nap, so that's why she isn't seen in the pictures. She did however like the I'm a little Groundhog song to the tune of "I'm a little teapot"

Harrison practicing with scissors!

 

Clark concentrating on cutting out his groundhog!

 

Finished Products: Our Groundhogs!

 

 

Thirty and Thankful

 

So I turned Thirty last week!!!
While I know I'm sorta behind in the blogging, I thought this would be a good place to start and then go back and catch up.

I read on another blog of someone who turned thirty and they highlighted years past leading up to thirty. I thought this was a fabuolous idea and wanted to do that as well, so here goes!...

2000: I turned twenty, and boy was I excited! Not having teen after my age meant a great deal to me as I did not really care for my teenage years. I was excited to enter a new decade of my life and see what the Lord had in store for me. I remember spending my birthday in clinicals in my quest to become a Respiratory Therapist!
I was also praying God would send along the Man he had for me so I could begin that journey in life and in September my prayers were answered as this was when I met Bob. I knew I loved him very early on but never would believe the blessings he has brought me. God continued to show me who I was to be in him throughout this year.

2001: What a fabulous fun year! This year was spent planning our wedding (from June til Dec.), while we were both finishing school. We got married in Dec. God was continuing to shape us as individuals, yet preparing us for marriage to our best friends!

2002: We began our first full year of marriage. I was working full time as a respiratory therapist and began working at the VA this year. Bob was finishing up school and would graduate in Dec.

2003: This is the year that God brought Premier into our lives. WOW another blessing that I'm still realizing. I'm so very thankful for Premier, how it has blessed our lives and the lives that have been enriched. This is also the year (in Sept.) that we found out we were expecting our first child! God's timing is so perfect!

2004: The year our first child was born in April...our son Clark! We took a huge leap of faith and decided after prayer that I would be blessed to be able to stay at home with Clark since I could supplement our income with Premier! This was an exciting year of firsts!, but how I love being a mommy and Jewelry Lady...in Dec. we found out we were expecting our second child!!!

2005: Wow on to the second half of my twenties...how fast they seem to be going. I remember on this birthday Bob telling me that I was a quarter of a century old! HeHe in perfect Bob style! I was adapting and learning how to balance being a mommy and jewelry lady. Clark celebrated his first birthday in April and we moved in May. Our Second son Harrison was born on August 11th weighing 8lbs. 3oz.! This year was also an exciting one as I became a mommy to two precious little boys!

2006: So now I'm on the other side of the twenties! Still learning to balance, but was blessed this year to attend my first Premier Designs National Rally. This is when I truly captured a vision of what I was a part of. This was also the year that God showed me what true worship meant and how he had created me to worship him. I have never forgotten the power of these lessons!
Bob and I are thrilled to be parents of such sweet little boys that grow so fast! This was the year at Christmas that I refer to as "The Train Christmas"...the boys received many train sets and it was precious to watch all three of the guys sit and play endlessly with their new toys!

2007: This was the year that I truly began to search out what it means to have a servants heart and what my place in that was! God began showing me several areas in my heart that needed pruning and healing and though it was a very tough process to go through began to heal areas of my life that I previously didn't want him to even go. He was teaching me to Love who he made me to be, and what his love meant. In Dec. of this year, to our great surprise, but again his perfect timing, we found out we were expecting our third child. At ten weeks we almost lost this child and God taught me a sweet lesson regarding his love and sovereignty. He gave me a peace and I knew it was going to be okay either way...and it was! On Christmas Eve we found out the baby was fine and the pregnancy was progressing normally! All Praise to God our creator!

2008: It was the Spring of this year that I began to grasp and begin to accept and understand the Love that God has for me! This is a lesson I pray I will never forget, for it has better allowed me to love others the way that he has called me too! While I have a Great ways to go in this area I will always look back at this year as the beginning of knowing how to accept his unconditional love for me allowing me to accept others love completely and better loving others in all areas of my life. In July of this year we were blessed to have a daughter! Chloe Laine was born on July 24th, being the biggest of the three weighing in at 9lbs. 11oz. The rest of 2008 was spent adjusting to having three children at home with me while running my Premier business. I'm still learning that, but 2008 was my best year yet!

2009: Wow...the last year of my twenties. This was a year I still spent adjusting and it seemed that the devil wanted to rob me of the lessons I had learned and valued so much during the previous years...it was a fierce battle in my mind, but of course I had the victory with Jesus! By the end of this year he was beginning to prune me once again for what he had in store for me. I left this year knowing that 30was closely approaching and negativity had no room in my heart or mind. As I refer to it...NO MORE STINKING THINKING! Praise the Lord for this victory! Again this year was my best yet in Premier and I truly left 29 knowing the best was yet to come!!!

2010: Here it is...I turned 30! But you know what, I really like it! I told Bob that I think I feel even more Sassy! Watch out world...I use the word sassy but it's really a confidence that Christ has given me through him and what he's taught me in my twenties! I Love being Bob's wife and going through this journey together. He's truly my best friend on this earth, knows me like no other human, and I wouldn't have had the decade previously without him! I Love being a Mommy to three precious children, who I pray God will continue to allow to raise to come to Love and know him early in their sweet lives! I Love being a jewelry lady and empowering women to know the same truths about themselves that I've learned! I'm so truly blessed and can't wait to see what this decade holds.

There are several of you that were not mentioned specifically by name in this blog (my sweet sisters) but know you're in my heart always and you've helped make me who I am!

Love you all

 

Costume Parade at the Library

Harrison checking out his treats!
Daddy and our Little Ladybug!


Where to next?

Spidey and Woody the Sherriff

This is fun!

Well the Costume Parade at the Johnson City Public Library is another Fletcher Family Fall Favorite! It is tradition. We have been going to the library for storytime since Clark was 13 months old and we all love it! They always have a costume parade and special Halloween Storytime to follow!

Favorite Season

Yes it's true...Fall or Autumn as I remember it from one of my favorite childhood books, is my favorite for many reasons. Cooler weather, turtlenecks, some of my favorite accesories, hot apple cider, hot spiced tea, anything made with Apples or pumpkin, pumpkin patches with the children, festivals...just to name a few.
I also enjoy all the smells, crispness, and beauty that comes with the season. How beautiful to watch the creation of my creator display such color and beauty. Some of those very same colors he placed within us and he can see that same Kaleidoscope of colors within us when we Worship him the way he created us too!
I also believe Fall is the most romantic time of the year...I'm certain, greatly in part, that I fell in Love with My Man in the fall, nine falls ago to be exact...WOW what can happen in Nine years!
I hope to post some pics from my favorite time of the year soon...I just need to relearn how to do that...don't know why I wait so long to blog...I enjoy it so!
Here's to a FABULOUS FALL!

Monkey Munch

Whoa!....has it really been since March! When I got on here today and saw my old background I realized just how long it had been....way too long!
I've really missed blogging, now that things have settled a bit, maybe I can blog much more routinely.
I really enjoy it...so nice having a place to journal my thoughts and the record the happenings of my family!
As you may have guessed from the title, my little Monkeys and I made monkey munch for a new snack today! It is sooo yummy! Harrison requested this for both Lunch and dinner, but of course he had to eat his meal first.
I remember when in school, some of the other kids would bring this...I'm pretty sure they called it "trash"?, but I could never eat it because it was made with Peanut Butter. Well I have since discovered Soy Nut Butter and I'm able to replace PB with SNB in any recipe. We have all enjoyed the Monkey Munch today!
Look for a new post soon! (and hopefully I can learn from Bob how to add pics)!

Choose Joy!

LPM Siesta Memory Verse #5

As some of you may know, In January I decided to join several of the fellow "siestas" in a memory verse challenge for 2009! It has been amazing already!



For Verse #5, I'm memorizing Hebrews10:35-36 NIV

"So do not throw away your confidence:it will be richly rewarded, you need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

I'm excited to see how the Lord allows this verse to help me grow in him and the confidence that only he can give. Having verse to wield the sword of scripture has already been so beneficial this year! It's not to late to start...just pick a verse on the 1st and 15th of each month and commit it to memory!

Bella Bottoms

Just found an adorable new baby product...Bella Bottoms. They are reusable cloth diapers, but not the old school kind ...no diaper pins needed! I found a giveaway for them on a blog... http://yestheyareallmine.wordpress.com
Who knows, maybe Bob's luck of winning things will happen to me! I'll keep you posted...pun intended!

More Playdough Pics

I'm still learning how to post pics on my blog so these are a few that didn't get included in the original playdough post!

Comfort Food and Homemade Playdough

Some comfort food I made for us while we are recooping from RSV

Harrison stirring his homemade Blue Playdough

The Homemade Playdough

Recipe for the Popcorn

Well I meant to put this at the bottom of the previous post...but here it is for those who want to try my new marvelous discovery!



1/3 cup popcorn kernels

Brown paper lunch bag

2-3 tablespoons of melted butter (cooking oil works too)

Salt



Mix kernels, butter and salt together.Pour kernels into a small paper bag (standard lunch size is fine) and fold the top of the bag over three times tightly to close (each fold should be 1/2 inch deep; remember the kernels need room to pop).Place bag in microwave on carousel.Cook on high 2-3 minutes, or until the pops are 5 seconds apart!



For an extra special treat...add some M&M's...(another one of my new favs)

This is pennies compared to the already made Microwave popcorn and tastes better too!
Enjoy!

The Small Things in Life

Okay, so I've discovered a wonderful new snack, that I must share...HOMEMADE MICROWAVE POPCORN...and who knows maybe I'm the last to know about this, but just incase I'm not I wanted to share!

I've enjoyed this the past two days during "rest time" ...the boys do much better if I don't say nap time!

We found out today that "the Fletcher Funk", has a diagnosis...we all have RSV! Please be in prayer for the children, the boys seem to be feeling some better, but lil Chloe Laine is pitiful! Today and tomorrow should be the peak days for her symptoms so hopefully we will see improvement soon!

Earlier today we had group therapy...respiratory therapy that it is...I had us all on Breathing Tx's...per Dr's orders of course!

Well the timer just went off on the microwave...yep your right my popcorn is ready!

Counting it all Joy!

Blogworld...
The Fletchers have the funk...well especially the three children! Chloe's lil cough is just pitifulClark is stopped up and sounds quite nasal when he speaks and sings...earlier he and Harrison were singing the theme song from Cubbies...I love to hear them sing! Harrison's nose is the opposite...a running faucet of lemongrass green snot! Leave it to a former Respiratory Therapist turned Jewelry Lady to be so descriptive of snot. I bet the Doctor will appreciate the detail tomorrow!

I was feeling pretty rough when I got up this morning, but after resting some am feeling much better! Bob is just an absolute trooper...he has been pampering us all...I Love that man so much!

I don't want anyone to think I'm complaining! I don't know if it has come from the scripture memory I have been part of lately (partly I'm sure...the first part of the verse I'm memorizing now says do everything without complaining...say that to yourself several times and you really notice when you start complaining!) but through differents circumstances I've been thinking alot lately about perspective...yes I'm so sorry the children feel bad but so thankful that I have my three children, my man...a wonderful family all the way around! So I guess I would challenge everyone to try to not complain at all this week! To quote one of my favorite people...Choose Joy..choose it...in the midst of choosing Joy you'll spread it!

Fletcher Facets

The new Blog for the Fletcher Facets is www.fletcherfacets.blogspot.com
It is also listed on my profile page.

Drool, Baby, Drool!!!

As you may could've guessed, my baby girl is teething. I cannot believe how fast the time is going! Yesterday I took her for her sixth month check-up. She weighed in at 17 lbs. She is running a slight temp. but overall has done well with her shots. The best medicine so far has been her daddy's arms!

Clark and Harrison are each at my side right now...at their desks "working their business"... I think they fully understand "mommy's jewelry business"...later today (maybe tomorrow), I'm going to let them help me stamp catalogs...they love to stamp!!!

Yesterday we turned it the application for Clark to attend Kindergarten at Highland Christian Academy! Really hits me when I see this in Print!!! We've always prayed that there would be a way for him to go to Christian school and the Lord seems to be opening the doors! This is both a praise and a request!

Scripture Memory is going well...I've stuck to it!!! I'm now on my third verse for 2009! This has been such an amazing journey so far! Being able to wield the sword of scripture has been so helpful in the past couple of weeks. The two verses I've learned so far (Heb. 4:16 & 2 Tim. 1:7) have helped me so much...I'm so humbled by this experience, it's given me a new love for scripture and many verses I've read in a whole new light...verses I've read many times before, but now they've just come alive in a way like never before! I give all glory and credit to my Jesus, for I know this is not something I could ever do on my own!

I know its been a while since my last post...but this is one thing I want to have in my life that's not on a strict schedule...I'm not complaining by any means, I just want this to be something fun and enjoyable!

I'm also starting a blog for my Premier Designs downline...feel free to check it out! I'll let you know the name very soon!

Love.

Grocery Cart Challenge

So some of you may know that I had never even heard of "blogging" before I attended my first LPL event in Boone N.C. in May of 07! After that I've been a faithful "siesta" on the LPM blog.


At first I just faithfully read the posts, but wasn't sure how to "post". Of course with my wonderful hubby's help, I got an account and was a blogging "siesta".


Last week one of the posts was on how to have a grocery budget! One of the comments had a link to another blog that I've found tremendously helpful!


A Lady with a family of six feeds them on $60!!!!! She posts her "plan" as well as her menus! She has many other wonderful frugal ideas on there as well!


I found this very helpful Monday when I went grocery shopping...I have new ideas for Menu planning as well!


My family really enjoyed the Tortellini Soup I made last night, as well as the Pumpkin Muffins for snacks and breakfast!


Does anyone know where you can find dry goods in bulk in the Tri-Cities? I noticed she buys her flours/sugars and cereals/oats is bulk and gets them very cheap!


Her blog is http://www.grocerycartchallenge.blogspot.com/


Here are the links for the recipes I fixed last night: http://www.recipezaar.com/Tortellini-Soup-16150 and http://www.recipezaar.com/Pumpkin-Chocolate-Chip-Muffins-3564


For the muffins, I only had enough Chocolate Chips in the cabinet for 1/3 of the batch so I used Raisins for the other 2/3. They are delicious but next time I make them I am going to use applesauce instead of oil...that way it will be WW friendly!


Hope you all have a Blessed Day!


I'll post pics of the Children very soon!

Red, Write and Blog!!!

I was so excited when I figured out how to make my blog "cute"...I wanted it to have this color scheme and as hard as it may be to believe it, I actually figured out how to do it! Bob was proud of me...I've came a long way since the days of thinking "the internet was broken, because I could not get connected"...however my my own admission, I still have a ways to go!

I am however, very excited about my blog, even if I'm the only one that reads it!

I've always enjoyed writing and journaling, but in the past few years have not been able to keep up with my journaling as much as I would've liked...this way I can accomplish both and be able to write down some of the exciting things that happen with my family! I also hope to look at this for some accountability with others in blogville! I posted earlier about memorizing scripture this year and I so want to do this...I will do this! My first verse is Hebrews 4:16. I know many things will come up that I will need accountablity for!

Today was a wonderful day of worship with my family...both the Fletchers and my church family! I don't know why I'm ever surprised but I absolutely love when the Lord puts something on your heart and them confirms it both through corporate worship and the encouragement of others! I LOVE this about our GOD!

Well, tomorrow Bob's 2 week vacation is over and we must all return to our routines...I've thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas time, but I know a return to "normalcy" is a must...however I will return with great memories of Christmas 08!

One of my "goals" of the new year is to get up even earlier and have my entire morning routine done my the time my children get up...I'm sure this could be a post later in the week!

If anyone is still reading...I pray the Love of our Lord abounds in our hearts and is outpoured into the lives of others that we are able to serve this week!!!

Love to All!