Seeing God's Hand at Work...

Isn't it amazing when you get a glimpse of God at work? I mean, have you ever had that realization and go, "Wow! I'm getting front row seats to this?"

For the last two years, I have been trying to get my jewelry into stores to sell...and I will say I faced a lot of closed doors.

I have also been in the "process" of starting a website...but the cost involved with an e-commerce store is not cheap.

I have been creating a catalog for the last 6 months with very little progress.

Two weeks ago, I made the decision that 50% of my profit from my jewelry business will go to fund The Common Bond. From that time, potential opportunities have opened up that may allow me to put my jewelry in 3 different stores....also, I found out there is someone who may be able to create a website for me at a franction of the cost from the estimates I had received...and my catalog...should be out to print by the end of September.

How's that for God's hand at work?

I have no idea what the future will hold for iMage Jewelry or The Common Bond...but I know God is apart of this...and whatever His will is--it's going to come to pass...even though the details are not ironed out...and things may change--He is in control.
I think it's awesome that we serve a God who cares...not only about the big issues in our lives, but the little ones as well--like websites and catalogs. We still have a long way to go to get the foundation off the ground, but this just proves that we're not the ones driving this thing!

Thanks for all of your prayers, support and interest in this project. I can't tell you how excited I am about how many people want to be apart of this...I have said it before, but I'll say it again--I think...no I know...God is going to do great things with this and what a privilege that we get to be apart of it!

Beware...

Just a note...blogger seems to be having some issues. I updated the layout of this blog and my jewelry business blog...but when I went to update The Common Bond blog...it went crazy. I lost my layout button...now it says template...and under the help screen it says I need to update my account to the new version, but it doesn't show the button to allow me to update it. Ask me if I'm frustrated...go ahead ask me! And on top of it all...The Common Bond blog now looks ugly.

From what I've gathered off the blog help desk I'm not the only one with this problem...so just a forwarning...if you're planning on changing your layout or template proceed with caution!!

It's official...we have TWO school-age kids!!!

Abby started her first day of kindergarten today. I should say she officially started her phase in days...today she went for three hours and on Thursday she will do the same. Tomorrow is her last day in "Memaws" class at daycare...on Friday she will go for a full day and be picked up by the daycare bus with Hayden. She was so excited for school last night she told James she was ready to go to bed at 8:45...and by time I got home she was alseep (it was about 9:30). For some of you this probably seems late still, but you don't know my daughter...she usually stays up until 10:00 or so. (It's the 3 hour naps at daycare...I'm so glad those will be done!!)



Well, here's some pictures of the cutie patootie getting ready to head off to kindergarten!

Abby is very stubborn (no idea where that comes from) and we had bought some really cute capris to match her top...but we'd also bought this little skirt--that doesn't match quite as well. Of course, what does Abby want to wear this morning...not the cute capris...needless to say I chose not to pick this battle because atleast it semi-went together. :)

I'm going to brag about Hayden for just a second...he wanted to walk with us to Abby's class this morning so that he could make sure to know where to take her when he walked her to class...I mean really--how sweet is that?! I have to say I'm very proud of my kids.

Hello Kitty backpack...do you notice it's as big as she is?

More Pics from Texas!

Here are some pictures we got from Nana of the summer trip to Texas...looks like a crazy bunch, huh? Notice Abby's goggles--you'll see them in almost every picture (even if she's not swimming) she loves the goggles!!

Being a Mom is Not Easy!!

Can I just say that being a mother is hard? I'm not talking about the work involved, the running around like a chicken with its head cut off...I'm talking about hard on the heart. There's one thing that I think is the most important to mothers...and that protecting their kids at all costs, whether it be physically or emotionally. The hard part is that you can't always protect them...even emotionally. There are hard lessons that have to be learned...and one of those is that not everyone is nice...not everyone will be your friend, some will even say things just to hurt your feelings because they think it's fun.

Hayden is a sensitive kid...I don't mean just about getting his feelings hurt...I mean in general he has the quality of sensitivity...he cares about other people and he can't understand why some kids say mean things...honestly, I can't either. We had that incident yesterday...and what really frustrates me is that Hayden was so excited for the first day of 1st grade...and then he comes home and tells us some kid was a jerk at recess (okay, he didn't call him a jerk--I did). I'll be honest...it's not very christ-like of me...but I want to beat the kid up. I do...I just want to sock it to him one time, unfortunately that is not what a lesson Hayden should learn. I think the most painful thing for a mom is to see her child hurting...and I want to fix it, but I can't.

So, please pray for Hayden...he's very shy and adjusting to new surroundings isn't easy. Pray for James and I as well, as we help Hayden learn these life lessons and not go after the bullies in the middle of the night (kidding, kidding). I know this seems trivial especially in light of the prayer requests we get from The Common Bond project...and I am thankful that this is what we're struggling with and not some sort of terminal illness...but none the less, my heart breaks for Hayden because I'm his mom.

Missing Teeth Of A Soon To Be Kindergartener and 1st Day of School for the 1st Grader in the House--Quite the Combination!!

This weekend Abby lost her first tooth...note the toothy grin below...

We had a lengthy discussion regarding how the tooth fairy knew she lost her tooth, how the tooth fairy was going to get in the house, how the tooth fairy could fly, was the tooth fairy a girl or a boy...how did the tooth fairy decide how much money to leave for a tooth?? Hayden never asked so many questions...of course, she was satisfied the next morning when the $5 happened to be under her pillow. (Notice the gray tooth on the top row...yes, she brushes her teeth...that's the tooth that died from her face planting on the cement driveway back in January...looks lovely, huh? I can't wait for that one to come out!!!)

Hayden's first day of 1st grade...he's so big!!!

Now this picture reminds me that my kids do love eachother...even when they fight, bicker, and pick at the other one...deep down their is sibling love!!

Chapman Family

Yesterday, I watched the interview Robin Roberts from Good Morning America conducted with Steven Curtis Chapman's family. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it...click on this link and then you can search for it under recent interviews www.goodmorningamerica.com


It is an excellent interview...I also watched the Larry King one too...but I like Robin Roberts better.

Kiss your kids...and listen to the Cinderella song I put on the blog. The message is so true...we just have the here and the now...

Twenty-nine...WOW!!!

First of all, it just doesn't seem possible that I have now entered my last year in my twenties...I feel like I should just be entering my twenties...now I'm down to one year left. Time flies by, I know it's said all the time...but really, how did this happen?

I have to say, I think this has been one of my favorite birthdays so far. Mostly, because the gifts I got were so thoughtful...first, my wonderful husband bought me some lotions, bath stuff, etc. I'm cheap, I buy the 1.99 stuff...but he got the good stuff...he's not cheap. But along with that he and Abby rubbed my feet. I also got a waffle maker...I have never had one as long as we've been married...and I wanted one...but it's not something I'd go out and get just because I could flip pancakes and save the $25. Did I mention I'm cheap? But along with my waffle maker, the boys made breakfast in bed. It was a great, wonderful day and I loved it very much. We got to hang out as a family and I played polly pockets with Abby...it was fun. (For all of you without kids playing polly pocket with a 5 year old probably doesn't sound like that big of a deal...but for you moms, you understand how much fun a 5 year old really can be!) :)
We went out to eat the night before at a Chinese Food place that was GREAT!!!! I love chinese...LOVE IT!!! And then ordered pizza and ate cake and ice cream on Friday night. I think it's the little moments like these that create the lasting memories. It was such a great day, I smile just thinking about it.

On Monday, I came into work and my coworkers had all pitched in to get me a spa package!!! They truely are the greatest. I am so blessed to do something that I love to do...I can honestly say I love my job, but even more than that...I love the people I work with. They make everday life fun...we laugh probably more than we work. It's a great place and I'm so thankful for the relationships I have with these people.

I'll be updating The Common Bond blog later on today or tomorrow so check it out. There's a couple of new things going on.