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I have some very fun news this Monday morning!

The potato candy recipe I posted has been published in the August 2013 edition of LifeWay’s HomeLife magazine!

 

 

I received my copies this weekend.  It was so fun to see our family’s picture, a blurb about Mom making it when I was home, a great new picture of the candy and of course, the familiar recipe in the “From Your Kitchen” section, which includes all gluten-free recipes this month.

The magazine is jam-packed with excellent articles to help you raise a Christian family.  I was especially excited to see an article from Kristen Welch.  If you’ve been around here long, you’ll know she blogs over at We Are That Family and runs The Mercy House Kenya.

Your local church may stock this magazine or you can order it directly online.

To celebrate, I wanted to give away a summer bundle of HomeLife which includes the June, July and August editions featuring articles from folks like BooMama, Travis Cottrell, Mandisa and David Platt.

Just leave a comment telling me your favorite dessert and I’ll pick a winner on Friday!

Before I launch into a bit of a recap of our Summer Vacation, let me please remind any former Google Reader subscribers that 1 – I am crying with you and 2 – I switched to Feedly and highly recommend you do the same (just make sure to put everything in Titles-only mode).

If you’d like to resubscribe, here is my RSS feed.  You can subscribe by email.  Or, I also post all the posts to the Facebook page if you prefer that route (and I really want you there anyway).  Also, if you’ve chosen Bloglovin’ which I hear is a great alternative too, you can Follow me on BlogLovin. Either way, I’m glad you’re here and I just want to help you stay.

So, on to our Summer Vacation recap.  You need some personal history first, though.

When I was 7 my parents got a timeshare and we went to Disney.  We stayed at a resort and wore Mickey Mouse cover-ups, got ears and rode the tea cups and It’s a Small World.

Since that year, I traveled with my family every summer using my parent’s timeshare.  We’re beach people and even though the timeshare was technically in Myrtle Beach, SC, we often found ourselves on some Florida coast.

Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Vero Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Marco Island—so many fond memories.

For our family’s last summer vacation before I went to college, my parents splurged and took us to St. Thomas.  It was my favorite vacation we took and I still dream of floating in crystal clear water hearing a man running down the beach yelling Cocktails.  We never drank a cocktail but it was the principle, you know?

So, after I got engaged after my freshman year of college, I began taking my summer vacations with Scott and his family.

Due to several unfortunate factors, we didn’t plan a trip with his family this year so my parents planned a last-minute trip using their timeshare to, you guessed it, Florida.  This time we ended up in Palm Beach, Florida (Riviera Beach, if you must be technical).

If I have my calculations round about right, it had been 15 years since I’d been on a Summer vacation with my family.

So, as I was walking into the resort, I had a bit of nostalgia of all the resorts we had visited when I was younger but also had a bit of a full-circle moment as I realized my girls are just a few years older than I was when we first started trekking to Florida. 

It felt a little bit like home this past week and I realized just how lucky I was as a child and really, how lucky I was this week.

With all the stress of going into summer working and the water leak and just life, it couldn’t have been better timed.  I honestly don’t know what kind of crazy person I would have been if I hadn’t driven 10 hours away last week.  A time for everything, yes?

All that to say I guess that there’s a lot of rip-offs out there but I’ll be the first to say over 25 years later that my parent’s timeshare was a well-spent investment that I’m more grateful for than ever, especially this year. 

I’m certainly not suggesting that a resort is the only way to relax.  We have family-friends that super duper love their beach-side campground and we have loved all of our summers at a beach house rental with Scott’s family.  I’m just saying timeshares can turn out to be a wise financial decision that gives back for generations, contrary to what some might think.

Every vacation is different and provides unique memories, timeshare or not, and these are a few of mine from Palm Beach.

We started off with one of my favorite memories—a $17 strawberry daiquiri—a splurge by Scott.  That was one big honkin’ drink.  The kids thought it was the best thing ever—probably because we’re way too cheap to do anything like that on a normal basis.  All 7 of us enjoyed it.

I think it’s especially hilarious with the hat and sunglasses Scott bought the girls at Claire’s.  It’s like HI, WE’RE ON VACATION.

We stayed pool side a few days where we did our normal routine of flips, handstands and such until one night we went to swim and a toddler had pooped in the pool for the second time that day.  Lexi saw the poop in the bottom of the pool and then it just kind of ruined the whole deal for us.

We spent the rest of the time at the ocean.  As you can see, it wasn’t terribly rough in the waters and there was almost no one on the beach so the kids were free to romp around on their own.  This development, due to both age and environment, was glorious.  Dear parents of little ones, the beach CAN be enjoyable!

I spent a lot of time in my happy place.  I finished four books during the week and started into a 5th.  My Twitterature post for July will be fat and happy.

I also bought this hat and felt super cool wearing it even if I’m not nearly cool enough to pull it off.  But no one in Palm Beach knew.

On a whim, Scott decided to rent a paddle board.  This is another anomaly as we’re not the renting type people.  (Are you noticing all the splurging is on Scott’s part?  I’m just sayin’)

But I admit, it was an awesome move on his part.

Emma was all about the board and went out right away.  It took my mom a little convincing to get me out there and Lexi was in full-on temper tantrum mode about leaving the beach when he got it until she got a good talking-to by Grandma and I ordered her out there to GO HAVE SOME FUN WITH HER DADDY!

Clearly, we were torturing her.

 

Mid-week we decided we should you know, DO SOMETHING, so we decided on this amphibious tour called the Diva Duck.  It toured Palm Beach and then took you in the water way and showed you a few of the mansions on Palm Beach.

Let me save you the cash and the sweaty leather seats and share my two favorite parts.

This mansion sits on Palm Beach and is owned by Celine Dion’s mother.  Celine supposedly bought it for her mother for Mother’s Day.  Hi, mom, here’s a card and OH, HERE’S A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE. 

This is George Clooney’s yacht named Encore that is docked in Palm Beach.

I desperately wanted it to pull out while we were on the Diva Duck and be like HI, GEORGE CLOONEY, WE’RE PASSING YOU ON THE WATER.  We never saw him nor any other celebrity but apparently Palm Beach is full of them.

Except not in June.

We drove through Palm Beach later ourselves and most of the mansions were boarded up and those that weren’t, had sheets on the furniture.

Worth Avenue, which is the Rodeo Drive of Palm Beach, was like a ghost town even though it sports shops like Tiffany’s. We even found our cricket gear there too! It was good thing that we bought them there because our sports surface specialists were just about done with the pitch.

And let me say, I wouldn’t mind a revisit.

It wasn’t perfect—we had our moments, but the rest was good.  Very, very good.

 

 

Tell me: where and what is your favorite summer vacation memory?

 

Take 90 seconds to watch the trailer above.

 

OK, is that not awesome?  My favorite part is when the girl flies up above 3 men stacked straight up.  I mean, who does that??

I’m getting so stinkin’ excited to see who wins the 4 pack Giveaway of tickets to see the show live in Charlotte.  Just head over to the original post to comment to be entered!

I also wanted to remind you that there is a discount for a 4-pack.  No promo code is required.  Just use this link or click on the image below.

 

I’ve had the pleasure of attending 3 different Cirque du Soleil shows in the past and let me tell you, they are by far one of my favorite entertainment experiences ever.

I’ll admit, Cirque shows might be described by some as flat-out weird but I find myself in complete awe of the creativity, hard work and inspiration it takes to not only perform the show but also to create it.  I’ve found myself many times just murmuring prayers of thanks for creating such amazing creatures.  We are capable of so much and it’s truly inspiring.

I was more than happy to hear that Quidam is coming back to Charlotte July 3-7. 

If you’re familiar with Cirque shows, you know each show has a story.  Following is the description of Quidam from their website

 

AND, I’m very excited to have a family 4-pack to GIVE AWAY for the Saturday show at 3:30pm!!

Just comment on the post below to be entered!

  image credit

GO

I started reading a book written by a Shepherd this week.  He takes John 10 and explains each verse in devotional style, but from the unique perspective of someone who has made a living out of being with sheep.

In one particular chapter he discusses the shepherd’s unique voice.  When the sheep hear an unfamiliar voice it can either cause mass chaos and confusion or they may be completely unaffected.  One person can say a command and they stare at you with blank stares but the same command by their shepherd will bring instant action.

The book uses this to explain how we ought to hear our Great Shepherd.  It should bring us great comfort, always knowing that His intentions are good.  He never comes to bring us harm.   His voice, no matter the direction, is gladly obeyed.

This trust though is built not just by hearing the voice but by hearing it and then obeying it . The sheep only know his voice is trustworthy by command after command being obeyed and seeing that it is for their benefit.

And so it is with the Lord.  I pray that I don’t just know his voice but that I trust it.  That it will bring comfort because I’ve obeyed enough to know that wherever he leads me is for my good.

STOP

This post is linked with Five Minute Friday.

That picture?  If I could frame their childhood, that’s what the print would look like.

We’re all dressed up in clothes that we went shopping for the day before.  Even though they were begging me to leave by the end of the 3 hour shopping trip, I loved when Emma would lace her fingers through mine walking through the mall. Or, how Lexi straight up told me my dress was ugly.

I love that even though I didn’t push for it, both of them settled on that same green dress immediately.  While I didn’t get patent leather shoes and Easter hats like the little girls in the purple dress in the mall, I still got a little bit of my matching baby girls.

I love Lexi’s long hair and her bare feet because that’s just Lexi, kicking off shoes wherever they land and swinging that hair she says we’re never allowed to cut.

I love that Lexi’s not wearing her jacket like Emma’s because we can’t find it.  It’s missing somewhere under a pile of who knows what in our house.  Emma’s was rescued late last evening from a friend’s house where she left it Wednesday night.

Emma’s wearing sandals she didn’t wear to church because the sole was coming out of her dress shoes—the same ones from last year. We had to hot glue the soles down 10 minutes before church because they kept coming up and irritating her. I told her she could throw them away if she would just get through Easter with them.

I can see Emma’s new earrings she bought through her hair.  She wanted “dangly ones” like a big girl and used her own money to pay for them.  Her left ear is getting infected because she says she has a bad habit of twirling it.

I love that I’m wearing a dress that I bought because I love it.  I didn’t have to call anyone to see what they thought and I ignored Lexi when she didn’t like it. It’s hard for a people pleaser when you have to look yourself in the mirror in the dressing room and just answer, “What do you think of it?”

I love so much that we’re laughing because Lexi kept running her little fingers up the back of my knee just to aggravate me and make me laugh while Mom was taking a picture.  Just. like. her daddy.

Her daddy, might I say, who was off working.  I sure do miss him in this picture but that’s the sacrifice we make.  The three of us girls find ourselves alone a lot on weekends. I love our girl time and this picture reminds me of those moments.

I want so much for my girls to remember me like this—forgetting hot-glued shoes and lost jackets—and just laughing for no other reason than they wanted me to.

• @LipGloss712 some kind of whipped peanut butter filling in an oreo shell #
• @HappyHourSue @McMommyblog The Tent Scene is one of my favorite parts of the entire series. Love. it. #
• Pride & Prejudice is on! Going to have to record it. Football is winning. #
• @dailyjen definitely not my doing! i’m at my dad’s..so…he did let me watch the scene where she visits his house and sees him *sighs* #
• @darianbouley you have to come watch it at my house! #
• @darianbouley yeah i have the DVD but can’t find it right now. But I’m recording it on my DVR right now. #
• hm, maybe i should watch football more. This Ravens Flacco guy is cute! #
• @dailyjen Keira Knightly. I have yet to see the Colin Firth one but after watching Bridget Jones last weekend, I really, really want to. #
• @dailyjen i wouldn’t watch it again if i’d known. the end was good though and i can see the book would have been good. #
• @dani3boyz congrats! #
• @HappyHourSue this could be a long night if that’s the case #
• “I love you. Most ardently.” #
• @WendiH haha thanks! yes, i love it! great job, @HappyHourSue #
• @heatherrenae98 uh, bye ?! you were napping right behind me and then you were gone. #
• @McMommyblog shhh…during the Tent Scene I’m Team Jac0b #
• @WendiH yep. when someone tells me they’re reading Eclipse, my only question is Have you read the Tent Scene yet? #
• “You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you.” P&P #
• @darianbouley yes, one of my favorites! #
• @darianbouley too much to say in twitter. i’ll tell you about it tomorrow. you can just say it’s one of the best love stories ever. #
• oh man, i’m going to miss 24 premiere tomorrow for Winter Jam. darnit. thank goodness for DVR. #
• You’ve got to be kidding me #panthers #
• @SarahSingforhim delhomme is single-handedly ruining it #panthers #
• @darianbouley 27-7 #
• @red_ascot the other team apparently grrr #panthers #
• @jlloyd they don’t need any cheering. Jake is handing them the game on a silver platter #panthers #
• @mombloggersclub right now it’s like a bad train wreck. Can’t wait to see how jake screws up next #panthers #
• @darianbouley yes darnit #
• @HeatherRenae98 i know and they suck me in every time and then i can’t quit watching. #
• @WendiH great post! i always assumed it didn’t work that well. going to have to pick one up! #
• @SarahSingforhim i’m hoping the second half is like the first few minutes of the game. about 4 times over #panthers #
• Lord, please bless the Panthers. Just for me. Amen. #panthers #
• @HeatherRenae98 you know how i get when i get serious about something…can’t hurt to ask #
• ok, turning game off now. might check in at the end #panthers #
• RT @aaronconrad Is it possible that Delhomme could be the Cardinals best offensive player tonight? His play has been most offensive.Terrible #
• RT @kivers Carolina = Epic Fail #
• hm, is this the real @oprah ? #
• RT @JeffSays: Did you hear Jake Delhomme couldn’t get into his house after the Arizona game? Someone put an endzone in front of it. #
• reading the tweets about the Carolina game is WAY more interesting than the actual game #
• ok, i’m out for the night. enough of this football mess. #
• http://twitpic.com/11w5m – Charlotte papers today #
• Just ate a turkey dinner at my in-laws #
• CVS Christmas stuff at 90% off. Score! #
• going to try to get a nap in before the big Winter Jam concert tonight. so excited to see Toby Mac and Hawk Nelson #
• Got a little nap in. Taking the kids to ILs. #
• Made it. Have bad seats. Stephanie Smith just got off stage. #winterjam #
• Just scored 4th row seats #
• http://twitpic.com/12081 – We’re this close! #winterjam #
• NewSong just came on stage. Love them. #winterjam #
• Arise my love is still one of the best songs ever #winterjam #
• Hawk Nelson is up next. Woot. Woot. #winterjam #

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• just put the kids to bed and i could honestly go to sleep myself #
• Twilighters: cute article on why Robert is so loveable http://tinyurl.com/8e7zyx #
• need an architect i can ask questions to through email for research. anyone? #
• Just getting up. Kids have been up playing on the computer. I knew I liked that computer for some reason 😉 #
• Jehovah’s Witnesses just visited me. I’m still in my robe and my hair is EVERYWHERE. Surprised they didn’t run away scared. #
• Michael Copon congratulates Taylor Lautner http://tinyurl.com/6kfuqy/video/video.php?v=54538967782&ref=nf #
• @katzni @mamadrama yes he was very nice. says he was right for the part and he has some other things coming up. #
• Doing laundry while I wait to pick 6yo up from a party. #
• @AnitaHampl thankfully this one is only about 3 minutes from the house. #
• A lot of Panthers jerseys out and about today #
• @SuButcher yes i am #
• Just mopped the floor. Feel like I could sleep for a few hours. May be unrelated. #
• Me: Get out of the refrigerator! #
• @boxofchocolates that was actually directed at my daughter who was literally standing in the fridge. :/ #
• Headed to my parents to visit for a bit. And eat peanut butter pie. #

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