Cara Box

Today I am linking up with Wifessionals to see what everybody received in their Cara Box for April.  The theme was Going Green.

Cara means beloved friend.  We were paired with someone to send a Cara Box to and then someone different sent you a Cara Box.  So you meet two people in the blog world.

I was paired with two awesome ladies.....  Jennifer over at Mint Too Bee - is who I sent my Cara Box to - you will need to jump over to her blog to see what I picked out for her.

Michelle over at I hope you dance in life sent me my Cara Box.  You will need to go over and check out her blog -  she has tons of reviews on books and the girl loves to read and has fun giveaways.  It was so fun emailing and getting to know Michelle.

I was so excited the day my box came in the mail.  I might of been feeling a little sorry for myself that day.  This definitely lifted my spirits.

There were such fun items in the Cara Box.

Tomato & Horseradish Snack & Dip Seasoning, Garlic Dill Snack & Dip Seasoning and Garden Vegetable Snack & Dip Seasoning.  I can't wait to try these.  This will be perfect to take to my small group when we have pot-lucks or when I have the girls over this summer.

Michelle really knows me - I love tea - one day I am going to have  a tea bar set up in my house.  Twinings Earl Grey Tea, Ceylon Tea, Lemon Ginger which is caffeine free herbal tee and Vanilla Black Tea.  I can not wait to try them out.

J.R. Watkins Shea Butter Hand Cream Lemon Cream.  I can't wait to try.  I love lotions.  Also 2 sample lotions of Aloe & Green Tea  can't wait to use them.

Candle which I love and Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm.  I excited about the Burt's Bees lip balm because I have never tried it always thought about it but never bought it for myself.

Cascade Trail Mix - which supports American Farmland Trust, a group dedicated to preserving land for sustainable farming.  I can't wait to take it with me Thursday for a snack during our track meet.

This was the hit of the box according to Ashley - seeds to grow Sunflowers.  Ashley has asked everyday if we can't go plant the seeds.  I think along our back fence would be great.  In our family home that my parents just sold my mom had her kitchen done in sunflowers.  I hope we have pictures to show you of our Sunflowers in our backyard.

 

 

Michelle blog is all about books - so I was hoping that there would be a book in my Cara Box.  She did not let me down - I can't wait to read this as a soak up the summer sun - Firefly Island - Mallory Hale's life quickly veers off course when she falls hopelessly in love.  After a whirlwind romance, Mallory finds herself leaving the bustle and action of Capitol Hill for the remote town of Moses Lake Texas - with husband, stepson and U-haul in tow.

 

 

I can't wait to build a deeper friendship with Michelle and Jennifer.

 

 

Love my Cara Box!!!!

What I am Loving Wednesday

I am linking up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday!!

I'm Loving  - that this weekend is the Illinois Marathon Weekend!

I'm Loving - life as a track coach - love washing the uniforms and having them all over my living room!!!

 

 

I'm Loving - who Central picked as a Basketball Coach - Wayne McClain -coached Peoria Manual to three successive state championships in the 1990s — was hired Tuesday as the Maroons head coach. McClain was an Illini assistant for 11 years and spent the past school year at Kansas State, working with Bruce Weber.

Weber said Central is getting more than a basketball coach who won more than 88 percent of his games during his first six years at Manual, where he replaced the legendary Dick Van Scyoc.

 

 

 

I am Loving - that we had a great time at Adam and Abbey wedding this weekend.

 





I hope you are having a wonderful week!!!!

BUILD 'EM UP - Friendships

Today I am doing a link up with these fun blogger's.  Each Tuesday they write post that will build each other up.  Today is on Friendship.  

I truly believe that you need your girlfriends.  It seems that friends came in and out of your life depending on the season that you are in.  Except its so important to have those true friends we can tell anything to.

I am so lucky to have my small group.  I would say these ladies are true friends.  We laugh together and cry together. We try to hold each other accountable. We are trying to be Godly women.  We are trying to raise our children in the Christian faith.  I would encourage you in you do go to church get involved in a small group.  Find people that are like you and believe in what you are trying to accomplish.

 

 
I also have Kerry who my first year at Franklin was doing her student teaching and then was hired on the next year.  We became roommates.  Taught and lived many years together.  Cried in our living room over the The Columbine High School massacre that was a school shooting which occurred on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine.

We now have children her daughter and Ashley are close in age.  In March she just had a baby boy.  Our friendship is going on 16 years we may not live in the same town and Kerry may not be into texting but we still can pick up the phone and it seems like we are still teaching in the same building.

I also think a important friendship is your family.  I am so blessed to have a very close relationship with my family.  I have said for many years my mom is my best friend.  Growing up she did not act like my friend she was my mom.  Except now I could say we are friends.  If you don't have a close relationship with your family I would try and reach out to them. ( that would be my aunt trying to get in the picture)

 

What I'm Loving Wednesday

It feels inappropriate to talk about normal life.  If we don't the enemy wins.  We can't hide and can't be afraid.  Yesterday Ashley saw what was happening on the news and said whats going on?  I tried to tell her except she did not understand. Then when we got up on Tuesday it was on the news again and she said that's never happened at a race I have been at.  I almost cried I did stop and pray to God that  it never does happen to her.

 

I am linking up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday!  I love Wednesday because of this post.

I'm Loving - that Saturday is Abby and Adam's Wedding. 

I'm Loving - that my parents have officially sold their house in Rantoul.  I know its a huge relief for them.

I'm Loving - that they are able to help watch Ashley - that they watch her so willing.  At a drop of the hat....

I'm Loving - that I sold all my clothes at One Week Boutique and last night I was to volunteer from 4:00 to 10:00.  We were done at 9:00.  Next sell I am VIP - which means I do not have to go threw the clothes inspection.

I'm Loving - that we are half way threw April.

I'm Loving - coaching my Franklin Track Team.

Weekend Recap

Saturday morning Ashley and I had breakfast with Grandma at Hometown Buffet.  That might be my new favorite place for breakfast.

My friend Shelly and Kindi and I took our girls to a Princess Luncheon.  Our Women's Junior League put it on.  They did a really nice job.  We dressed the girls like Princess.  Here are some pictures from the lunch.

This is Ashley with Captian Hook.  Captian Hook is a retired PE in teacher in Champaign.

Ashley with Bashful - She did not know the Snow White story - I am going to have to read that to her.

Ashley loves drawing - she is hard at work.

Ashley loved the wolf - it looks so real!  That should be my next Halloween costume.

Saturday night we had chair set up at church.  Then Ashley and I went off to Sam's.  I always spend to much when I go there.

Sunday - We went to Church and our paster made this announcement  -

 

Make no mistake, I do believe FCC's very best days are still ahead of us, but I also feel my season of leadership is winding to a close and I need to seek other opportunities that might be out there.

 

That was a total surprise too many......  Wonder what God has in store for First Christian?

 

In the afternoon I went to  transform fitness with Shelly.  Then we had small group we are watching a Andy Stanly video on finances.

 

Then I had to go to Franklin and work on sub plans for tomorrow because I start jury duty.  We also have a track meet in Mattoon and one in Champaign on Thursday.

 

 

Easter 2013

     Aha, April been a whirlwind - I don't know if its getting back into the swing of things after spring break in Destin.  Or its my parents move or its this terrible cold weather we are having....

   We had  a great Easter - my parents were in there new home.  This is the first holiday Ashley  I stayed at our own home.  It seemed strange I have always stayed with my  parents on holidays.

   The Easter bunny came to our house - We were watching Miley - Michelle dog - Ashley wrote the Easter Bunny a letter asking him/her not to take the dog that we were dog sitting.

    The Easter bunny brought special chocolate from - Flesors Candy Kitchen - it is in Tuscola.  They had a special sale in Champaign right before Easter. 

  I thought it would be a nice tradition to start if each Easter Ashley received a chocolate cross.

  We went to Rantoul to church with my mom.  My dad was not feeling the greatest.  The move has taken its toll on him.  The day they moved into the house he fell in the driveway.  Come to find out his pacemaker shocked him and knocked him out cold.

   Then my mom and Ashley and I went to Danville to Aunt Maru's for Easter.  We always have a great time.

Ashley was looking for the Golden egg - she must of passed up a dozen eggs.

Ashley was not ready to stop collecting eggs she was still looking for that Golden egg...  Our family group was really small this year.

We even had adult Easter egg hunt with prizes.  So much fun!!!

  Love my mom and Aunt Maru - I hope when I am Aunt Maru age I am in as great health as she is.  I wish my mom would keep her eyes open for pictures.

Hopefully time will slow down and I can catch my breath.

Loving Wednesday

I am linking up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday.....

What I'm Loving - that it is April - we have our first track meet a week from today!!!  We have 39 students out for track.

What I'm Loving - that my parents our moved into their new house.

What I'm Loving - that I took Ashley to the play place at the mall with some friends today to play.

What I'm Loving - that Monday I read to Ashley afternoon class.