A New Addiction

We are all addicted to something in our lives. And if you are thinking, 'oh no, I'm not addicted to anything.' Think again. I call you out on it.  ♡ In a nice sort of way. ♡ What about that cup of coffee you have every morning?  Have you ever tried to stop drinking it for a couple of days? Yeah, mmmhmm that's what I thought. How about the TV show you have to watch or better yet DVR so you don't miss it? Uh huh.  I could go on and on and on...but I think you get the point.
Well, I readily admit that I get addicted to things for a time. Sometimes it is a short time and sometimes it is a super long time, maybe even a lifetime.
Right now my latest addiction is ... Wait for it ...

❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀

 Pinterest.

My friend Kendra, at Wherever Life Leads, said something about it in one of her posts a couple of months ago and I am just now getting around to checking it out. Pinterest is a place you can keep track of all the things that interest you by pinning them to your board. Imagine a digital push pin board and you have Pinterest!! Super fun and addicting. I am always finding things that I love or I would love to DIY, but it gets lost somewhere in Never Never Land. Pinterest is a great way to help me organize without all of the paper waste. *I have not be compensated by Pinterest for saying all of these wonderful things about their website*
I think one of the best things is, you can share you interests with others and search for ideas and things that others may have already pinned! Super Sweet.

Now I am just wishing I could be this ingenious and think up this stuff first!  Then I would be rollin' in the dough, right?  Probably not.

Check out my pins on Pinterest  http://pinterest.com/selenamarie/

What Do You Love?

My lovely sister in law sent me an email today that really hit me to the core.  I really can not say much more than what was said in this daily devotional from Renee Swope.  My search for significance is really about "becoming the real me."   I hope you are as blessed by reading this devotion as I was and still am.   Lake Louise, AB Canada Becoming the Real Me Renee Swope

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13 (NIV)

What do you love to do? If finances were unlimited and failure was unlikely, what would be your dream?

The facilitator of our team-building activity asked our small group to answer these questions. I didn't have an answer. So I decided to start praying we'd run out of time before it got to me. But just in case I had to answer, I listened to everyone else describe their dreams, hoping to get ideas.

One wanted to be the first female president of the United States. Another friend said she'd always wanted to sing in a Christian rock band. I knew I was in trouble.

Here I was, 32-years-old at the time, and I didn't know who I was or what my dreams were. Eventually everyone looked at me for a response. I stumbled over my words. Then I finally admitted I didn't really know what I loved to do.

I didn't have a dream. I'd never taken time to think about or answer those kinds of questions. Instead, I had always tried to be who others wanted or needed me to be. But honestly, I wasn't very good at it. I often had this uneasy feeling in my heart and a sense of just not being happy. And I was a constant candidate for burn out.

I wasn't living out the truth held in our key verse today: "[God] created my inmost being; [He] knit me together in my mother's womb." (Psalm 139:13, NIV)

I was not designed to be who others expected me to be, or even wanted me to be. I was created to become all that God planned for me to be. But I was lost in the process of my becoming.

After I fumbled around looking for an answer during our team-building time, our facilitator encouraged me to ask God what His dreams were for my life.

I took her advice and started the process of becoming the "real me" who had gotten buried in the busyness of life and people pleasing.

As I read books that talked about discovering our passions, gifts and personality traits, I started to identify what I liked. I recognized strengths that came natural for me, and learned what I needed emotionally to encourage my heart.

For the first time, I realized there was an important reason I was who I was — with my passionate preferences and mixed bag of emotions. Instead of wanting to be like women I knew and admired, I sensed God wanted to use the unique way He made me.

Isn't it easy to neglect ourselves to meet the needs of everyone around us, and call it self-sacrifice? It sounds godly. But in doing so we risk shutting down a place in our soul where God's dreams and gifts are waiting to be revealed.

So, how well do you know the real you? Have you ever taken time to think about what you like to do? What would make your heart come alive if you had the confidence and resources to do it?

Although it might feel self-seeking, it's actually God-seeking to take time to get to know the woman He created you to be. Remember God had a plan in mind when He made you. When you surrender your unique passions and personality to Him, God will use them to guide you towards His dreams for your life.

Lord, I want to know the woman You had in mind when You created me. I don't want to grow old and never know Your purpose for my life. Show me Your dreams for me so I can offer what You want to give to those around me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

To get more information go here or to read directly from this website: Proverbs 31 Ministries Daily Devotions

Can you answer Renee's questions for yourself?  How well do you know the Real You?  Have you ever taken the time to think about what you like to do?  What would make your heart come alive if you had the confidence and resources to do it?

~ Selena

Mother's Day

I just can't seem to formulate the words that I want to say for this Mother's Day.  I feel the need to be uplifting and encouraging, but it is somewhat hard.  So I will share what I said at my precious mother's memorial service.  
I want to celebrate my mom and so I want you to know the things I will tell my children about their Meemaw;
Their Meemaw...

• loved them more than anything in this world.
• loved Jesus with her whole heart.
• was an incredibly strong woman, but so tender hearted.  If you didn't live with her, you would have never known anything was wrong.
• loved giving gifts.  She made sure everyone in the family had a present at Christmas time.  Even if she knew that you probably weren't going to be able to make it, she had it just in case.
• absolutely loved shopping.  She would shop till she dropped.  She was one of the people out at 4 am to go shopping on Black Friday.
• not only did she make some awesome desserts, but she was an amazing cook.  Everyone loved her Death by Chocolate and some of us got to have her wonderful Pizza Pie.
• loved working and serving at the Attic Window
• was a super woman mom.  She would drive all over to take us to everything.  From sporting events to free things around town.  I remember when I was in marching band in high school and our group took a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC to march in a parade.  I went thinking my parents were at home, but while marching down the street I heard my name being yelled from the sidewalk.  And when I saw who it was, I just about tripped and fell and had a whole band with instruments flying all around me.  
• loved to match our clothes.  For family events we were to wear the same color.  So today that is why we are all wearing red, one last time.
• had an infectious laugh
• was always there for everyone
• was a very good listener
• thought of everyone else before her self
• loved to decorate.  And she made sure everything was just so.  She was over the top on everything.  She convinced my dad they needed a new refrigerator just for my high school graduation.  For all of the food she made.
• made everyone feel special.  She called into T.V. stations when it was our birthday's.  My dad won a diamond one year for his birthday because she entered him into the birthday drawing.
• was the one always behind the camera
• gave me her smile.  Through happy and painful times we always seem to be smiling.

She will always be with my children as long as we share memories of her.  I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by her side.

and then we sang (or tried to sing) the song I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me.

My mom has given me a lot besides just the gift of life.  I can only hope that I can be half of the woman she was.  

I Learned From You

I learned about love from you,
Watching your caring ways.
I learned about joy from you
In fun-filled yesterdays.

From you I learned forgiving
Of faults both big and small.
I learned what I know about living
From you, as you gave life your all.

The example you set is still with me
I'd never want any other.
I'm thankful for all that you taught me,
And I'm blessed to call you "Mother."By Joanna Fuchs 
My mom had metastatic melanoma cancer.  On June 24-25 I will be walking all night in honor of my mom for Relay for Life.  It is a time to remember, celebrate, and fight back against cancer.   All funds that are raised are to help the American Cancer Society.  If you would like to donate to Relay for Life in honor of team Sheila Love, please click here.  I would greatly appreciate it.  
Happy Mother's day to all the mom's out there!
~ Selena 

Friday Finds: The Children's Museum

Yesterday, I rediscovered The Children's Museum with my hubby and kiddos!  We had a FABulous time.  I forgot how much I enjoyed going to the Children's Museum as a child.  My mom was so good about taking my brother and I to all sorts of fun places around where we lived.  The Children's Museum was at least an hour and half from where we lived as kids, but from where I live now I can get there in less than 30 minutes!  

Photo Credit

My son's favorite part: Bumblebee

The Children's Museum where we are from is the world's largest!  And we had a blast discovering the world of Dinosaurs, Super Heroes, Diego & Dora, ScienceWorks, Playscape, Egypt and so much more!  

ScienceWorks

I loved this picture made of jelly beans

Jelly Bean Van Gogh

The best thing (for my hubby and I) about what I found is ... wait for it ... our experience was FREE!!  

The first Thursday of each month is free from 4pm-8pm.

What have you found today?

P.S. Check out my friend Kendra's beautiful Friday Finds at her blog Wherever Life Leads.

~ Selena

Every Friday is dedicated to what I find.  I tend to do a lot of research on most big-ticket items before purchasing them.   Anything from cameras, baby car seats, to vehicles.  I also just wanted a place to share what I have found in my life.  Welcome to Friday Finds.

Friday Finds: A Regal Ride

Today I have two finds.

Of course I must comment first on the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  I can't help, but love to see two people get married that love one another so much.  So much so that you can't help but notice it.  Today was their special day.  I know that they are in the public eye a lot, but the fact that they allowed cameras in on their extraordinary day, is so exciting.  Just a little glimpse into what most would consider a fairytale.  Like I said in my post on Favorites AKA Guilty Pleasures, I have a thing for the Royals.  I am fascinated with their lifestyle.  Now, I am not obsessed or fanatic about them.  I just have a general curiosity.  Prince William is just a year younger than I am.  And growing up I always wondered what it would be like to live in their shoes.
Some could care less about the beautiful wedding of William and Catherine.  However, I like it because it is a beautiful celebration in the midst of war, chaos, stress and ugliness in the world.  To have a few hours to tune that all out and be able to witness happiness, beauty, love, and peace is simply wonderful.

photo credit

I feel their wedding was regal and classic with touches of modern thrown in.  I loved that they wowed everyone by kissing twice and driving themselves away in a super nice vintage 1969 Aston Martin Volante DB6 from Buckingham Palace.

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My second Friday Find is my new ride

I have been researching and researching for months now.  Tireless nights spent looking at reviews and looking at several different websites.  Driving to numerous car lots.  And I came up with what I thought would be the best vehicle for our family of five.  When we moved to Indiana in August, I knew that one vehicle between my hubby and I would not work so well.  I would need some wheels to get back and forth to dr. appts.  And I couldn't keep borrowing vehicles.  So we rushed around and found a super cheap car that we could pay for up front.  We ended up with a 1996 Honda Odyssey.

photo credit

Now let me be the first to say that I was NOT excited about driving a minivan.  But this little guy was like the anti-mini van.  It was smaller and the doors opened like car doors and the doors did not slide.  For a 1996 it was in good shape inside and out.  My 2 biggest complaints were that you could hear me coming from a mile away (the exhaust system needed work) and even though it could sit 7 it wasn't big enough for people and stuff both.  

I decided that I wanted to research a vehicle that could meet all of our needs.  A vehicle I could be proud of, that would hold all of us and a couple of more (no I will not be having more kids), I also wanted enough space that we could put our gear in if we wanted to take a trip or just to put B.O.B. in the back.  The car I decided on was the Chevy Traverse.

photo credit

It would seat 7-8 people, had a cargo capacity that is unmatched by other SUVs and minivans.  It gets 17mpg city and 24 mpg highway.  It is a wonderful vehicle that we could rely on.  Reading reviews on edmunds.com, and cars.com, plus talking with someone who owns a traverse had me sold before I even test drove one.  I found a 2009 Traverse for sale that fit our current budget last weekend.  We went to look at it and test drive it.  The outside was in perfect shape, but as my hubby told me, my face dropped immediately as I looked inside.  Whoever had the vehicle before did not take very good care of it.  They had to have had dogs.  There was scratches in the plastic everywhere!  What a disappointment.  We went ahead and took it for a drive.  It drove wonderfully.  but I couldn't get over the fact that the interior was so messed up.  I wanted to know my family, my kids messed up my car, instead of someone else.  HA!  So I was pumping myself up to tell the salesman NO.  I would absolutely NOT be taking this car home with us.  Because I was afraid of the vultures (what I affectionately call car salesmen).  I didn't want him to work me over.  I was dead set.  I wanted a Traverse, but not that one.  To my surprise, the salesman took the words out of my mouth.  He could tell I wasn't happy, and he said "it's because of the interior isn't it?"  What a load off. Whew.  But he was prepared, of course.  He asked me if I wold consider a GMC Acadia.  And I said no.  I don't know anything about them.  He explained that they are just identical to the Traverse.  They sit on the same frame and everything.  They had a 2007 on the lot.  I decided to take it for a ride.  And what a nice ride it was!  It was so nice it came home with us. 

The Acadia feels just like the Traverse and the best thing about it, it fit into our budget!  Unfortunately, my hubby had to trade our memory making Nissan Frontier in for the Acadia.  We took the Frontier from Colorado to Alaska to Indiana.  But he got over it... he got a new ride too. :-)  

We traded the Honda in for a Chevy Silverado.  ;-)

What have you found lately??

~ Selena 

Reminisce

This Easter Week, I have been reminiscing.  I have been thinking about what this week, this Holy Week, is all about.  I keep coming back to Jesus and how he took the time to wash the disciples feet.  The King of Kings wrapped a towel around himself, knelt before each man, and washed their dirty nasty feet.  A task for the lowliest of low servants at that time.  He washed the feet of the man that turned him over to the officials who would eventually hang him on a cross to die.  How incredibly humbling.

I have been apart of several foot washing ceremonies.  Mostly at camp.  During Jr. and Sr. High camps I would walk all the girls through the process of what happened in the Upper Room at the Last Supper.  How Jesus humbled himself to make it known that he was no better than any other man in the room.  Even the servants.  He was the example.  He challenged each man to wash each others feet too.  So that they could be blessed by the experience  (John 13:1-17). Can you imagine trying to get teenage girls to do this?  So I went first.  I washed their feet and spoke truth and love into their hearts.  You could see the hesitation in each of their faces.  I could tell they were thinking, if she thinks I am taking my shoes off, she's got another thing coming.  What is she thinking. But you know, they all participated.  They all had a chance to wash each others feet.  I was most impressed when a girl that had been mean or hurtful to someone had their feet washed by the one that had been hurt.  Talk about moving!  There were a lot of tear stained cheeks those nights.
But my most personal moving experience, with foot washing, was at a pastors house.  My hubby, son and I were visiting a church in Fairbanks, AK that supported the camp.  We were invited over to the youth pastors house.  When we arrived he asked us to sit down for a bit and make ourselves comfortable.  And then he left the room.  I looked at my hubby like, ummm, did he just leave us?  And when Pastor JR came back into the room, he was carrying a tub of water and had a towel wrapped around his waist.  He and his wife washed our feet.  I was speechless and I was the one with the tear stained cheeks.  I could not believe that happened.  It was truly amazing and humbling.

I don't think you have to get your feet washed to understand what it means to be humbled or blessed.  Just read Matthew 25-28 or Mark 14-16 or Luke 22-24.  See the story unfold about what God did for you and for me.

~ Selena

Sweet Sunday: When I look to the Sky

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.” ~ Author Unknown

Music has a way of moving me emotionally and physically.  I listen to music a lot.  Generally speaking I have background music playing all the time. 
A day last week I was listening to Pandora.com, an internet radio station.  A song that I have heard a lot before came on.  Listening to the song now, in this time of my life, hit me in such a different way.  Due to life's twists and turns.  My Sweet Sunday is dedicated to this song and my mom.  

 Image found on iTunes

The song is When I Look to the Sky by Train.


When I Look to the Sky (Radio Version) - Single - Train



[Verse 1]
When it rains it pours and opens doors
And floods the floors we thought would always keep us safe and dry
And in the midst of sailing ships we sink our lips into the ones we love
That have to say goodbye 

[Chorus:]
And as I float along this ocean
I can feel you like a notion that won't seem to let me go 

Cause when I look to the sky something tells me you're here with me
And you make everything alright 
And when I feel like I'm lost something tells me you're here with me
And I can always find my way when you are here 

[Verse 2]
And every word I didn't say that caught up in some busy day
And every dance on the kitchen floor we didn't have before
And every sunset that we'll miss I'll wrap them all up in a kiss
And pick you up in all of this when I sail away 

[Chorus:]
And as I float along this ocean
I can feel you like a notion that I hope will never leave

[Verse 3]
Whether I am up or down or in or out or just plane overhead
Instead it just feels like it is impossible to fly
But with you I can spread my wings
to see me over everything that life may send me 
When I am hoping it won't pass me by 

And when I feel like there is no one that will ever know me
there you are to show me

Cause when I look to the sky something tells me you're here with me
And you make everything alright 
And when I feel like I'm lost something tells me you're here with me
And I can always find my way when you are here [X2]



Lyrics from Lyrics007.com


I lost my mom in January to Melanoma Cancer and I have to believe that she is still here with me. 


Selena 

Friday Finds: Teeth and Gold

Today I have two Friday Finds.  I know, can you believe it!  I just happened upon these...

TEETH -

Oh holy Moses.  The season for teething babies is here.  Slobber, runny noses, nasty diapers, chew, chew, chew times two!  The teeth are coming, watch out.  We can see 2 teeth making their way up in Sophia's mouth.  I told a friend in a previous post that we have a chorus of crying babies instead of a solo. How true that is at our house right now.


GOLD -

There's gold up there in them hills.  Okay so maybe not exactly gold and I didn't exactly find it in the hills.  I found Coffee House Inspirations, Chai Latte.  Oh buddy.  It is soooo good.  I can not call myself a coffee connoisseur, but I do know what tastes good to me.  :-)  And this tastes yummy!  I go through spurts of drinking coffee.  I usually stick to the specialty coffee like carmel macchiatos.  But lately I have been dabbling in the simple, but effective coffee and creamer.  There are some days that I just need a pick me up.  It may have to do with the fact that I have 3 kids now.  And I think this Chai Latte is going help me in that effort of waking up.  Or at least I hope.

I looked up Coffee House Inspirations, Chai Latte on line and found "Beau's International Delight Chai Latte."  He talks about "an easy way to be make a terrific tasting chai latte at home." It is a little more involved than I want, but I am sure it makes a fabulous chai latte!

What have you found lately?
Have a Fabulous Friday

If you are looking for more Friday Finds, check out my friend Kendra's blog, Wherever Life Leads


Every Friday is dedicated to what I find.  I tend to do a lot of research on most big-ticket items before purchasing them.   Anything from cameras, baby car seats, to vehicles.  I also just wanted a place to share what I have found in my life.  Welcome to Friday Finds.

Recycle

Who would have ever thought that recycling would make me a little happier.  When I get to throw something in the recycling bins I feel a little better about my day.  As a family of 5, we can generate a lot of trash.  But with recycling, we have reduced the number of trash bags that go out to the curb on trash day.
I know that recycling is not a new concept, but some areas of the country are not as into it as others.  Where we live now, recycling is easily accessible.  I can do easy.

Flatirons.  Boulder, CO

One of the places we love to eat is Noodles & Company.  We discovered this fan- tabulous place when we lived in Boulder, Colorado.  Noodles' headquarters was not too far from our little apartment.  I would venture to say, we would eat there at least once a week when we were D.I.N.Ks. (Double Income No Kids).  Just the other day we ordered take out and I noticed everything our food came in, including the bag, and utensils was all recyclable!  I think I like Noodles even more now! Of course it was all recyclable.  They are from Boulder.  Where everything is granola and prairie dogs are protected.

Recycling, one of my new loves.

Shout Out!

I am giddy with excitement because I got a shout out on a fellow bloggers post!  Check it out! narragansettnumber7.com

Every time I read her posts I bust out laughing or I have a light bulb moment.  I love the way she writes.  She tells it how she sees it and does so with such detail!  I feel like I am a fly on a wall watching everything she writes about.
Thanks narragansettnumber7.com !  You rock!


Selena

Cuppy Cake

Mmmmm me want cuppy cake.

My sister in law recently reminded me of Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.  Cookie Monster loves all things cookies, but he also loves cuppy cakes.

I have been on a cupcake kick lately.  I made Spiderman cupcakes for my son's 4 birthday party.  I also made green sprinkled cupcakes for St. Patty's Day.  And I must say, I love them.  I can't seem to stop at just one.  I have been using the Betty Crocker Super Moist White Cake mix with Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Vanilla Frosting.  It really isn't anything special.  But I just love it.  So I have come up with reasons to love cupcakes

Reasons to love CUPCAKES

1. One box makes at least 25 cupcakes!
2. It is super easy to make.  One box of mix, oil, water, 3 eggs, frosting
3. So easy to share with neighbors and friends
4. Super tasty
5. Can be made for any themed occasion or just because
6. A very intoxicating smell permeates your house when baking them
7. If you can stop at one, it has to be less calories. (than a big cake) It just has to be, right?
8. There are books out there on cupcakes
9. There is an art to swirling on the frosting
10. Your kids will love you for making them!  And your hubby too...and anyone else within smelling distance.

My sister in law has a book on cup cakes on a stick...AKA Cake Balls.

Super-d-duper cute cupcake pops from Bakerella

It is called Bakerella.  It is inspiring and a bit overwhelming.  These cupcakes are amazing, don't you think??

B.O.B.

I love B.O.B.  :-)

He makes my life easier.  He is a smooth rider.  He  rolls with the best of them.  He turns nicely.  He moves with little to no effort.

B.O.B. is my stroller.

Meet B.O.B.



[caption id="attachment_120" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="B.O.B. and the family"][/caption]

 

I am by no means a spokesperson for the B.O.B. stroller.  Nor do I get paid to tell you how many ways I love my stroller.  I wish I did because I would be rollin' in the dough.  Well, in my dreams, I am sure.  But seriously.  B.O.B. is one of the best investments my hubby and I could have made.  And I say investment because B.O.B. comes at a pretty hefty price.  I'm sayin' he doesn't come cheap.  But when I can push my stroller up a hill with one hand and push my son who is on his bike with the other hand at the same time while running and not crash...I think you get what I am saying.  (yes, I know that was a huge run-on, but imagine me saying it without taking a breath).  B.O.B. is amazing.  And has truly made my life easier.

When I found out that I was having twins, I knew my body would be forever different.  And not in a good way.  Fatty fatty two by four. That is what I affectionately call myself.  I told my hubby that I wanted a stroller that I could fit both girls in, be able to run behind with ease, and fit it in my car by myself.  That is all I wanted.  Not too much to ask.  Right?   We searched and searched and found B.O.B. at our local R.E.I. and we never looked back.  Now I am 5 months post babies and I am running with B.O.B. after my son, who just got a new bike.

Thank you to the makers of B.O.B.

Sweet Sunday: Melt My Heart

I would like to dedicate every Sunday to something short n' sweet.  Whether it is a sweet treat, a sweet word, a sweet song, a sweet picture, a sweetie pie.  Just something that I have found to be sweet.  Hopefully you can join in too!

The absolute sweetest thing I have ever heard... 

"Momma, I sure am glad that Jesus gave me to you."     ~ Author - My son.

OHHH.  Melt my heart.

Do you have something short n' sweet?