Toilet Saga

NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!

I need help! How can one have a remotely "clean" bathroom

when the toilet looks like this!!

We have well water....and over the years, even with a weekly cleaning, the toilet has turned this lovely shade of ...puke! I would love any suggestions on how to get this clean. Please dont' say, "scrub it with Comet" It doesn't work! HELP!

I could give up all hopes of a bright, glowing toilet and make myself one like this. We saw this in a little restaurant we stopped at on the coast! Those are lures in the clear lid and seat. Nice! Just what I've always wanted! The other bathroom had fishing hooks in the seat. wow!

AND I'm not asking for toilet like this.......pure gold...I just want a WHITE toilet!

Well, if someone was giving one away, I might take it!

Pj's and the Word

Today has been a day for studying. I literally woke up, made breakfast, got coffee with the husband and then locked myself in my bedroom. I have been waiting for Spring Break to get here so I could devote a whole day to preparing some lessons for a retreat I will be speaking at the end of April. Darren had taken Tim and a few other kids from church fishing and the girls decided to stay home. At first, I was a little bummed and almost "made" them go so I could have a quiet house. They were awesome! They were quiet, respectful and even brought refills of coffee! Love those sweet cheeks!! Such a wonderful day in the Word, wish I could do it everyday, six hours a day : )

I stayed in my pj's and should probably take a shower so I can be in fresh pj's to watch American Idol. Who's leaving?

Wordless Wednesday

LOVE these KIDDOS!!

NOTE: By this post you would think that I am a huge meat eater. My family is...I am not! But I do love me some of these!!!!

I made a yummy pasta dish for robin's family, doubled the recipe and made some for us too. The family loved it! Can't go wrong with pasta, meat and cheesy bread! I love Pioneer Woman!! I have never made a meal from her recipe stash that did not turn out amazing!! Can't wait to make these Bleu Cheese Burgers next week!

We are headed out of town in the early morning to visit some college friends in Cali. We have been dreaming of warmer weather, a family road trip and In-N-Out burgers! Yummo! But most of all, we are looking forward to hanging with our crazy friends! : )

On another note, the Lord led me to the most incredible verse. You know those moments when you have read a verse many times before and then you read it and it hits you between the eyes? Well, this verse hit me on the head! I have never doubted GOD'S love for me but I am constantly amazed that HE NEVER, EVER leaves me, even in the midst of my disgusting, carnal sin!!! Here's the verse....I know you won't be able to read this without screaming, WOW!

But me he caught—reached all the way

from sky to sea; he pulled me out

Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,

the void in which I was drowning.

They hit me when I was down,

but God stuck by me.

He stood me up on a wide-open field;

I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!

Ps. 18:19

I am always amazed by HIS love for me!!

Even when we walk right into sin, into the chaos of the enemy, HE is faithful to reach down, into the pit that we are drowning in, lift us up, bless us by placing us in a wide open field and we stand there.....SAVED, completely amazed that we are so LOVED!! I love my Savior!!

Coupon Clippers

I am in love! My friend recommended this site to me and I was not too overly excited to check it out. I love a good deal, a cheap sale, and bargain hunting but I do not clip coupons. I know the value of it and how it pays off in the end....I used to do it when we were first married but was not that organized about it. (yes, I had a coupon organizer and never used it) But wait til you check this site out.....couponclippers This is a great way to organize your groceries, look for the exact coupon you need, click it, and "buy it" By buying it, I mean paying for shipping and then it to arrive in your mailbox in a few days. Paying for coupons sound ridiculous, but I ordered 25 coupons, paid $5.47 and by the time I use all the coupons, I will have saved a total of $51.72....a total savings of about $45!! The site is divided up into categories..food, paper products, baby items, beverages, etc. It adds up your savings, keeps track of the coupons you have purchased in the past and it will let you know of different sales going on at major stores in your area.......I AM IN LOVE!!

I am always looking for ways to save money and now, during this financial crunch, I'm looking to be creative more than ever! Do you use coupons? If so, do you "clip" them from the newspaper or get them online?

My Backyard

My back yard,

a golden sunset

after a day of rain

Some Dinner Entertainment

I was deprived growing up...yep, I was. I NEVER learned all those School House Rock songs...Conjuction Junction and whatever else I missed. Good grief, what kind of 4th grade teacher am I??....After having this dicussion at dinner lastnight, they all broke out in song..and I had to join in and pretend like I knew what I was singing, because wow, I should know the Preamble!

My "Not so Smart Dog"

Yesterday we headed down to the river with our very dumb, black lab. We love our dog but ever since we got him about a year ago, he seems to be missing a screw......not quite all there. Barking at the TV, always needs to be touching and chases our feet when we walk by him. He is loveable and always needs/wants/tries to be touching someone at all times..even if that means putting his head on your foot or sitting really close to you wherever you are.....Grant it, we have not spent a ton of time training this poor animal, he does love human interaction! For a dog with a learning disability, he is pretty obedient.

So, we attempted to take him to the river for a walk. We don't do this very often because he doesn't jump in the back of the truck...he just doesn't. What large lab will not jump? Here is a quick video of what we go through everytime we take him on a field trip.

SIDENOTE: I am annoyed by my own rambling voice in this video....."tracy, just be quiet and take a breath"

Our not smart dog #2 from Tracy bartholomew on Vimeo.

Relying on HIS Grace

I just ordered this CD on itunes and I am loving the songs on it. One of my favorites is WE CRY OUT by Kari Jobe...The lyrics are my heart's cry....Father, it's only by YOUR grace and YOUR mercy that we can even cry out YOUR name!

I can't wait until we are perfected in HIM and spend eternity singing worship songs to our Savior....oh, JESUS, HURRY UP!

WE CRY OUT

Kari Jobe

Father of life seated on Your throne of grace

It’s only by Your mercy we are saved Lord,

You have said if we call upon Your name

We and our families will be saved

So we cry out Your name El Shaddai,

God of grace Lord most high,

Jesus Christ We rely on Your grace Adonai,

crowned in praiseLord most high, Jesus Christ

Father of love never failing to forgive

Each moment is a gift from You to live

We’re only here to tell the world about Your grace

Until the day You take us all away

We will cry out on Your nameEl Shaddai,

God of grace Lord most high,

Jesus Christ, We rely on Your grace Adonai,

crowned in praiseLord most high, Jesus Christ

A Sunday Afternoon

A rainy weekend leads to some......

Guitar playing with Dad

Bro and sis softball, (in their cool hats from Aunt Liz)

Looking for the softball

Some posing for the camera, after softball

Dad teaching the kids some "geetar"

Poor little sick sister did not move from this

spot all weekend : (