Hi

Hi.
Once again, it's been a long time.
Here are a few things that's going on with me.
1) now lost almost 90 lbs
2) I get to do some substitute teaching at my daughter's school
3) I get to teach a craft to the after school care there.
4) I get to work in after school care also.
5) I am taking a Love and Logic class at Penn Christian School. Love it!
6) I'm taking a Financial Peace University class at Victory Christian Fellowship
( http://www.getvictory.net/ ) ( http://www.daveramsey.com/ )
7) I now have a facebook site. Love catching up with long lost friends and family!
8) Joined this site: http://www.e-mealz.com/ it's a great way to get new ideas for making meals
and meneus. I needed that.
9) I've learned about loom knitting. how fun!
10) Here is a great Valentines Day idea that you can do for your family. Make heart shaped cup
cakes. When you put your batter in the cup cake cups, put a marble inbetween the muffin
pan and the cup cake paper. It will shape the cupcake like a heart. cute.

Have a great day!

Merry Christmas!

I was so wanting a 'back home' kind of Christmas. As it worked out, we did not have to go to Phildalphia to spend time sitting around all prim and proper eating auderv's that no average person eats and talk about stock and the money world, and who is sailing to where, and the big gigantic house that is being built. I wanted to have a 'Woodhull' (My maiden name) kind of Christmas. A day playing games, listening to Christmas music, watching Christmas programs on TV and eating light and good snacks. Yes, that is what I wanted.
After returning home from our most wonderful Christmas eve service, my family had an evening snack, we watched a Christmas show on TV, then Naomi was tired so she went to bed. Brian needed to wrap gifts, and I needed to make a ton of potato salad to take to a place that our Church was feeding on Christmas day. But.... we were just to tired, so a nap on the couch was decided upon and off to sleep we went. As if an alarm went off we both woke up at 2:00 AM. I made the potato salad, Brian wrapped and we both spiffed up the house. Now it was 6:00 AM. Brian went up to bed and I clonked out on the couch. Naomi got up at 7:15 AM. Long story short. we opened gifts, had our coffee and breakfast. watched a show or two, had some great family time, then we kind of napped our way through the day cause we all were just tuckered out. We did get my 'laid back' kind of day, well, more laid back than I had anticipated, but everyone was happy. Oh and we went to a Chinese Buffet for dinner due to me being to tired to think of what to make at home. It was a very nice Christmas.

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving time. It's a time that I think about all the people that have made a difference in my life, people that have touched my heart and of course I think of the many blessings that God has brought to me. If I were to list them all, this would be on and on and on for a very long time.
I am thankful that I belong to a nation that from the start realized that this was a blessing from God and without His help and providence, America would not be.
I am thankful that God has brought people into my life that He has used to help me be what I am and am becoming. I think of my tenth grade English Teacher. Mrs. Kochenderfer, somehow saw something of worth and encouraged me to go to college. If it wornt for her, I would still be at home and who knows what.
I am thankful for Pastors that recognized the call of God on my life and helped me to grow in speaking skills and allowed me to step into their pulpits to share the gospel.
I am thankful to opportunities to minister as Youth pastor, Christian Education Director, Sunday School teacher, Home missions assistant, counselor, teacher, etc.
I am thankful for my parents who always told me that I could do whatever I wanted to do as long as I knew that it was God's plan for me.
I am thankful for my husband who puts up with my weaknesses, and whims that I get myself into. I am thankful that he loves God with all his heart and plays his saxophone to the glory of God that moves others to worship.
I am thankful for my daughter who loves Jesus with all her heart and serves Him with purpose. What a blessing she is!
I am thankful for my neighbors. I have the best neighbors in the world! We all watch out for each other and anyone of them will help with just a phone call.
I am thankful to my church. It is the most loving and caring church I've ever been in. Check them out at http://www.getvictory.net . If your in the area, come and visit us. You'll be glad you did.
I am thankful for Jesus Christ. I remember thinking at age 10 that I wasn't worth the dirt I was walking on. Jesus did and in fact He gave his life so that I could discover life and have it abundantly! He has changed my life from the pit of depression and dispare to living life to the fullest. I cannot begin to express how I am so thankful that God has touched my life to make me a new creation in Him.
There is so much that I am thankful for I cannot proclaim it all.
On this Thanksgiving Day, I am full of gratitude for all the wonderful things that God has done for me.

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Election Day

Hi,
It's election day. I am praying for our nation. On one hand, I am glad that after today all the candidate mail and the phone calls and especially the commercials will stop. Now I am concerned for our nation in that people (and I do understand the why) will be voting their pocket books. I will be voting based on Godly principles. It's my belief that if we vote Godly values, that everything else will come out right.
I do pray that God will have mercy on America. If we vote people in that will continue to ignore the voice of unborn children, and continue to murder our unborn, then we will see judgment.
This is my opinion and I approve this message.
Sheila

Congrats to the Phillies!

Ok. so I was saying to everyone, "The Philies are going to win, ya right ". with the most sarcasm I could muster up. It seemed that they would get almost there and then loose. But the did it. The won!!.
Yea Phillies!

Inexpensive Fall Decorating.

I love the fall time. The leaves are gently floating down from the trees and leaving a carpet of color on our lawns. This fall, I have decided to put some splashes of Fall around our home. When I think of fall, I think of fireplace mantels draped with lovely garlands of colored leaves, mums and candles. I didn't have many 'pennies' to work with so I checked out my local Walmart and JoAnns Fabric stores. I came home with stems of fall leaves ($1, each) from Walmart and a 6' foot garland of fall leaves and berries from JoAnns Fabric ($3 something, it was 60% off). After fussing a bit, I must say it looks lovely.
I found this article from "The Budget Decorator" that I thought I'd share with you.


13 Easy and Inexpensive Fall Decorating Ideas
Copyright © 2006-2007 Julie Lohmeier
Autumn provides a bounty of decorating ideas. No need to decorate
for fall with cheap, plastic, fake items when the real thing is
inexpensive, more tasteful, and easily creates a beautiful fall
ambiance in your home. Here are 13 ideas that you can easily do.
1. Use a taller pumpkin as a vase for fresh flowers. Clean out
the guts and seeds and use the pumpkin to arrange your flowers.
Taller ones work well, but so will squatty pumpkins if you cut
your flower stems short.
2. Make topiary out of a foam form (conical shapes always work
well) and hot glue a variety of large seeds – acorns, walnuts,
pinecones – to the form. Completely cover the foam. Easy and
makes a wonderful piece for any table or countertop.
3. Pick brightly colored fallen leaves. Rub a good moisturizer
onto the front and back of the leaves and let dry. This helps the
leaves keep their color and avoid curling. Once dry, scatter the
leaves on a table, around a centerpiece, or on a fireplace
mantle.
4. Fill a tall vase or extra-large brandy snifter with a variety
of colorful miniature pumpkins and gourds.
5. Make a centerpiece using pie pumpkins, gourds, and leaves.
Vary the sizes and colors of these squashes and fill in the gaps
with leaves, mini pumpkins, and gourds.
6. Arrange large pumpkins in a group (odd numbers work best) or
on stairs. Carve or paint designs or messages on the pumpkins.
For example, I saw white pumpkins used on stair treads, each with
a letter spelling "Welcome".
7. Carve a small hole, one inch deep in miniature pumpkins for
use as taper candle holders.
8. If you have a tiered cake or serving plate, arrange pumpkins,
gourds, or squash on each tier. Use a pie pumpkin or turban
squash (looks like two placed one on top of the other) on the top
level. Use smaller ones, even miniatures, as well as leaves and
nuts on the other tiers.
9. Cut a branch for a tree. Place lengthwise on a table. Nest
miniature gourds, pumpkins, leaves, nuts, and votive candles
among the smaller branches. (Whenever you bring branches in from
outdoors, spray insect repellent on the branch outside before you
cut it. Let it stay outside for a day or two. Then bring into the
garage or on a porch for another day or two until the smell is
gone.)
10. Soften a three-wick candle by blowing a hairdryer on it until
the wax is soft. Then press small colored leaves into the
softened wax to add a fall touch.
11. Take tall corn stalks and attach to porch columns or mailbox
or even trees with a large fall colored ribbon. Further accent
with pumpkins or mums around the base.
12. Cut long branches with colored leaves still attached (see
instructions above to prevent bringing bugs into your home).
Place in a tall vase or an umbrella stand. Be sure the branches
are proportionate to the vase or stand.
13. Use potted mums to replace your summer flowers in flower
beds, on porches, near fireplace hearths, in corner of rooms –
this classic never goes out of style. To give added height within
a group, place one potted mum on a miniature straw bale.
Using the natural beauty of fall nature, you can easily and
inexpensively decorate your home for the changing season.
============================================================
Julie Lohmeier is the veteran of numerous home remodeling and building projects. From working hands on and doing much of the work herself to hiring contractors and construction managers, she has seen the entire spectrum of home improvement. She shares her remodeling tips, home decorating ideas, and other various rants at http://www.myhomeredux.com. Subscribe to her free newsletter at: http://myhomeredux.typepad.com/blog/2005/09/get_my_home_red_2.html
@copyright 2006, Julie Lohmeier, www.myhomeredux.com
Use this report in its entirety with proper acknowledgement and copyright.

Did you find an idea that was inspiring to you? let me know.
Have fun this fall and rejoice in the color display of God's creation.
Blessings to you all,
Sheila

Knitting Looms

Hi to everyone,
I have just discovered the Knifty Knitter. They are so fun. I have just splurged and have almost all the Knifty Knitters, I think, that they make. I have made several hats, a scarf and am making some things for Christmas with them. I have also found some Loom Knitting groups on Yahoo that I have joined.
One of the neatest things about them is that kids can do it to. They are not hard to do and, in fact, my daughter, age 14, picked it right up and made herself a scarf that looks just wonderful on her.
I hope to get some pictures up and perhaps include some links to other loom information that will encourage you to be a 'loomer'.
So what else has been happening since I've last posted.
Hmm, well, I have now lost 70 some lbs. Feeling great! In fact, I am now on the list for sub teaching at my daughters school. How cool is that!
Now that it's fall, I have put some decorations up for the fall season. That was fun. I don't think I've ever decorated for the fall season before.
Here are a couple of sites that have to do with the Knitting Loom.
1) http://www.loomknitting.com/

2)http://isela.typepad.com/looming_crafts/loom-knitting.html

I think that these will wet your appitite.
Enjoy,
Sheila_T