CropCircleClay Giveaway

I'm so excited to annouce a giveaway I will be hosting this week which is sponsored by Diana at CropCircleClay.  Diana's shop features handmade pottery which bear the design of crop circles found throughout the world.  You can find Diana's shop on ETSY at CropCircleClay.

Diana is offering one lucky reader a personalized latte mug.  The winner can choose up to three inspirational words that will be placed on inset of the mug.  Just imagine sipping your coffee each morning and staring into a mug filled with inspiring words that you've personally chosen.  What a great way to start your day! 

Via

How to Enter:

(One entry for each of the following)

1. Be or become a follower of my blog - please leave your email address so I can contact you.

2.  Visit CropCircleClay and let me know which piece you like best.

3.  "Like" CropCircleClay's FB Page

4. Blog about this giveaway and leave the link to your page.

Good luck!  Please remember to list each entry seperately so I can give you credit for each.  The giveaway will end Wednesday, August 11th & a winner will be announced Thursday, August 12th.

**Also, Diana has offered a 20% discount for any reader who would like to purchase pottery from her shop now through December 31, 2010.  These items would make great personalized gifts for birthdays, anniversaries or Christmas.  I know I'm going to have to leave some good hints for hubby about a few pieces I've got my eye on for Christmas!  Just mention you saw this discount on my blog!

When Good Dogs Go Bad

Over the past five or six months, Steven and I have been allowing Dixie & Bauer to stay in the livingroom/kitchen area while we are away from the house instead of making them stay in their crates all day.

We figured it would best to start with baby steps. Leave them out for an hour or so while we ran to the grocery store. Leave them out on Sunday mornings while we went to church. Over the past few months, the amount of time they are left alone and out of their crates has expanded greatly.

We learned early on that one of them did not like it when we left magazines in the magazine rack. It never failed, if an US Weekly or Carolina Country was left in the magazine rack, it would be shredded across the house when we returned home.

But in all honesty, I could handle that. We learned not to leave magazines in the magazine rack. And more importantly - they *never* touched any of the books/DVD's/candles/piture frames/etc anywhere else in the livingroom - in particular, our entertainment center that houses tons of stuff. They never messed with any of value, so I could handle a shredded magazine every once and a while.

Saturday we Steven and I were gone all day. It was the longest amount of time the dogs had been left on their own and I really didn't think a thing of it....

Until we walked in the door and found DVD's and books shredded in the livingroom floor.

At which point - I went through.the.roof!

Bauer immediately ran to the back door. Dixie took off to the office trying to hide from my fury. Steven had to wrangle them both into the kitchen so we could have a little chat about their poor behavior. It looked a little something like this....

Ears back - tails tucked.

You can see that Bauer is genuinely sorry.

Dixie has a more defiant resolve that she did absolutely nothing wrong.

Telling Daddy how oh so sorry they are.

Steven forgave them almost immediately and things returned to normal between Daddy and the pups.  I on the other hand held a slight grudge and refused to acknowledge either of them for a bit.  Yet another sign that I will be a complete failure as a mother. 

I must admit, they did look awfully cute and pitiful with their sad "please don't be mad" eyes.  Maybe next time they will think twice before shredding my Twilight DVD!

If I Die Young

A little over a week ago I learned that one of my college classmates passed away – at 25 years old. I talk all the time about how old I feel, but really and truly, 25 is a cruelly young age for everything to end.

This Saturday I heard “If I Die Young” by Band Perry for the first time. With the news of Graham’s death fresh on my mind, the lyrics to this song literally knocked the wind out of me. Seconds into the song I was crying uncontrollably.

I was haunted Saturday night as I tried to sleep. What would I say if I died young? How would I want to be buried, be remembered, be mourned and wished farewell? As morbid as it sounds, I could not lay this thought to rest until I formulated my last wishes, just in case I unexpectedly pass.

If I Die Young…..
Pin my badge across my heart and place my Bible in my hands. No matter what the season, lay me in a white cotton dress. I’m going to meet my Maker and I want to look my best.

Lord send an angel to my mother, to wipe away her tears. Tell her not to think of what I’ve missed, but of all I did while here. I knew the love of a mother who never led me astray. I knew the passion of a good man who loved me faithfully each day. I lived each day to the fullest and spent more time happy than sad – what more could a mother ever ask?

Please tell Daddy not to worry, Pastor Greg will send me Home. Daddy baptized me and married me. As a pastor and a father, he more than did his duty. But no father should have to bury child - so just hold Mama’s hand and think of when I’ll see you again.

Gather my family and friends in the quad of Wingate University beneath the oaks and magnolias. This is the where I met the love of my life and the beautiful place where we were married. It seems only fitting this be the setting where I tell him goodbye.

Lord allow a gentle breeze to whisper in his ear my love and tenderness. Let him know I kept my promise, faithful unto death. I’ve released him from his vow and pray his heart will mend. While I hope that I’m remembered, Lord let him love again.

If I have one regret, it’s that I didn’t win more souls for my Lord. So tell Pastor Greg to share the message and please dear friends, please listen.

I’m already in His splendor and I’m happy to be Here. Mema and Nana welcomed me at the Gate - wish you could have seen the smile upon my face. What I’ve left behind no longer matters, so do not mourn for my sake. Just play “Sweet Home Alabama” and send me to my Savior.

And each time you see God’s Glory when the sun bursts through the clouds, take comfort knowing I’m in a better place now.

Miscellany Monday

{one}  I need to pay bills today.  Perfect chore for Monday......not looking forward to that item on my to-do-list.

{two}  It's official - I'm training for a half marathon in November.  Yes, I said I was going to do this two weeks ago - but this weekend I found a running partner.  So I have committed 100% - two weeks left of conditioning and then comes a pretty intense 12 weeks training plan. 

{three}  Cheesecake Factory wasn't half price on Friday.  Well, it was - if you were dining in.  But the wait was one and a half hours for two people.  So we paid full price and got the cheeescake to go.  But dulce de leche cheesecake has never tasted so good!

{four}  After a trip to Home Goods and IKEA, my master bedroom makeover is almost complete.  Hubby and I will be picking out a new paint color today and hopefully the transformation will be finished by this weekend.  Pictures to come soon....

{five} Baby fever has subsided.  It just hit me this weekend that I might not be as ready as I thought.  Stay tuned as I'm sure this will change shortly.

{six} I can't believe I am saying this, as summer is generally my *favorite* season - but bring on FALL!  Football season, light sweaters, beautiful colors, fall decorations.  I'm over this super hot weather and all my vacations have been taken.  Give me cooler weather and Saturday's watching the Crimson Tide!