Jungle Fever

and no it's not what you are thinking...

A little air time

I love to give Dylan naked time, and he's been enjoying more and more of it as it's been getting warmer.  You have to be smart when your child gets said naked time. Make sure it's strategically planned after any bathroom breaks. He has had a few mistakes, but nothing a little resolve won't clean up. Thankfully, he's only peed. I mean who wants to spend 24/7 in a diaper. 

so fresh and so clean

While organizing Dylan's closet, I took a container off the shelf that had lots of free samples you receive in the mail when pregnant. You know, all those companies that try to win you over with free samples. I obviously wasn't won over since I still have them and Dylan is almost 11 months old. I digress. Dylan was pulling out every single one of the samples. He was having so much fun as you can imagine. He started walking around his bedroom with a sample in each hand.  I just happen to look over at him, and he is making the funniest face. I look, he has a bar of soap in his hand. He had taken a bite of it. I could see the soap shavings just sitting on his teeth as he shook his head and made a "what is this" look. I started laughing, I couldn't help it. Then he started laughing. I got a burp cloth and tried to dig the soap out of his mouth. It was too cute. 

Why I hate Bl@ckbuster

Bl@ckbuster seems to be the go to spot when you want to rent a movie. However, that's not the case for me. About 4 years ago, we rented a movie from bl@ckbuster and took it over a friends house to watch. On the way home, we returned the movie. I know for a fact that the DVD was in the case, as I checked before we left their house. However, we somehow managed to get charged for the DVD as they said it wasn't in the case. Are you kidding me? I checked the case, and I checked the car to make sure it didn't somehow magically slip through the seemingly small crack in the case. NO DICE. UGH! Needless to say, we purchased Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Trust me, if I was going to keep a movie, it wouldn't be this one. After that I vowed not to rent a movie from this dishonest store, and I held out for a long time. I may have rented 1 or 2 movies in the past 4 years. Instead, I have been hitting up the $1 rental machine at Publix. Can I get a whoop whoop? What's not to love about renting a movie for $1. Well, a few weeks ago, Damien wanted a blu ray video to watch, so he didn't go to the $1 rental as they don't have blu ray. He rented Prince Caspian on a Saturday. It was a 5 day rental due back by Thursday. 

Today, Damien came home from renting a movie (not a blu ray and not from the $1 machine...he needs more how to be frugal training) and asked when I returned the last movie as there was a late fee. I said, I returned it on my way to bible study on Wednesday. Then I proceeded to say, this is why I hate bl@ckbuster. He said, that's the problem, it wasn't bl@ckbuster. It was M@vie Gallery. Ok, so I take the blame on not getting that right. However, get this....it was due on the 26th, I returned it to blockbuster on the 25th. Blockbuster didn't return it to movie gallery until March 9th. Are you kidding me? It's not that far away and it takes you 12 days to return it. Can you help a sister out? Needless to say we rented a movie for $20 vs $1. I mean it's not like the m@vie gallery is 20 minutes away...it's like 4 minutes at most. It's like they were saying, well since you didn't rent from us, we'll get you my pretty and your little dog too. I vow never to rent from bl@ckbuster ever!!! Sorry Krista, I just can't stoop to this location's deceptive ways. Z's store is probably different.

Doodle Bug

As many of you know, I won a canvas two weeks ago, doodled by Sara (Gitz) herself, that proudly hangs in my breakfast nook. She is a fabulous doodler, so great that she does it in her sleep sometimes, seriously. Anyway, she is now selling her work. Check it out. Oh, and she is still doing her Hump Day Giveaway for a limited time, and if we get the kinks worked out, you may be able to enter a donation raffle that you could enter to win one of your own and support my upcoming Malawi trip. 

Wordless Wednesday

I heart Malawi

Greetings! fellow readers! As many of you may already know, God has given me the opportunity to go to Malawi in southeastern Africa, July 11-24, to join Him in His work there. 

My church, The People's Church, has established a partnership with the Capital City Baptist Church in Lilongwe, Malawi to demonstrate the love of Jesus in practical ways. The primary purpose of this partnership is to resource the Kauma Orphan Support Initiative, also known as "Adziwa." There are over 12 million children who have been orphaned by AIDS in Africa, and this project will help children orphaned by AIDS and their adoptive families by providing them with decent housing and agricultural projects that will provide steady income. Another aspect of this project is the construction of a school, as over half the children of Malawi receive no formal education. I am honored to have the opportunity to help build the bricks and help erect a house for one of these deserving families.

I will be traveling with 9 amazing men and women. Our trip will be our church's fifth trip this year. A few months ago, I was able to attend a meeting where I heard some amazing stories and saw some beautiful pictures that spoke volumes. My heart yearned for these people, and I knew, without a doubt, that God was calling me to go.

Recently, I posted a blog about my upcoming journey and asked if my readers would begin praying for me and the team. In addition, our church has asked us to pray about asking friends and family for financial support as a love offering to the church, as each person will be responsible for their expenses which will be around $4000. I was really convicted as I wondered if I should even ask anyone to contribute to help fund my journey. After speaking with our team leaders and praying, I realized that many people want to help as they may never have the opportunity to go on a mission trip, so here I am, laying my heart out before you and what God is doing through me. The smallest donations can make the biggest impact for His Kingdom. Are you willing to give up a starbucks coffee, a value meal or a movie ticket for the cause?

I know we are living in a time of uncertainty, but one thing is certain, that God is faithful. He knows all our desires and our needs, and He will meet us there. If you are unable to provide financial support, please consider praying for me and the team. If you are able to provide financial support, donations can be made out to The People’s Church and mailed to Ken Morris, The People's Church, 828 Murfreesboro Rd, Franklin, TN 37064. Please note on the reference line, Stephanie Weaver - Malawi. Like all contributions to our church, your gift is tax deductible and you will get a receipt from the church.  Also, I am planning on having a yard sale in April, so if you are a local reader and have some stuff laying around that you have been meaning to get rid of, would you consider donating it to our yard sale?  

After my return, I will share all that God has done in my life through this journey. Leading up to the trip, I will post anything that God lays on my heart regarding my journey and any anxiety that I may be having so that you know what you can pray for me and the team specifically. Your prayers mean everything to us. I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

"To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." - Isaiah 61:3

Spring Come Fast

We have this issue at our house this time of year. Who am I kidding, we have the issue year end, but it's in full swing right now. I will give you a few clues....

Turbo is the culprit. Yes he looks all sweet and innocent, but it can get down right ugly. See he's part golden retriever and husky, so we think. He's fond of the cold weather and the snow. This picture was taken of him just this week after our snowfall. All the snow had melted in the yard, but on our back porch, it remained since it's covered and the sun doesn't hit it.
I have noticed how out of control things have gotten because of him. We have these "Turbo tumbleweeds" that blow through our house.  They are in every nook and cranny, and it's just disgusting. You pet him and you are covered with his hair. We kid that when he dies he will still be in our house for years to come. It's like a gift that keeps on giving. 

When Dylan was napping, I thought I would try to band aid the problem until Spring is guaranteed and we can shave him.  One year, we shaved the dogs too soon and we were in the 30s the following weekend. 

This was just a quick brush, maybe 5 minutes, and a quick trim of the problem spots...buttocks and legs.

Spring come fast. We need you!

Slacker

Of course, I am referring to myself. My apologies for the lack of postings lately. Since Dylan is so mobile and I have started working out again, it's hard to find time to sit down and blog. Then, when he's in bed at night, I have things that I didn't get done during the day to do. The life of a mom. I don't know how you women who have more than 1 kid get anything done, or who work outside the home, seriously. I am going to make an attempt to start posting more this week, and I have a few things already in my mind.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!

The Worst Driver of the House

Damien and I have been in several debates on what qualifies someone as being the worst driver. He thinks it's whomever had the most recent ticket and/or most recent accident. I think it's who has had the most tickets and most accidents as well as the severity of the accident.  Damien would insist that I was the worst driver because I got a speeding ticket like 5 years ago which brings my total tickets to a solid count of 3 (one of which was not even legit but that's another story) and one of those never made it to my record as I went to driving school. As for accidents, I have been rear ended at a red light, so no fault to my record. Once I backed into a car after pulling out from a parellell parking spot.  I totally blame the rain and the other car. I was at my bank in downtown Chattanooga. Their ATM was inside the building, so you had to get out of your car. It was pouring down rain, and I just pulled in behind another car. I ran inside and ran back out. I didn't even notice that another car had pulled in behind me. I backed up and whoopsies. Then I backed into our garage. I am still embarrassed by this one as we have a rear camera on our car. I guess you can chalk that one up to my stupidity. There's my driving record. I have been driving for 15 years, so I don't think that is shabby at all. 

Now for Damien, I don't have all the juicy details of his escapades with the police, but I know without a doubt that he has been in far more accidents some of which he caused that were way more serious. The one that I have witnessed was him backing into a park car at the end of our driveway. I will never forget these people running down the street with their arms waving as they could only imagine what was about to happen. In Damien's defense, who in their right mind parks at the end of a driveway, when there is plenty of room on the curb between houses. Luckily, it was a Saturn, and we assumed the dent popped right out as we never heard from them. As well, he has had far more speeding tickets, but now without a debate, he is the worst driver in the house. 

He came in this morning and said, I am the worst driver and pulled out the pink slip from his back pocket. Not 1, not 2, but with 3 violations. MWAHAHAHA. He got ticketed for not having his license (he was going to the gym and didn't take his wallet), tail light was out and doing 24 in a 10 mph school zone. All 3 charges bring the total to $339. If he goes to court and presents his license and receipt for the fixed tail light, then he's left with $89. Yes it's going to cost, but I am one happy girl.