Genie Bra - Comfortable design or the BEST BRA EVER MADE??????

I am just past the 24 hour mark of new Genie bra ownership and I have to say that without a doubt this is the single best clothing purchase I have ever made!

I went on my least favorite shopping trip, BRAs, and couldn't find a single one, NOT ONE, in the whole of Target, in my size so I had to resort to a box of 2 bras that come in sizes like S (yeah right), M, XXL, etc. I grabbed the biggest and prayed for the best and now 16 hours later I dont want to take it off. I am actually going to wear it to bed and see if it keeps me from 'uncomfortably rolling around amongst my breasts'.

If you need a new bra, run to your nearest target and get some of these magical pieces of fabric.

Why do we go to church?

***Note, this is another post where I threw some ideas on a page out but then didn't finish editing so this was several weeks ago the Saturday night before Easter. I am too tired to edit anymore but I am sure you get the idea ***


Ken and I went to church Saturday night instead of attending the Easter Sunday service at the request of our wonderful pastor, Dave Reno, so that chairs would be available for first timers at Easter morning services.

I expected a retelling of the crucifixion and was quite disappointed, as was Ken, when it became apparent that Dave had other plans. Instead of a re-birth, we heard things we need to be doing as Christians because we are NOT in a Once Saved, Always Saved kind of Christian life and again, Dave blessed me with his great knowledge although I didnt quite appreciate until I started really thinking about it, thus the post several weeks later;
1-RECOGNIZE. REALIZE. It never occurred to me that I was sinning without realizing it.
2-CONFESS YOUR SIN and ask for forgiveness.
3-COMMIT. Remove the sin instigators and pray for strength


For me, I also need to learn. I used to think that I didn't have to go to church to be a Christian, but I was dead wrong. Going to church is educational and rewarding. Just do it!

Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream - David Platt

***Please note, this post was started a few months ago and I forgot to go back and edit/post so 'last Sunday' was actually a few months ago***

For the last several weeks, our pastor has been talking about what it means to be a radical Christian. We are using David Platts book, Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream, as our resource. The discussion last Sunday was around what radical changes we were willing to make with our money and time. You might be thinking that this was another fundraising sermon from a pastor trying to get money but Dave Reno, Pastor of Grace Fellowship in Brooklyn Park, MN isn't like that. Dave doesn't say give me your money, he just says give to something or someone.

Ken said he thought Dave's sermon made a lot of people uncomfortable. He seen some toe tapping and attendance seems lower than usual but for me, it's been an eye opening experience, maybe even life changing. I KNOW that I need to be freaky for Jesus and that I need to give more time & money but I didnt realized just how selfish I am. It occurred to me that I could donate my Disney fund to something more important than a vacation for Ken, Austin, & I so when I brought it up to Ken and he said absolutely not, I never said another word. We did adopt 2 more children from Childrens International and upped our tithing to a slightly uncomfortable level, especially since I didn't have a job then but its still very affordable since we haven't really had to change our lifestyle AND we just bought a new car.

.......Its late. I'm tired and I cant think of how I want to edit this post or how I am going to address the radical lifestyle idea but I am going to pray about it. In the mean time ........

Did you know that 26k children die every day due to starvation or preventable disease? Did you know that nearly everyone in the US can donate more of their time and money?

If this inspired you to do something, please post and inspire me to do more.

Learning Lessons From Kids

Today was a busy day but one well spent and a life lesson learned from a 9 year old.

I spent the morning cleaning out the garage and then taking my garage sale leftovers, from 2 months ago, to the Goodwill. I had lunch with my friend Marilyn at Truffles in Tortes in Anoka and then Ken & I took Austin and Hannah to the MN Zoo. By the time Jesse picked up Hannah, I was more than a little tired and a little cranky too. Not super cranky, just on edge from a day with little time to myself.

Ken went to bed and Austin and I weren't tired yet so I turned on an old America's Got Talent and while watching it, Austin had to teach me a lesson in acceptance. This dorky comedian was getting ready to come on stage and I rolled my eyes and I told Austin that this guy was going to be a disaster. He says Gramma, how do you know that? You should give him a chance, he might turn out to be good. And ya know how the story ends.....the guy was good.

Au gratin Potatoes

I have made this au gratin potato recipe for the last 3 years and they are excellent. TIPS - You can also use russets but I use gold because you don't have to peel them. - Cut potatoes in half the long way and then start slicing at the smallest end. Its easier on your hands to cut this way. - DONT slice potatoes to big or they may be hard - I use a glass dish but you can also bake in a metal pan but they will cook faster and may burn INGREDIENTS - 3 pounds sliced Yukon gold potatoes (1/4 inch or smaller) - 1.5 c. heavy cream - 3/4 c. shredded gruyere cheese - 3/4 c. shredded parmesan cheese (not kraft in a can) - 1 t salt RECIPE - Preheat oven to 400 - Mix cheese together in a big bowl - Add salt to cream - Butter baking dish or spray with pam - Add a layer of slightly overlapping potatoes - Sprinkle 1/4 of cheese on first layer of potatoes - Repeat until you have 4 layers and put the last of the cheese on top - Pour cream over all potatoes and bake at 400 for 1 hour and 15 minutes

Super Easy-n-Tasty Frosted Sugar Cookies

I made these this weekend with Logan and Dominic and we had such a good time. The cookies are delicious too. Ingredients; - 1 pkg Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix - 1 softened stick of butter - 1 egg - 2 T. Vanilla (real is way better than imitation) - 1 C. powdered sugar - 2 T cream - 2 T flavoring and some food coloring (i mixed up the following batches) == Orange with Orange food coloring (substitute Grand Marnier for adult cookies) == Almond with Blue or Yellow food coloring (substitute Amaretto for adult cookies) == Cherry with Red food coloring == Mint with Green food coloring Directions - Cookies 1. Preheat the Oven to whatever the cookie package says 2. Mix the cookie mix with egg and butter and vanilla 3. Make dough balls and slightly flatten, bake 13 minutes 4. When done, set aside and let cool Directions - Frosting 1. Add powdered sugar to a ziplock bag 2. Add cream, flavoring and food coloring to bag and squeeze til mixed 3. Cut the corner off the bag (tiny hole) and frost cookies. This is fun and easy for kids. The amaretto frosting is seriously the best I have ever tasted

Day 2 Animal Kingdom- September 7th 2012

Day 2 Animal Kingdom Happy Birthday Ken! We overslept and didn't get up until 830 and after getting ready and eating a free buffet breakfast at the hotel (nothing to write home about) we got to Animal Kingdom at around 10am and left at about 4 to head over to Cocoa Beach. Our handicapped parking pass and scooter saved the day at AK with parking the car and on the rides because Disney has separate lines for disabled guests. We were quite concerned with Kens ability to walk because the orthopedist told him he should NOT be walking long distances until after his surgery but Disney made it a piece of cake. One problem we had though is that the other guests do not respect the scooter. They will walk right in front of you and you have to hit the brakes to not run over them or they don't leave a wide enough gap to drive through. Here is a walk thru of our day at AK -Oasis Birds Exhibit. Lush, beautiful, interesting -Festival of the Lion King (FANTASTIC) -Tree of Life -Discovery Island and the Bugs Life 3D adventure (VERY multi-dimensional, realistic, and kind of scary) -The Boneyard Dig Site (think Science Museum meets Jurassic Park) -Primeval Whirl ride (snooze) -Kilimanjaro Safari (tied with the Festival of the Lion King for day favorite!) We left at 4pm intending to go back to the hotel to rest and change and then go to Cocoa Beach but it started to rain so we went to Chik-Fil-A for dinner and then went back to the room and had a restful evening. ***Hijack I always thought it was 'Chick Fill a' but its actually Chick Filet - like ballet*** I secretly ordered a birthday cake for Ken and had it delivered to our room. I am going to hop in the tub and then head to bed so I don't oversleep tomorrow.