Super cute and easy Easter craft

I think this could be used for a baby shower, tea, etc. And later, for other holidays depending on how you paint the pot. 

Recently, a lady at church taught my women's group how to make these. She and her daughter made them for a senior luncheon. She changed it up a bit for Easter. Her pot featured Easter bunny suckers in the middle. So the ideas of what to put in the center are endless. Just chose a theme and go with it. I'm sure you could find all kinds of nifty things at the dollar store. The items we used were found at Hobby Lobby and Michael's.

You will need:

Newspaper to protect your surface

A hot glue gun

A small pot 

Piece of floral foam that will fit into the pot

Crafting paint for your pot

A sponge brush

Spanish moss

A stick 

A small clothespin

Embellishments like a little chick, little plastic eggs, etc. 

Paint your pot whatever color you would like. Paint your stick and clothespin. Let all dry.  

Place the foam into the pot. You may need to hot glue it down. Glue the moss on top of the foam and work it around the sides to hide the foam. 

Glue the clothespin to the top of the stick (we used tongue depressors). 

Now is the fun part....

Push your stick through the foam and then embellish the rest. 

Like I said in the beginning, you can use this for all kinds of occasions, not just Easter.  I can see this being used as name plates at Thanksgiving by painting the pot black and using silver paint to make it look like a buckle on the top. This could be a Pilgrim hat. 

It could be used for sorority functions, bridal showers, teas....the list goes on and on. Just use your creativity! Have fun!

God is so amazingly good. The story of Ben

Next week, on Easter Sunday, we will celebrate Ben's 2nd birthday. Not a day goes by when I don't stop to think about how God had blessed me in so many ways. Sometimes, it brings me to tears. I am often overwhelmed by His blessings.
I was entering my last year in college, when I felt a pinching pain on my right side. It kept getting stronger and stronger till I could barely walk myself to the Student Health Center. A nurse set up an appointment for me and expected it to be an ovarian cyst. Several tests and weeks later, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. 
I was so excited about getting to graduation, that it pained me to take a medical leave. But, with the help of my friends, the encouragement of my church, and the prayers of many, the cancer turned out to be stage 1. An operation that December and God's healing touch fixed me right up. 
Skip ahead years later. 
Gerald and I were in our early 30's, married for 5 years, and decide that if we are going to do the kid thing, then we need to start trying. We expected with my history that it would take us awhile. But we put it all in God's hands. If it was meant to be, it would happen. If it didn't happen, we were okay with that too. 
We got pregnant on our second try. I still remember weeping in the doctor's office when the nurse told me. She asked if it was what I wanted. It was, but I was just in shock. 
Today, I look at my silly, sweet little boy and I am amazed at how God not only saved my life, but he also created this other one. I knew in college when I came through my surgery that God had a plan for my life. A greater plan than I would know. And each day, I see it being revealed to me. 
So next Sunday, as we all celebrate Jesus. And as our family and friends celebrate Ben's birthday. I know I will be swelling inside, filled with the love of our Heavenly Father and for all He has given me. 

Taco Salad

When I was little, my mom's friend, Sheri, had us over for lunch. She set up her dining room in a nice, but casual way and served us Taco Salad. It was so good. Mom got the recipe and it's been served at our table ever since.
It's a quick recipe and fairly easy to keep most of the items on hand. Try it, you'll like it. I'm sure it will become a family fav at your home too.

Taco Salad
1 pkg lean ground turkey (or beef, we just prefer turkey)
1 jar of taco sauce (usually found near salsa)
1 can dark red kidney beans
Light Catalina dressing
Light sour cream
Low fat Mexican cheese, shredded
1 head of lettuce, ripped up
1 tomato, chopped (optional)
1/2 onion, chopped (optional)
Nacho chips

Brown the meat, once cooked, add the taco sauce.
Put other items in different bowls and let people fix their own bowl, like a taco bar.

Kid's dish

Melts everywhere

Remember the M&M's slogan, "Melts in your mouth, not in your hands?" Well, I don't think it applies to 22 month olds :)
Ben got a hold of a Valentine's bag of mini M&M's and in no time, chocolate was everywhere - all over my mousepad and all over him. Hey, at least it kept him busy so I could do some work on the computer.