Making Homemade Bread!

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My Wedding Dress

I am having a hard time with my show and tell today. :( I wanted to show you the cakes that I decorated. However, we switched computers and I think that many of our old pictures are still on the old hard drive and I don't know how to get to them.

So, change of Plans. Today I will be showing my wedding dress. :)

My anniversary is in 3 months. Hopefully, I will have actual wedding pictures scanned in. We don't have a scanner, so I can't show them yet. Daddy has a scanner at work, that we can use, but we need to find a slot of time when he isn't working to go and do that. Which isn't the most exciting and fun thing to do. ;-)

Well, my wedding dress is very special to me. I am sure most brides think their wedding dress is special. :)



I had *very* specific things I wanted in my wedding dress. I wanted a tulle poufy skirt, I wanted it to be simple, yet elegant. I wanted the back to be high, and the neck line to be modest.



Very hard to find a dress with all of the specifications. I found one on the Internet that I loved, but my mom didn't trust ordering things over the Internet at that time.

My husband's good friend had gotten married the previous summer. His bride's wedding dress was very beautiful, and modest. She had told me that she found a bridal salon that had altered her dress to be modest. She said that it was a dipping sweetheart neckline, and they were able to take it up to her collar bone.



My mom and I then went to look at this bridal salon two hours away. We had little success in our town's bridal salon. In fact, my mom and I visited it one time. When I asked the owner if she had more modest gowns, she sort snorted, and laughed saying I wouldn't find one. That the style was strapless, and gaping necklines. She was no help at all, and very rude to say the least.



We walked into this other bridal salon, and the owner was *so* nice and helpful! You could tell she loved to dress brides, and made us feel so comfortable and at ease.



I will start showing pictures now. My Sister-in-law is modeling the dress. There is a reason as to why, which I will share in a moment. :)

But for now here are pictures.



I am not sure if my sister in law would like to be on the world wide web, so I blocked out her face. I can assure you she is very pretty. :)

But as you can see this dress had everything I wanted. A big poufy tulle skirt, simple, yet elegant, and a nice high neckline. Thing was, this dress had a terrible plunging neckline to begin with. I mean horrible! I think it went down to the middle of my stomach!

But I *loved* the skirt, and I couldn't find another one like it. So the sweet lady of the bridal salon said she had the best ever seamstress working for her doing alterations.

She brought out the seamstress to see what she could do with the gown. She was German, or Swiss or somewhere from that part of Europe. She told me she could remake the entire boddest for me. She also said, with my body shape, and face, a square neck line would be the most flattering. So this is the work of the seamstress.

The gown also did not come with a train. I wanted at least a *little* one. No problem, the seamstress could help with that too! She would design the train with elements in the gown. She took her inspiration from the gowns hem...

And this is what she came up with this... The seamstress also told me if I added a cathedral length veil on top of the train, it would give more dimension and depth. As you can see, I took her advice. I found the *most* beautiful veil there at the salon too. It went *perfectly* with the dress.

Now my sister in law is modeling it because, she was trying it on to see if it fit her for her own wedding. She was looking and looking and trying to find a gown within her budget. If she did find one, she still would have to pay to have it altered.

I then got the idea to let her use my wedding gown. I didn't know if she would like that idea, because many brides want their *own* gown. But she seemed liked she wanted to use it. She looked *beautiful* in it too. In fact, it seemed that it was an entirely different dress on *her* wedding day. She wore her hair differently. She had a different tiara, and I honestly forgot she was wearing my dress. It was her dress that day. :)

Plus I was tickled that it got more use out of it than just one time. :)

To see what other's are showing and telling, please visit Kelli's by clicking on the show and tell button above. Have a wonderful day!

Been Busy Being A Mommy

It has been such a long time since I wrote a "normal" entry on my blog. I have just been extremely busy being a mommy. :)

Here are some of the things that have been happening:

There was Bean's birthday celebration. We had her *little* party once Daddy got home from his business trip. She wanted a Beauty and the Beast Doll Cake, so I made her one. I am getting better at these doll cakes. This one was my third one.

Bean's Nana and Papaw came. Along with our good family friend. Bean opened up her presents from us before we ate our Supper of Pizza. Here is Bean's happy expressions as she discovers what's inside her presents.

Bean got a Belle Polly Pocket from Nana and Pawpa. But later on, which I thought was *soooo* sweet she gave it to one of her friends! I asked her if she was sure she wanted to give it to her, and she said she was sure. She later on decided she would spend her money from both of her Great Grandmas to buy a new one. ;-)
Then she also got a Disney Princess Sleeping bag from her Nana and Pawpa. She loved this as well. She also got a humongous boo boo because of this sleeping bag.

After she was finished opening her presents, Nana rolled up the sleeping bag, and put it back in it's container. While I was pulling Pizza out of the oven, Bean overwhelmed with happiness jumped on her rolled up sleeping bag, lying on its side, and rolled herself into our coffee table. She bumped it pretty good, because her top front tooth went *through* her bottom lip! OUCH!

Even I began to freak out. (Which after having three kids, I normally don't do anymore) I wanted to take her to the emergency room, but Daddy was reluctant because he said that lips heal fast. Thankfully, I knew who I could call! I could call my midwife! She is more to me than a midwife. :)

After talking to her, she calmed me down a bit, then she told me to put ice on it. And as long as the gash was only about an inch big, there wasn't much that they could do to it, so don't waste time in the emergency room. She also told me her now grown son, also had that happen to him.

I gave Bean some Tylenol to take away some of the pain, and she did pretty good after that. :) She even blew out her candles. ;-)

Mommy and Daddy got her a Belle T-Shirt
Also a Belle cup. She called this her *magic* cup. She thought I put water to drink in here, but I really put Spr*te in there. ;-) It was her birthday, so I let her drink some soda on it, which I normally don't let them do. Also, after she got her boo boo, it came in handy for her drink from a straw. :) Even Tiny Boy was impressed with the cup. So much so, he tried to steal it a couple of times, lol!
Her Cake already to go!
Blowing the candles out through her owie lip. :)

This is what Bean's lip looked like the next day

Tiny Boy also got a sand box as a late Birthday present from my mom and dad. I have been organizing. Here are pictures of my organization of my scrap booking supplies.

All of my supplies were in this portable scrap booking bag. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I have such a hard time finding everything when I need it. Thus, I don't really scrapbook as much as I want to because it is such a hassle to get everything set up. So I got this:

Now, I can easily see everything that I want, and it is easy to find. The cart rolls around, so I can wheel it to the kitchen to work on my scrapbooks.
A Place for everything and everything in it's place. :)
It tucks nicely into my closet.

Then of course Tiny Boy got his first hair cut

Then I totally reorganized my medicine cabinet. It was in my kitchen. I bought containers to categorize our supplies, but they wouldn't fit into the cabinet. Instead, I put them into our hall closet. All the dangerous medicines are now way up, and the kids cannot reach them. Even if they were to get a stool, so this is better anyway. :)

I have also been organizing the kids bedrooms. I have been taking pictures of that, but it isn't finished, so I'll save it for another day. :)

We also dyed some eggs.

So there you have it. Life from a busy Mommy. :)

As Resurrection Day Draws Near...

This song *really* blesses my soul like no other has! I believe it has to do with that it *is* the gospel. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

This song also spoke to me during a *really* tough time in my life. It is *all* about Jesus. As long as our eyes are on HIM everything will be just fine. Listen, and be blessed. :)

The Real Story Of St. Patrick~ By Dr. Phil Stringer

I know this is a little late with posting on this topic. But I thought "oh well!" Today was kind of a busy day. Actually a busy week. Better late then never right?

Dr. Phil Stringer was one of my college professors. His wife and He are also personal friends of mine and my husband. He is the type of guy where you can call him up and ask for advice or counsel. He truly cares for other people, and truly loves his brothers and sisters in Christ. He is a "genuine" person. :)

He also *LOVES* history. This comes from his book Called "The Real Story" which deals with the story of Pocahotas, Christopher Columbus, Nazi Germany, and The French Revolution as well as St. Patrick. You can probably order his book and get a list of other books by him, through his web-site:

http://ravenswoodbaptist.com/

"When people hear the name Celtic today, they immediately think of a very successful basketball team in Boston. Very few people know where the term "Celtic" came from or why it was chosen for a basketball team. The Celtics were the original tribal inhabitants of the British Isles. Later centuries brought Romans, Danes, Germanic Angles and Saxons, and French Normans to Britain.

All of these groups formed the rich background of the modern-day English people; however, the Celtics were the original inhabitants of England. They were known for their war-like ferocity (which is why a modern sports franchise was named for them). The Celtics demonstrated this ferocity when they resisted the attempts of the Roman Empire to conquer them (First Century B.C.), and again when the independent Celtic Christian churches resisted the armed aggression of Roman Roman Catholicism.

There was frequent trade between the British Isles and the rest of Europe during the First Century of Christianity. Christian teachings soon found their way to the British Isles, and they seemed to have flourished there. The spiritist Druid religion, which once dominated Celtic society, lost its hold on the British people. It still remained an important force, but by 200 A.D., it no longer controlled the British Isles. Tertullian wrote that Christianity had accomplished what the Roman Empire could not-the conquest of the Druids.

Because of their relative isolation from the rest of Europe, the British escaped being influenced by many of the events that controlled affairs in mainland Europe. Only one of the Roman persecutions of the Christian church extended to Britain (that of Diocletian). When other regions were deeply affected by the merger of church and state under Emperor Constantine, the Celtic churches remained independent. There was very little organization among the churches.

Because all British churches were independent, each developed its own doctrinal positions. While many viewpoints were represented what we call the baptist disticitves were very common among the British churches of the Second through Sixth Centuries. Separation of church and state, baptism by immersion of believers, and the concept of independent church congregations seem universal among the early British churches. There does not seem to be any concept of baptismal regeneration, infant baptism, salvation by church membership, or an organized priesthood before their military conquest by Roman Catholicism.

One of the most famous and most touching stories of church history took place during this period. About 385 A.D., in the village of Bannavern, a boy was born. His father Calpurnius, was a deacon in the independent church there. The boy was named Succat, though he would be remembered in church history as Patrick. Though raised in a Christian home, as a teenager he became very rebellious toward Christian truth. At age 16 he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and sold as a slave to a pagan Irish chief. Patrick became the keeper of the swine for this chief. While alone, keeping the swine, he remembered the teaching of his parents and put his faith and trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At age 22 he escaped from his master who had been mistreating him. Following his escape, returned to his family.

After studying and training to become a preacher, Patrick became burdened for the Irish tribe with whom he had lived as a slave. His family and friends tried to dissuade him, but he determined to go back there as a missionary! He gathered the pagan tribes in fields near the village and preached the gospel them. Thousands were converted to Christ. He baptized all those converts by immersion, and then formed local churches for them. The son of a tribal chieftain, Benignus, was converted and Patrick trained him as a preacher. Benignus also baptized thousands of converts! Many more churches were formed through their ministries (over 300).

Patrick wrote and taught against slavery and he is sometimes given credit for being the first person ever to speak unequivocally against slavery.

Several of Patrick's writings and songs are available today. One of songs includes this stanza about his dependence on Christ.

Christ to shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

Sot that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise



Another stanza shows his personal focus on the Lord.

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to up hold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's host to save me

From snares of devils,

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in multitude.

Patrick's preaching ministry lasted for thirty years. So many people were converted that pagan practices of immorality and human sacrifice were no longer carried out in the open. Thomas Calhill described the change this way, "Something new, something never seen before-a Christian culture, where slavery and human sacrifice became unthinkable, and warfare, though impossible for humans to eradicate, diminished markedly." (How the Irish Saved Civilization p.148). Cahill also wrote:

"Ireland is unique in religious history for being the only land into which Christianity was introduced without bloodshed. There are no Irish martyrs (at least not till Elizabeth I began to create them eleven centuries after Patrick)." (p. 151).

In the Sixth Century, in one of the independent Irish churches formed by Patrick, a young man named Columba decided to go as a missionary to Scotland. He was the grandson of a local Irish king. A church was built on a small island known as Iona., and from there missionaries traveled throughout Scotland. Many young men came to Iona to study. They were taught every one of the baptist distictives, and they spread these ideas throughout Scotland. Iona became a college for missionaries. Eventually missionaries traveled from Iona throughout Europe. Unfortunately, their attempts to take the gospel to the Saxon invaders of England constantly met with failure.

Winston Churchill described this period of time this way in The Birth of Britain, p. 72-73.

"It was therefore in Ireland and not in Wales or England that the light of Christianity now burned and gleamed through the darkness.

And it was from Ireland that the Gospel was carried to the North of Britain and for the first time cast its redeeming spell upon the Pictish invaders. Columba, born half a century after St. Patrick's death, but an offspring of his Church, and imbued with his grace and fire, proved a new champion of the faith. From the monastery which he established in the island of Iona his disciples went forth to the British kingdom of Strathclyde, to the Pictish tribes of the North, and to the Anglian kingdom of the Northumbria. He is the founder of the Scottish Christian Church.

Thus the message which St. Patrick carried to Ireland came back across the stormy waters and spread through wide regions."

Finally, the Roman pope, known as Gregory the Great, determined to bring the British Christians under the control of Rome. Consequently, representatives of Rome made treaties with the Angles and the Saxons accomplishing that result. A constant struggle then broke out between Roman Catholicism, backed by the Germanic tribes and the Celtics, for control of their previously independent churches. Three church councils were held, and at all three councils the independent churches refused the control of Rome. The swords of the Saxons accomplished what church councils could not.

The Roman Catholic Church found it expedient to claim the legacy of St. Patrick as their own. Myths and legends became attached to his name. A holiday declared in his name became an excuse for drunkenness.

Those who love the gospel of grace, the concept of the independent church and English-American Christian heritage can claim Patrick as their own. The mythology should be forgotten and Patrick's ministry as a gospel preacher and Christian teacher should be remembered. "

I *Finally* Got Brave!

For More Wordless Wednesday Pictures please visit Five Minutes For Mom. :)

Party Has been Postponed, LOL!

Five minutes for mom is having some technical difficulties, so there won't be any party today. ;-)
They did say that they will be announcing another time when the party will go on. So forgive me if my "party post" gets posted twice. :)

It's Party Time!

Welcome! Welcome! Please do come in. My name is Mommy; at least to my kids, but I am not telling you my real name for privacy's sake. I hope that doesn't sound to rude. But until I get to know you better, I'll keep my identity a secret. :)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Well, first I'll start off by saying that I started this blog as a way to keep out of town family updated with the happenings and going ons with us. But it has turned into such a huge blessing! I have found a few friends, found some old ones, and am just having a great time!

My interests are in my complete profile, but I'll give a little more detail.

I would also like to share that I am trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross as my only means of ever being saved. His sacrifice is good enough and *is* enough to secure a place in heaven for me. There is nothing that I can or can't do, to make his sacrifice more effective.
I am a girly girl; but not prissy. I love girly things, but I still love the outdoors (if it isn't too cold ;-) ) and getting a little dirty. I rode horses when I was a teenager. I still would if I could, but at this season in my life I can't.

In real life I am shy. Probably considered a snob by some people. :) But really am not. ;-) I just don't know when it is the right time to jump in a conversation. I tend to like to listen more; especially in large groups. Now if I am one on one with you, I tend to open up more quickly, and enjoy deep and meaningful conversations. :)

On the Internet; I have no problem with my shyness. ;-)

Well, lets see. Hmmmm. Oh yes! A Giveaway! Yipppiee!! I have two giveaways!

First one: When I began my blog, I began with the basic blogger template. But as I navigated my way around blogsphere, I saw some lovely blogs. Secretly I began to wish I had a pretty unique blog to call my "own" too.

So then, I began to play around with the template. With the help of friends and my husband, I learned a *few* tricks to turn a blog into a personal place to call your own. Sooo... I have decided to try and dress up blogs for other people. I have made a couple for my friends, and they have seemed to like them.

This template that you see here now, is one that I designed. So for a giveaway, I will be giving away a "free" Dressy Blog Design. Go Here, to read all about it! :)

To win this giveaway, please comment on this post, and let me know what you have in mind for a blog design; after you have visited my blog design site. :)
Second Give Away: Two books of The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus. This book is sooo neat! Basically, it goes through the Bible Chronologically, explaining to the reader in easy to understand language what the Bible is actually all about.

There is a slight catch to this giveaway. First of all. You MUST promise me that you will read it. If you have no desire to read it then, please don't enter. The Second "catch" is that there will only be one giveaway. The winner will receive both books. One to keep (and read) and the other to give away to someone who is interested in what the Bible has to say. So you must promise not only to read it, but to give the other one away. To win, please leave a comment promising me you will read this book, and who you have in mind to give it away to.

You can enter both giveaways if you like. Just tell me in your comment. :) Also, I will try to sometime this week come to your party! :)

Thanks for coming to my party!! Have Fun visiting other blogs by going to http://www.fiveminutesformom.com

Hello and Welcome!

This is the new Heart Of A Mommy Blog. Just making sure you found the right place. :) My old blog will still be available to read; I just won't be adding to the old one. Blogger was giving me a time! I wanted to put a new header in my template, but it wouldn't let me! Then I tried to do it through the HTML, but my title was showing through my header. So then I wrote a "." as my "title", but people were having a hard time finding me when they went through my profile. :(So, I decided to create a new blog, because for some reason, I *can* upload my header into a *new* blog. Grrrrr!Anyway, I suppose it isn't the end of the world, now is it? :) We will just make do with what we have.Well, stay tuned for more posts on *this* blog. And feel free to read my old blog. :) Have a wonderful Day!