More to come!

Boy, do I have a bunch of pictures to post! From Abby's graduation to recent shots of Chloe...just keep your eyes peeled!

Of rice and cell phones...

Yep...you girls got it right -- my phone got wet! We had been playing ultimate frisbee in the rain one evening and my phone was affected by it. (It was even in a plastic bag!!)

I had never heard of this miracle cure for cell phones beore, but can say that it works! So, the next time your phone falls in the ocean, lake or sink...take the battery out and put both the phone and battery in a bunch of dry rice. You'll save money! :-)

???

Can anyone guess why in the world I have my cell in a cup of dry rice???

A Blast From the Past

For some reason today I decided to scoot my “treasure chest” out from my closet and scour through my old mementos. (Umm, I have to interject something here, though…I’ve come to realize that some of them could hardly be labeled as “momentous”!)

Amid my humble cache...

~ A Teddy Town bear couple figurine -- broken and patiently awaiting a good fix with glue
~ One of those flyer pins my dad gave to me from one of his flights (no he's not a pilot, he just went on a trip!)
~ A bunch of letters, old invitations, and graduation cards
~ A Precious Moment figurine
~ A before and after picture from the Orthodontist…those teeth were not a pretty sight!

Still, there were a few items that I thought I would highlight and share with you all.

Throughout my life, my parents encouraged me to keep a journal. I was faithful with it until about five or so years ago and then moved away from it almost altogether. (I try to pick up where I left off…but it is rather tiring to catch up on 6 months of news!) While skimming through them, I was intrigued by the things that I chose to write about: friends I happened to talk to at church that day, birthday presents I got and what store I was going to visit. Wow. At least no one can accuse me of not journaling!!

The second thing I thought I would share with you involves two flower bouquets from past birthdays. For my Sweet 16th birthday, my parents bought me a bouquet of light colored sweetheart roses. I’ve considered placing them somewhere in my room for decorational purposes. We’ll see! The other bouquet I pulled out of my treasure trove was from my 18th birthday. (I actually have a blurry but informative picture.) For that birthday my family took me to Bravo’s Italian Cucina (beautiful place by the way), and my brother gave me two tickets to see Andre Rieu in concert.

Then...

Now

Last but not least, I have something for all my former (and present) American Girl buffs out there! I don’t know what you were like when you were 10, but for me and one of my other friends -- we LOVED American Girls stuff! I looked through their magazines, cut & pasted the dolls in the magazine onto colored paper, played with my actual dolls (Samantha, Kirsten, and Addy), and succeeded in pulling out Kirsten’s braids and tangling her hair into a complete frizzy mess!! So, what do I have to offer my fellow AG fans? PAPER DOLLS!! Yes, a very old set of Samantha paper dolls & clothes!! I had completely forgotten about them until I found my folder today!

Hope you enjoyed some of my paraphernalia! :-)

GREECE

Hello fellow traveling buddies!

Okay, so after our time in Ireland (which wasn't given the attention it needed!), we flew our way to the land of Greece. Isn't the Mediterranean Sea so blue?! I love looking at it against the white buildings. And you have to agree, the view from our hotel room (down below) is quite spectacular!

The weather's a bit warmer than the Emerald Isle, wouldn't you say?

I hope our stay is pleasant and that you are able to enjoy a swim sometime!

She's growing up!

*Chloe*

Sick & tired?

I dare say you are -- of my mad slow blogging skills, right?!?!? Yes...I think I am too. This trip around the world has been a little difficult...mostly because I don't take the time I need to in order to research everything. Arghhh....

So, we're going to wrap things up by tomorrow night by only learning about 1 interesting tidbit of Ireland. (Hopefully you all don't bean me with one of those fine bone china teacups you picked up in England...wouldn't make a happy tour guide.) ;-)

Hang in there...almost ready to take flight to a new place!

Lamb of God

Your only Son, no sin to hide.
But You have sent Him from Your side,
To walk upon this guilty sod,
And to become the Lamb of God.

Your gift of love, they crucified.
They laughed and scorned Him as He died.
The humble King, they named a fraud
And sacrificed the Lamb of God.

Oh Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God!
I love the holy Lamb of God.
Oh wash me in Your precious blood,
My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God!

I was so lost, I should have died.
But You have brought me to Your side,
To be lead by Your staff and rod,
To be called a lamb of God.

Oh Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God!
I love the holy Lamb of God.
Oh wash me in Your precious Blood,
Till I am just a Lamb of God.

"This, the power of the cross: Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—We stand forgiven at the cross."

~~~~~~~~~~

It was your sin that brought Him to the cross.
The mocking Jesus experienced was unprovoked...but He endured it for you.
The suffering inflicted upon Jesus was unmerited...but He suffered it for you.
The weight of the cross was not meant for Jesus...but He bore it for you.
The death Jesus died was not one He deserved...but He died it for you.
The price Jesus paid was not one He owed...but He paid it for you.

Why did the Son of God do this for you? Because He loved you so much, hated sin that much, therefore, He chose to experience, suffer, bear, die and pay the penalty that much for you so that you could be free from the power of death, and become a child of God.
If you have never trusted Christ for the forgiveness of your sin, you are a sinner. I was too, until I received His gift.

Do you desire to be washed from your sin? To be forgiven and clean in the sight of God?
If the answer is yes, then you too can have this gift -- today!

Tell the Lord that you believe in what He has done for you; confess that you are a sinner, and that you want to be forgiven of all your sin, and become His own. Thank Him for His death and resurrection.

Then...live an abundant life as His child!!

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Romans 10:9

Peanut Butter Toffee Cheesecake Brownies

Brownies are probably one of my favorite desserts! (Although, pretty much anything chocolatey & gooey is bound to find its way to my heart!)

Anyways, last week my grandma called to say she had a new recipe for us to try: Peanut Butter Toffee Cheesecake Brownies. She got it out of the paper and already had a batch in the oven. So, I decided to make them this week. Very rich, but definitely one to put in the recipe box! Hope you enjoy them!

Peanut Butter Toffee Cheescake Brownies

1 box chocolate fudge brownie mix

1/2 c. canola oil

1/4 c. water

2 eggs

1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

1 8 oz. bag Heath bits
1 c. milk chocolate chips

3 T. whipping cream

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray 9x13 pan. In medium bowl mix brownie mix, oil, water, and eggs. Pour into prepared pan.

In large bowl, beat cream cheese with mixer on medium speed until fluffy; add milk & peanut butter until smooth. Stir in 1 cup toffee bits. Spoon mixture over batter. Bake for 30-40 minutes until set & edges are golden brown. Cool on cooling rack for 30 minutes. Refrigerate for 40 minutes.

In small bowl, microwave chocolate chips and whipping cream until melted. Stir to make smooth. Spread over cooled cheesecake layers. Sprinkle with remaining toffee bits. Cool completely. Store in fridge.

Yes, if you haven't noticed -- EVERYTHING bad & terrible is in this recipe...but still good! ;-)

Enjoy!

Go green...

I bet you'll never guess where we are!

Top o' the mornin' to ye!

Ello!

Well, if you've finished your spot of tea, (the rave of Englishmen!), shall we venture out on this lovely English evening and take a quick turn around London? I thought you'd say yes!

Since we've already experienced the tall red buses at the beginning of our tour, I thought that we would forgo that and get some exercise by walking. The weather is fairly mild & wet so make sure you bring your jacket and an umbrella!

Our first stop will be Buckingham Palace. (So maybe my blog header isn't really Lacey's Corner!) ;-) As we step inside this massive piece of architecture we can view the beautiful Grand Staircase.

I'm not quite sure if we're supposed to be in this next room -- the Throne Room...so we'll just take a quick peak and then leave.

Quick! Be quiet and curtsy -- just as we were coming out of the Throne Room, I spotted Queen Elizabeth II!!I knew it was her because her clothes consist mostly of solid-colour overcoats and decorative hats, which allow her to be seen easily in a crowd. Her main leisure interests include equestrianism, photography, and dogs, especially her Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

Now that we've left the palace, we can take a quick picture in front of Big Ben for the sake of saying "Been there, done that"! :-) It's the largest clock in Great Britain. Because of changes in ground conditions since construction, the tower leans slightly to the north-west. The clock is famous for its reliability.

After crossing the London Bridge (by the way, a bridge has existed at or near the present site over the period from the Roman occupatiom of the area, nearly 2,000 years ago. The first bridge across the Thames in the London area, probably a military pontoon bridge, was built of wood by the Romans on the present site around 50 AD.), we are now back at our hotel.

Hope you enjoyed our little visit in England. (I'm thinking that our next stop will be done in a more timely fashion!) But, before you retire, make sure you finish British authoress, Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice" near your bedstand, which she wrote in the year 1813.

Pack up and sleep tight because we'll be leaving (hopefully by Wednesday) for our next destination, which is -- wait, why not surprise you? :-)

Pictures courtesy of photographer, Derry Moore,

The Royal Collection 2010

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and

Wickipedia.com

Bits of information retrieved from Wickipedia.com

Dear me...

well, you're probably wondering what happened to your tour guide by now, huh? (I guess I must have taken a detour on one of those red buses!!) So, maybe by the first of the week I will have another post for you. You've probably discovered all of the fascinating facts about your hotel that you possibly can! ;-)

Soon, weary & bored travelers...we'll be on our way!

England!

Hello ol' chaps! ;-)

I say, you have now placed your feet on the solid ground of England! You must be tired from your travels, so why don't you pop on over to the hotel. Might I suggest one of these as your means of transportation?





Stay tuned for more!

photo courtesy:
www.theredbus.co.uk/about/index.html

Bon Voyage!

Well, we've officially set sail for our trip around the world!!! We should arrive at our destination sometime within next week. But, as we cruise across the Atlantic taking in the salty air, you may be wondering exactly where we're headed. Good question! Drop your answer by the captain's quarters (aka the comment button)!

Around the World in Eighty Days

Join me for a trip around the world! From Ireland's Emerald hills, Big Ben of London, the arena of the Colosseum, the pyramids of Egypt, the market streets of Morocco, the snowy mountains of Russia, the Great Wall of China, to the shores of the Hawaiian Islands!

Okay…so since neither you or I can actually make a trip around the world in the next 80 days, we will make a *virtual* trip around the world! Over the next three months I will be updating my blog with a destination makeover. With it, there will be an interesting fact about that country and other fun items. So, stay tuned as we embark on a journey around the world!

Now, onto more real-life things, ah-hemm.

Hopefully I will be able to post some more recent pictures, soon. Yes -- I do have some! In the mean time I think I'll wish you a belated "Happy Valentine's Day"!

I’m also considering blogging about more random things. I’ll spare you my thoughts on what is or isn’t random, so you’ll just have to wait and see. But, hopefully you will find them entertaining and maybe even helpful!

So, I guess that’s all I have for you today. Stay tuned for the upcoming tour of the world!

Birthday Time!

~Molly Kate

Happy Birthday, Molly!

It's her birthday...

~Abby Noelle

Happy Birthday, Ab!!!

Fancy Chloe!

Hey there!

Below are pictures from Chloe's 1st birthday party. Such a cute little girlie! We love her so much and get such a kick out of her. She's growing up fast, and her personality is really coming out -- through her small, toothy grins and all!! :-)

As I said in another post, we had a Fancy Nancy party. (I'll try to find a link for her once I get one!) Anyways, enjoy some of these snapshots from her party!

The Cake!!

Waiting timidly for the party to begin! ;-)
You guessed it -- Fancy Nancy!

Poppa & Chloe

Even sparkles in her hair!

Awww!!

Everyone was decked out to the hilt!

Grandmas & Granddaughter

The party!! (Note feathers, jewels, fur, ties, crowns, tux, gloves and hats!)

Cousins

First birthday cake

Even though she had a little help...looks like she's had enough

Lacey, Erin and Abby

For shame. ;-)

Griff & Ab

The cool parents!! ;-D

One cool baby

Happy Birthday!

Hello all!

Hope you all enjoyed a nice Christmas! We enjoyed ours! It was fairly relaxed and Griff, Bek, and Chloe came over to celebrate the holiday with us. Pictures soon to follow! ;-)

Well, guess what? It's someone's 2nd birthday - mine!! (What, you thought I was older?!) Okay, okay, it's actually my BLOG's 2 year birthday today. Over the past two years, I have written/posted 152 posts - published and unpublished, utilized hundreds of templates, displayed pictures, and met new friends. I've throughly enjoyed my blogging years and will look forward to more in the future!

So, at this time I would like it if you (that means all my blogging buddies, friends, family and the "lurkers"!), to take just a moment and leave a comment telling me a little bit about yourself, where you're from, and how you found my blog.

Thanks so much!

Merry Christmas!

It's okay -- I'll go ahead and say what you're thinking....

It's about time!!!

Ahh...now we can all breathe and be happy again! :-) Yes I have to agree -- it's about time that I posted something on here! I won't try making excuses. I've been very neglectful. But, just because I may lack consistentcy does not mean that I haven't been busy.

I'll start things off by writing about our Thanksgiving. Over the years we usually visit our relatives, near or far, and spend the holiday with them. However, this year we decided to celebrate at our home with just Griff, Bek and Chloe. We had the traditional festive fare, including, "Sweet Home Alabama Dixie Pie"! (Okay, so we've officially dubbed Dixie pie with that name! Have you tried any?) It was a good time of visiting with my brother and his family.

The next big event was celebrating my niece's 1st birthday! The in-laws and "out-laws" came over to join in on the fun and spoiling. :-) The party was themed around the children's storybook character, "Fancy Nancy". So, that meant jewels, fur and feathers were all in order! (Yes -- we did!)

Lately our lives have been filled with preparations for Christmas, including decorating, baking, church Christmas program, shopping, colds, a wedding, and printing family pictures to send out with our annual Christmas letter. It's all coming together! (Hopefully I can get our picture up here along with snapshots of Chloe's day.)

Before I go I thought I would ask you to leave a comment telling about your favorite Christmas traditions. What are they? Have you started a new tradition this year?

Well, just in case I don't post anything until after this week, have a very Merry Christmas!