Crocheted Monkey

As many of you know (and some don't), I have a page on Facebook featuring some of my crochet.  It's called Dani Girls Deigns.  I named it after Reagan and I.  We both have Danielle as a middle name so we are Dani girls. :)  Most are items from patterns created by others, but recently I've begun experimenting with making my own patterns.  This one I used a pattern for something else and edited and added where necessary to get this cute little monkey!  

I think it turned out pretty well!  Head over to the Facebook page to check out more of my work.  If you are looking for something specific and you don't see it there just let me know.  I can probably come up with something or find a pattern!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Halloween! :)

I've been away a while, I know. Sorry. :)

On to the subject at hand...

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!! I love the colors, costumes, candy, creepiness, but most of all...the decorations!!! I'm so excited about my mantel this year!

Ta-da!

Mom, Reagan and I went to the Reelfoot Craft Fair a couple of weeks ago and I saw these awesome Halloween apothecary bottles. They were $10 a piece. No thanks. But I took a good look at them and figured I could come up with something similar. Here are some of my results.

Aren't they awesome!?!?!? (And how cool is that skull I got at Big Lots?)

I used bottles and jars my mom and I already had laying around our houses. The covered bottles were made by using some old cut up t-shirts of Justin's. I brewed them in some tea to dirty them up, then wrapped them around the bottles using decoupage glue to hold it on. I covered the tops as well and then wrapped some jute gardening twine I had around them. The colored liquids are just water and food coloring. The moon dust is sugar and iridescent glitter. The only things I had to buy for the bottles were the spiders and gummy eyeballs that filled the jars and some green food coloring. The super awesome labels came from Love Manor. The labels are available here. You can download them from their flickr stream and print them on your own printer. How awesome is that?

I also made the wreath with a sign I already had and a wreath form and floral mesh I bought at the craft fair.

I love my mantle so much!!! I'm really excited at how well it turned out. I wanted it to be spooky, but not too scary. I do have a two year old after all. :) What do you think?

If We Never Meet Again

Earlier tonight my dear sister in Christ, Susan Thomasson, left her earthly body behind. Mrs. Susan was a sweet and kind woman who loved her husband, children, and grandchildren dearly. Most importantly though, she loved her Lord and Savior dearly. Because she loved God, keeping His commands (1 John 2:3-6), I know that I will see her again one day. Mrs. Susan had cancer and knew that the end was nearing. When I found out that she would soon be moving into eternity I could only think of this song. So, I wrote her a message and included these words.

Soon we'll come to the end of life's journey
And perhaps we'll never meet anymore
'Til we gather in heaven's bright city
Far away on that beautiful shore

If we never meet again this side of heaven
As we struggle through this world and its strife
There's another meeting place somewhere in heaven
By the side of the river of life
Where the charming roses bloom forever
And where separations come no more
If we never meet again this side of heaven

I will meet you on that beautiful shore

Oh, they say we shall meet by the river
Where no storm clouds ever darken the sky
And they say we'll be happy in heaven
In the wonderful sweet by and by

If we never meet again this side of heaven
As we struggle through this world and its strife
There's another meeting place somewhere in heaven
By the side of the river of life
Where the charming roses bloom forever
And where separations come no more
If we never meet again this side of heaven

I will meet you on that beautiful shore

Mrs. Susan and Mr. Reggie at a Valentine's banquet in 2010

I once heard a lady say, as she was addressing a group of other Christian women for the last time, "If I don't see you again here on Earth, I'll see you in heaven." How wonderful to be able to say that to someone with confidence. Knowing that you both are living your lives in such a way that God would be pleased (1 John5:13). Earlier I noted 1 John 2:3-6. In case you didn't look it up it says,

"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected, By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."

What are God's commandments to us concerning salvation?

1. We must hear the Word of God--Romans 10:10

2. We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God--Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24

3. We must repent of our sins--Acts 17:30

4. We must confess Christ before men--Rom. 10:10; Matthew 10:32-33

5. We must be baptized for the remission of our sins--Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21

6. We must remain faithful--Revelation 2:10

If you haven't done these things I would encourage you to study your Bible, see what it says yourself, and do those things. You don't have to be a preacher or have a special degree to be able to understand the Bible. It was written for YOU. It's not mystical magic, it's practical application. If you have any biblical questions feel free to ask! If I don't know the answer I'll study to find it. I also have a Bible correspondence course I'd be happy to send anyone interested. I would love to be able to think of you as well the next time I sing this song.

Mrs. Susan, I'll meet you on that beautiful shore!

They Should Have Invited Us to the Royal Wedding...

Friday night we had Ladies Night Out. Our hosts asked us to wear hats decorated to match our personalities. It took me a while to figure out what to do, but in my usual crunch time moments of inspiration I got it done. :)

I found a hat that will actually make a really great beach/outside in the sun hat (minus all the junk) at Fred's for $5.00. The things hanging on the hat are little play garden tools, because I like gardening flowers, and crochet hooks. Crochet is probably my favorite hobby right now.

The shells represent my love for the beach. The XBOX controller is for my love of video games.

The flowers are for the aforementioned flower gardening. The jewels because I like shiny things (whether real or fake :) ).

Books because I love to read, glue gun because I love to craft, and a favorite family recipe because I love to cook.

And of course a kind warning that I don't do mornings. :)

When I was explaining all of my hobbies and got the the video games the ladies giggled. I said, "I know I'm a bit all over the place with my hobbies. I'm either an older lady or a teenage boy." lol

Ms. Dorris's hat cracked me up. She used a cut up shoe box, taped pill bottles to the front, and added a bow. She called it her pill box hat. :)

Mrs. Cynthia works at the county clerks office so she borrowed a license plate and turned it into a hat. She and I tied for 2nd place when we voted for our favorite hat.

Mrs. Elaine's hat had battery powered Christmas lights. :) There were lots of good ones I don't have room for, but if we're facebook friends they are on there.

Mrs. Irene won for best hat. It was great.

On the back it says, "Senior Citizens Special, by Senior Citizens, Inc." Good stuff.

We had an AWESOME time. We ate, talked, laughed, planned, prayed, sang, and heard from God's word. The singing was so beautiful. We have a great bunch of ladies at Ripley church of Christ!

My Love Story

Yesterday was the anniversary of the day Justin proposed to me. It was most definitely one of the happiest days of my life. I thought he might never propose. :) Earlier in the day he had graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin and we were supposed to be going out to celebrate. Little did I know he had different plans. He called and asked me if I was ready. I said I was so he said he would be there in just a second. There was a knock on my door. That was strange because he usually just came on in. When I opened the door it wasn't Justin, but one of his fraternity brothers standing there in a suit holding a white rose and a card. He gave me the card which explained what was going on.

After I read the card he said, "On behalf of Justin Paschall, will you accept this rose." The slip that says Martin Church of Christ was attached to the rose to tell me where we were headed next. When I walked outside there was a HUGE limo at the end of my driveway. I about fell over. I had never ridden in one before. When I got in the driver told me there were drinks in the fridge/cooler...I don't remember which it had, and a bag of my favorite snacks from Justin. I was too excited to eat or drink anything though. I thought about calling my friend to tell her this was it. He was going to propose. But I changed my mind just in case it was just a really nice gesture.

We went to the church where another fraternity brother of his was wearing a suit and waiting with two pink roses and another card. He asked the same thing the first guy did and gave me the roses. We repeated this process all over the town of Martin. At the church the card said I was there because it was the first place he remembered seeing me. I came in late, of course. He said lots of sweet things then we headed to the next stop. We went to the KA house, the first place we actually spoke; the University Center, where we trained together to be PEP Leaders and he first let me know he liked me (he also told me he was romantic, to which he said I was skeptical, but he thought I believed now); E. W. James (a grocery store), because I am the first woman he had ever cooked for and he wanted to provide for and protect me; and his best friend Ed's house because we had become best friends. The card at Ed's said that dinner was served back at my house.

When I got there candles and rose petals covered the front porch. I walked in and saw this.

Sorry for the picture of pictures, but we don't have a scanner at the house. :) He had set up dinner in the middle of the living room. He cooked for me. As we sat down to eat he kept talking about how all his friends said he would have to come up with something REALLY good for whenever he actually decided to propose...

My heart sank.

I was still hoping he was going to propose, but was scared to get my hopes up. Neither of us really ate much. I was nervous and still excited from the "scavenger hunt" and he was nervous knowing what was coming. After we picked at desert he cleared the table out of the way and said, in very Bachelor type fashion, "I will now go get...the final rose." :) He handed me a red rose with a card attached. All the previous cards were signed, "Because I am Yours, Justin Paschall." This one had a bride and groom on the front and said "Because I am Yours." When I opened the card it said, "The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of Micah Danielle Mullins to James Justin Paschall at a date and time yet to be determined." He asked me what it said, but I couldn't speak. He asked again and I said something like, "I don't know. Are you serious?" He got down on one knee said I was beautiful and I'm sure some other sweet things (I can't even remember and neither can he lol), and then asked if I would marry him. I said yes, of course. I ended up on my knees hugging him and kept saying, "This better not be a joke."

The first white rose symbolized our friendship. That's how we started out, just as friends. I was dating someone else when we first met. The pink roses represented the time we spent dating, and the red roses symbolized our future marriage.

He made all of the cards himself. He even put the ribbons on and sprayed them with his cologne. I think it's one of the best proposals ever. He is the sweetest and most thoughtful man ever. I am so lucky to be his wife!

I love you Justin!!!!!

Perspective From a Toddler

Tonight as we were on our way to the church building for evening worship we told Reagan we were going to church. She said, "Yay, chuch! Yaaaaaaaay!" She was so excited. :)

WHAT IF WE ALL HAD THIS ATTITUDE?

"But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33 ESV (emphasis added)

"Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Hebrews 10:25 ESV

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." 1 John 5:3

Just a Little Trim...or a Big One

Today we worked all day long on the outside of our home. Can you tell a difference?

Before

After!

We cut back the MASSIVE bushes. Right now they're nothing more than sticks, but the foliage will grow in over time. They were far overdue for a trim. We also trimmed up the trees in the front. There was actually a house behind all that green!

Justin also attacked the back yard.

Before(and during a big rain, our backyard becomes a pond)

After

The back looks SO much bigger without the big tree/bush and vines.

The brush piles when we were done.

We are soooo tired but it's worth it because we got a lot done. I wonder if we'll be able to move in the morning. We are both already sore.

Starting this project has also shown us that we have AWESOME neighbors! The other day I had cut a couple of the bushes back with a hand saw and was getting ready to start some more when our neighbor across the street came over and offered to bring his chain saw and help me out. We didn't get them done, but we got pretty far before it ran out of gas. This same neighbor had already come over and cut down a dead tree for us.

Justin bought us an electric chain saw last night so we finished cutting the bushes with it today. When we started dragging them to the curb a teenage boy that lives next door came out and asked if we wanted some help. I said, "SURE!" He was actually jogging to get the brush and then carrying it to the curb. We got done A LOT faster with his help.

Later a couple that lives down the road stopped and offered to loan us their pressure washer to get the green mildew off our bricks where the bushes were. They and the first neighbor mentioned both told us you can spray a bleach water mix on it then spray it off. They also mentioned that they noticed all the work we'd been doing. Our neighbors have been so helpful and nice. I love our neighbors!

We worked hard all day and are so tired, but there's just something good about hard work. It's great to see the pay off. It makes me feel proud. Not that I'd want to do that kind of hard manual work every day, but occasionally it's nice. :)

Wonderful Ladies, Wonderful Husband

Saturday night the Ripley church of Christ had our monthly Ladies' Night Out. We had a great time eating and fellowshipping and had a great devo by Mrs. Ann. Thanks to her for hosting! I always love spending time with my fellow members of the church, but especially the ladies. It's always so much fun. But, this night was special to me for another reason. I got to experience something I wish all preacher's wives could. I got to sit and listen to a room full of women saying wonderful things about my husband. They talked about what a wonderful preacher he is. How he explains things plainly and connects verses in a logical way. How he has helped them to see that you can understand the Bible. It's all there in the text. They also talked about how sweet and loving he is. He's not afraid to show affection or say publicly that he loves me. How he's just so warm. How he helps with Reagan. Of course, I already know how great he is, but it's nice to hear others say it as well. And to know that your husband is appreciated. I love him. :)

Our Easter

I hope you all had a happy Easter! We had a great day filled with candy, eggs, and family!

First, we got our day started with Reagan's goodies left by the bunny. She was pretty excited. :)

We had 150 people at worship Sunday morning! Lots of family in visiting with various members. We also had some visitors, Jeremy and Blythe! If you don't know, they are friends of ours from Demopolis. They came in to Memphis to go to a concert the night before and then stayed at our house Saturday night and went to worship with us Sunday morning. It was so good to see them. We miss our Demopolis friends soooooo much!

After worship we jumped in the car and headed to Grandmommy and Grandaddy's (my grandparents) house. We had lunch with the great grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins and then celebrated the April birthdays. There are 6!

And, as you can see, they don't all behave for pictures. My grandmother said no one else is allowed to marry anyone born in April since we already have so many April bdays. :)

Then the main event, at least as far as the kids were concerned. The Easter egg hunt! Of course my mother had given Reagan a special egg hunting outfit with bunnies on it. And I put bunny ears on her so she will look back at pictures and say, "MOOOOooooom!"

It was her first time hunting eggs but she had lots of fun. She also had helpful uncles and a cousin who would carry eggs in their pockets and drop them near her so she could get some eggs. There was some fierce competition from her older fellow hunters. :) Some of the eggs had ants on or near them. She wouldn't touch them until we got them off or moved the egg away from them. Haha.

We had a great Easter! I hope you did too!

Happy to Me

This weekend was also a weekend of birthdays. While in Smyrna we also celebrated my grandfather's 75th birthday. He's a big golfer if you can't tell from the cake. :) Reagan and Annabelle got to help him blow out the candles.

Saturday we went to cousin Drake's 7th birthday party. They had a swimming party at an indoor pool at one of the hotels.

Reagan had a big time. She loved her cupcake with green icing. It even turned her teeth green.

Reagan LOVES to swim! She had so much fun swimming with Daddy and Drake!

With all of this singing "Happy Birthday" Reagan learned something new.

She's so cute. She just randomly starts singing it now. :) I love her.

A Great Man

Today I went to a service that honored my grandfather, Robert Mullins, for serving for 31 years as an elder in the Lord's Church. I've always thought my Pops was a great man, but it's amazing to hear others speak so highly of him as well. One of his good friends and fellow elders spoke about him. He used a Psalm to describe my grandfather. This Psalm already had a special meaning to me, but now I will remember it for this as well.

The 15th Psalm

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

How wonderful would it be to be described in this way? I hope I can be like him.

A Penny Saved...

Yesterday I officially started couponing again. I'd let it go when we moved since I had so much going on and am just now getting around to doing it again. I'm not an extreme couponer like the women on "Extreme Couponing" on TLC or anything, not even close. I just clip coupons from the paper then check the internet to see what's on sale and has coupons that week. Then I go get the things we use. I don't buy things just because I can get a deal. I just use them for the things we would be buying anyway. Sometimes I will use them on a new product to give it a try. It only took me a little while to clip the coupons and look up the sales and I saved.....$9.35! That's not even counting that most of the items I used coupons on were already on sale. I know that's not some huge number, but if you do it every time it definitely adds up. I'll never be one of these women that spends hours couponing and planning and buys so much stuff I have to add a room to hold my stockpile. For me, saving a few bucks on stuff I will actually use is enough for me. After all, "a penny saved is a penny earned!" :)

Opening Day!

On March 31st we did something that had my husband acting like a giddy little boy. We went to Opening Day for the Cardinals in St. Louis. If you know him you know how big of a deal this was for him. He loves the St. Louis Cardinals. As I mentioned before, one of the elders here at Ripley bought us tickets and reserved us a hotel room. We were so surprised and excited. It was a lot of fun to be there for opening day. It was crazy to see so many people there. I think there were over 46,ooo people there that day. Crazy. It was an awesome experience!

Me and my hunny at the game.

One of the greatest baseball players of all time, Stan Musial. Before the game they have hall-of-famers and all the coaches and players ride around the field.

Justin's favorite newer player John Jay

Albert Pujols battin

g. I don't know if you can tell, but he's doing his signature sticking the tongue out. :)

The team and coaches. The guys in the red blazers to the left are the hall-of-famers.