some recent favorites

I thought I'd share a few things on my 'favorites' list.  Then later on, I can look back to see the things I was enjoying at this time of life...

• My Monday night Bible Study : My bff aud invited me to join her bible study group this year on Monday nights and I've been loving it.  We are studying the gospel through the book of Galatians and it has really been changing my thoughts to be more in line with the gospel.  It is always encouraging to know that there are 10 other women who struggle and battle with the same sinful thoughts as I do and we can spend a couple hours in discussion and prayer for each other.  Tim Keller's Galatians study is amazing and I'm truly blessed to be a part of such a real group.
• Morning Coffee, as always.

• Our backyard and gardening with T (as you can tell from this post).  When we first moved into this house he wasn't that interested in having any plants, but last year he really started to get into it with me and we've loved looking for different kinds of plants to enjoy and loved spending time outside together.

• Arizona tea's Arnold Palmer packets.  I don't love sweet tea or unsweet tea, but I do love the combo of unsweet tea and lemonade.  Much more satisfying.  I'd been mixing a Crystal Light unsweet tea and lemonade packet (to make my own Arnold P), and then Leslie Poe told me that there were now pre-made Arizona AP packets.  GENIUS!

• Hanging out with Geritta and Gerisha and getting to know them has been so fun!  They are twins that Mandi and I mentor together at Streets Ministries and we see them weekly for tutoring time.  This past week we got to go to the Grizzlies game with them.  I never truly understood the whole "twins" thing, but now I do.  They love to be together and feed off each other, but they also want to be completely independent.  Mandi and I love to watch them grow and laugh and tell us hilarious stories.

 Mandi & Gerisha

Geritta and I

When we first met them in 2010 they looked SOO much alike and it was hard to tell them apart, but now it's so easy and they don't look alike at all to me.  Isn't that what all parents of multiples say?? Now we understand.  :)

• And this face, as always.  He really is the cutest dog in all the world.  We tried to get him to wear some bunny ears for the upcoming holiday, but he didn't understand.  I guess he felt safe in his bed.

Life is so great around here!  God has really blessed us and we are loving this stage of our lives.

you want one too?

I have Adobe Illustrator at my fingertips, and I have been tinkering around with the program. I'm sure I'm not even using it the correct way, but I have managed to figure out how to draw things. I originally got the idea when Leslie said she wanted a drawing of she and Jonny for their christmas card. She sent me a photo of them, and I traced the outlines of their faces and hair. She told me the outfits she wanted them to have, so I did all that, and then added little Red, the cat. I think it turned out excellent, if I do say so myself. She got many comments on how great the card was.

Well Aaron Snow said he thought I should do these for people, and sell them. Well, I'm attempting to do it! I didn't want to open up an etsy just for this because it is too personalized to be able to have enough examples. I did come up with a few examples though. See my cute family below. Little Gibby is just so precious.

Contact me if you want one too. You'll send me a photo and I'll get going on it. We will discuss over e-mail all other details about the drawing. I did one for the Stephens, too.

Do you want one too? I know you do! It will cost you only $50 and here is what it includes:

- 2 people and 1 extra (animal or child)

- 3 proofs

- all rights to high resolution file

If you wish you add more than 3, it will be $10 for each additional being. If you require more than 3 proofs, it will be an additional $5.

Email me @marthagcarter@gmail.com for further details and make the subject line cartoon.

the great spill of September 23

I was in the process of making the 3rd dinner of the week, tdud was being very sweet putting away the dishes from the dishwasher, and BAM. My full drink (that was sitting on the counter by the stove) hits the floor and goes everywhere. Into and all over my purse. (I should have taken photos of this event, but we both just kind of looked at each other and didn't say any words)

Dudley immediately starts getting it up off his precious new hardwood floors, and I run to the purse. I begin wiping out everything and making sure none of it is going to be sticky. Then I see my cute little soft cover moleskine weekly notebook. It seemed to be ruined at first glance. I tried to dry it off, but it wasn't working. Being the girl that I am, I acted all huffy about it and sweet hubs said, "we can get you a new one. I'll go buy you a new one. And if your purse is ruined too we'll buy you a new one." He felt so bad.

I finished up dinner (excellent chicken tortilla soup with sliced avacado on top) as he cleaned up the floor.

Later on, Leslie, J, and I went for our run and tdud was headed to Lowe's for something he needed for a certain project in the works. When he picked me up from the Jerkins abode, we got in the car and he said, "I tried to do something nice for you, but they didn't have the same one. They only had the hard cover one."

That sweet guy.

This reminded me that I don't need to be attached to my earthly possessions. So a little drink got on my planner and the pages are a little wavy on the edges now, it just adds to the character. As I went in my purse this morning and got out my little notebook, it didn't even look that messed up. Now every time I use it I will remember my sweet tdud and that I don't need to be so caught up in my things.