Bling....Bling

Last week I posted a list of 25 more things you may not know about me. If you missed that post you can go here to check it out. 


Number 125 said that Britten was taking me to get my nose pierced this month so I wanted to follow up/explain that statement.


I've wanted a nose ring for about four months now but due to a few circumstances that were beyond our control it just hasn't happened. In March I went to Cloud Nine to finally get it done only to have the owner tell me the piercer works from 3 to midnight. Well, those hours really weren't working well with naps, feeding schedules and bedtimes so once again...no nose ring. 


Two weeks ago it seemed to be the perfect storm. We were up late pricing items for our first yard sale (which is a whole different post for another time) and my boys were with my parents for the evening. We finished getting everything together and I managed to talk my sweet hubby into a late night adventure to the tattoo parlor to get this....

Yep, you guessed it....mama got a nose ring! 

Wondering Why Wednesday

Another installment of "Wondering Why Wednesday..."

         Why is the pancake mix split open and spilling out on the counter?

The Main Event

Boys are different...very different. But, sometimes I forget exactly how different they are until something like this happens. 

Last week the boys were completely dressed and ready for the day when I walked in the living room to discover not only had they changed clothes....not a one of them was wearing a shirt. 


After watching for just a couple of minutes I realized they had created their very own boxing match. 


Notice the outfits. No shirts, boxing gloves (or winter mittens) head gear (in the form of winter hats and noise reduction headphones) and athletic shorts/pants (or in Brody's case...boxer briefs).

They even made rules such as: if you step off of the rug you are out of bounds and big brother takes on the winner of the round one match. 


Just another ordinary day at the Taylor House. 

Wondering Why Wednesday

                      Another installment of "Wondering Why Wednesday..."

Why did I leave a freshly baked cake on the oven?

25 More Things You May Not Know About Me

A while back I wrote a series of posts that included 100 Things You May Not Know About Me that proved how strange I really can be.


I thought I'd add a few more to my list of random quirks.


101. All of my apps on my Iphone are in alphabetical order....and it drives my husband batty.


102. I have a love affair with Q-tips and can't stop using them despite all the "oh no, you are going to lose your hearing" warnings I get.


103. I once had my eyebrows waxed at a salon and they ended up taking all but a thin pencil line off. It was horrible and took almost a year to grow completely back. I'm still a little hesitant to let anyone touch my eyebrows to this day.


104. I'm currently in counseling for "over the top birthday parties." Not really, but I am a recovering addict and have made much progress in the area of birthday simplicity.

105. I wear rubber gloves when I change poopy diapers...and yes, that includes the diapers of my own children. 

106. I blast Justin Bieber tunes when I work out. 

107. I have to keep a spare key in a magnetic case under my van because I lock my keys in my car so often. 

108. I thought "making your own bread" meant using a bread machine until a homeschool buddy laughed profusely at me while explaining what "making your own bread" entailed. I'm an embarrassent to the homeschool community. 

109. I once cried in the check out line at Publix when the cashier told me the total because I knew it meant I had gone over my allotted grocery budget. 

110. People always comment on the fact that my house stays clean (which it doesn't) but other than the basic bed making and picking up toys....I don't do it. I have a cleaning lady that comes to my house every other week. 

111. I once made all guests in attendance at Braeden's birthday party wear name tags that coordinated with the theme. (See #101)

112. Other than the fact that we are happily married, not a single thing about our life together looks like we thought it would when Britten and I got married and envisioned our ten year plan. 

113. My childhood nickname was Monkey. Thanks Dad. 

114. I once slept in the floor of my sister's room for several months because I was afraid of the dark. I may or may not have been in middle school at the time. 

115. I pray often for/about the women my boys will marry. 

Photo Courtesy of Allison Lewis Photography

116. My four pregnancies follow strange patterns like heathy baby, NICU baby, healthy baby, NICU baby. Or another fun one...surprise, planned, surprise, planned. 

117. My idea of "leisurely reading" usually involves a cookbook or homeschool scope and sequence. Riveting, right?

118. Having lots of friends is a good thing but I firmly believe it's only possible to reach a level of heart to heart intimacy with a few people. Britten is my #1. 

119. I rarely watch movies more than once with the exception of Steel Magnolias & Smokey Mountain Christmas. Maybe, just maybe, I'm a Dolly Parton fan.

120. Pre-marriage, the worst argument Britten and I ever had was about me laying in a tanning bed. Lame, I know. 

121. I once was a bridesmaid four times in five months. 

122. I prefer new homes over old ones with "character." 

123. This was the first house Britten and I ever purchased. I just knew we'd grown old here together and listen to our grandchildren playing in the backyard. God knew my need for stability and consistency and was so gracious to sanctify me by giving me a visionary husband. His grace is so good. 

124. Britten and I have moved six times in nine years. (See #123) 

125. My hubby is taking me to get a nose ring this month. 

So, just in case you didn't know what a complete set of random I truly am....now you do. 

Wondering Why Wednesday

Another installment of "Wondering Why Wednesday..."

Why is Brody wearing a pillowcase?

Sweet Sleep

I've mentioned before that we have a few several a ton of kids in our small group that meets here in our home. We try to include our children in as much of the actual small group meeting as possible...sometimes it goes well and sometimes it doesn't. 


We try to choose mission projects and serving opportunities on a regular basis that the children can take part in and relate to. In the past we've put together shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child,  hosted baby showers for members of our small group and a few other projects to encourage serving others.  

We recently completed a wonderful mission project designed specifically for children with the Sweet Sleep Organization called Build A Bed. Sweet Sleep is a faith based nonprofit organization that provides beds for orphaned and abandoned children around the world. 

Each family in our small group received a kit containing a box to collect money

as well as a simple booklet to guide you through your family worship time as you introduce and encourage the concept with your children. The lessons are short and simple and often include videos that can be downloaded online and used during the lesson. The family kits and boxes are free and can be ordered by sending a simple email. The Build A Bed project is perfect for large groups like Vacation Bible School or smaller groups like a Sunday school class or small group. 

Our boys were anxious to get to the lesson each night (primarily because of the videos) and ended up saving approximately $8.00 of their own money. You can't send the actual money by mail so I  wrote a check for the total and mailed it to the address provided. Overall, it was a simple and effective way to focus our boys on the great need of children around the world and bring a little variety to our family worship time.