Thursday, April 28, 2011

Simple & Understated

 I love my front door with a wreath on it.  I know that sounds funny...but I feel like it completes my house.

I also have found my little "crafty" side here in the last two years & have been making more of my own decor.

So when you add the two together you get my simple & understated front door spring wreath.


I am obsessed with the
colors orange & pink this spring!

And I am always drawn to the more
natural look of the twig & grapevine
wreath.




Makes me smile just looking at it!  :)  It also helps that the sun is brilliantly shining for the first time in a week here in NW Arkansas!!!!

Happy Thursday!

Rachel

Monday, April 25, 2011

Diving, Rain & Pretty Girls {Easter 2001}

Dying eggs.

Aubrie called it "diving" eggs. 

Silly Lily!  "I see you Mom!"

Our pretty "dived" eggs.

Because you are only young once. 

Love.these.girls!

Happy Easter!

Daddy & his girls.

Rachel

Friday, April 22, 2011

Darkness Fell

And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.  ...And they crucified Him, & divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.  And it was the third hour when they crucified Him.  And the inscription of the charge again Him read, "THE KING OF THE JEWS."  And they crucified  two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.  [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with transgressors."]  And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple & rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, & come down from the cross!"  In  the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves & saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself.  Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross so that we may see and believe!"  And those who were crucified with Him were casting the same insult at Him.

And when the sixth hour had come, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"  ...And Jesus uttered a loud cry, & breathed His last.  And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  And when the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said,  
"Truly this man was the Son of God!"
Mark 15:22-39 (NASB)

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Precious Blood

Read these words & let them penetrate your hearts.  So thankful for the cross & the shed blood for me.
The following is an excerpt from The Valley of Vision (pages 74-75).

The Precious Blood
Blessed Lord Jesus,
Before thy cross I kneel & see
the heinousness of my sin,
my iniquity that caused thee to be 'made a curse',
the evil that excites the severity of divine wrath.
Show me the enormity of my guilt by
the crown of thorns,
the pierced hands & feet,
the bruised body,
the dying cries. 
Thy blood is the blood of incarnate God,
its worth infinite, its value beyond all thought. 
Infinite must be the evil & guilt that demands such a price.
Sin is my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper,
born in my birth,
alive in my life,
strong in my character,
dominating my faculties,
following me as a shadow,
intermingling with my every thought,
my chain that holds me captive in the empire of my soul.
Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light,
the air supply breath,
the earth bear my tread,
its fruit nourish me,
its creatures subserve my ends?
Yet thy compassions yearn over me,
thy heart hastens to my rescue,
thy love endured my curse,
thy mercy bore my deserved stripes.
Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths of humiliation,
bathed in thy blood,
tender of conscience,
triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation.


Humbled....
Rachel

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

~Tasty Tuesday~

Easter.  It is so late this year which should have given me more time to plan but...I am behind.  I do know our "plans" at least so that helps with the mental preparation.  Bferg & I have decided to start a new family tradition of Easter Brunch.  I personally LOVE brunch.  I love eating hours after waking & any excuse to have mid-day coffee will bring me to the table.

This recipe is compliments of Brett's late Grandma.  Grandma Schell was a master in the kitchen.  Flavorful meals, warm conversations & love always flowed from her table.

Sausage Strata
2lbs. Pork Sausage
1/4 Cup each of chopped Red & Green Peppers
2tsp. Yellow Mustard
12 Slices White Bread
1lb. Shredded Swiss Cheese
6 Eggs
4 Cups Milk
1tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1/8tsp. Black Pepper
1/8tsp. Ground Nutmeg
1/8tsp. Salt

Grease 9x13 pan.  
Saute' sausage & peppers.  Stir in mustard.
Arrange the bread in the bottom of the pan, top with the sausage/pepper mixture & cheese.  Beat eggs & mix together milk, w-sauce, pepper, nutmeg & salt.  Pour over bread & sausage.  Refrigerate over night.  
Bake at 350* for 40-50 minutes.
 
Happy Easter!  Isn't a blessing to know that our Lord is alive!

Rachel

Friday, April 15, 2011

Favorite Thing Friday



Lily has the most amazing bed head I've ever witnessed. I love going into her room each morning to see both her smiling face & her crazy curls. 

Love you Lily Katherine! 

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Big Day!

Last Wednesday Aubrielle had her first ever trip to the Dentist.  She did amazing!  She listened to every instruction & then cooperated fully!  You know those moments in life when your kids both make you proud & surprise you with just how good they did...I had one!  I am SO proud of her!

Open wide!


Not sure what kind of smile this is...but her teeth are clean!
Smile!

Rachel

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

~Tasty Tuesday~

Spring is most definitely here!  We grilled last night while the girls played on the swingset & I just walked in from a picnic lunch set on a blanket.  Aahhhhhhh...love it!
This is my ALL time favorite recipe for a fruit salad.  It is very different but very fresh.  I could eat the whole batch every time I make it!  It is spring in a bowl! :)

Citrus Cilantro Fruit Salad
3 Pink Grapefruit, peeled & sectioned.
1 Pineapple or 1- 20 oz. Can, cut into bite sized pieces.
1 Pint Strawberries.
1 Mango, peeled & cut into bite sized pieces.

Dressing: 
1/3 Cup Orange Juice
1/3 Cup Lime Juice
3 Tbs Chopped Fresh Cilantro 
2 Tbs Honey

Wisk the dressing together, pour over fruit, toss & enjoy!  And this is one of those salads that only gets better with time.  You will enjoy the leftovers just as much if not more.

Rachel

Monday, April 11, 2011

I Live in Arkansas

I live in Arkansas. 
My dryer is broken. 
The back porch has brick columns & Bferg had weed eatin' string.
I now have a clothes line.


I live in Arkansas.

And for all of you wondering...NO, my broken dryer is NOT on bricks in my front lawn.  :)

Happy Monday!
Rachel

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Jaeger's Blog Debut

Jaeger is our german shorthaired pointer.  He was our first love for 45 whole minutes.  The night we brought him home was the night I found out I was pregnant with Aubrielle...yep, he stole my heart for 45 whole minutes!
He is bred for bird hunting & is darn good at it.  He is a master in the field.  A menace in the kitchen.  A fierce (yet docile) protector of all the Ferguson girls.  He pretty much owns the place.

On Point.
Look Dad!
Bferg & His Boy.  (Be still my heart! :)
Make yourself comfortable....


Love you Jaeger! 

Rachel

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Our Weekend

We spent the weekend in beautiful CO!  We went for Brett's sister's wedding but added another day to our trip to catch up with old friends.  We had an amazing weekend full of both sunshine & snow.  I did a horrible job at taking pictures of the weekend...but trust me we were there!  :)

Our Family.  (Aubrie is admiring the bride!)

Here come the Cute Kids!

Mr & Mrs Marshall

My Sister-in-Law Lindsey.  Love her!

Dancing the night away!