Thankfulness Times 30!!!

There are 30 days in November and since November also carries the holiday of Thanksgiving and massive gluttony, I thought I would write about the thirty things that I am most thankful for.  I am going for the non-traditional here.  Let's start with the basics and move on from there.  I am thankful for:

1. My husband of 8 years.  My marriage.  The need I feel for him still after 13 years together.  Without him I am nothing.  He is my rock, my paper, and my scissors.

2.  My kids.  I always wanted kids.  I have been blessed with the two most loving and accepting kids. They love me through my mean-mommy days and they love me through my best days.  They make me want to have more good days than bad.  I never thought I could love anyone so much, and then I had TWO kids.  They amaze me.

3.  My dog, Cinder.  We rescued her a year ago from a shelter and she has been a part of this family ever since.  We are not the Benzens without her.  Cinder has turned my husband into a dog lover, so much so, we had our Christmas pictures taken with her.  She completes our entire family.  The acceptance of a dog is like nothing I have ever seen.  She knows when I need a snuggle and she knows when to get out of my way.  Mostly, I just want to snuggle her.

4.  Candy Crush.  Hell to the Yeah.

5.  A good book.  I am on the third Hunger Games book and I don't get a ton of time to read, so when I can't put it down...you know it is fabulous!  I love to read.  I love books.  The smell, the sound they make when you open them, the turning of pages.  So thankful for books.

6.  Magazines.  I subscribe to six or seven magazines.  Some for me, some for the kids, some for the business.  Yes, I have an iPad, but there is something about the tangible.  I love that.  I love the simple things still.  A magazine, writing a letter to my grandma, putting in a disc in the DVD player....consider me old school 32.

7.  My home.  We live in an older, stucco home and she is SOLID.  I generate safety from my house and "she" truly is a home.

8.  Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Nelson.  They started out as teachers back in High School, but I can honestly say that they are truly friends.  Friends that the kids consider "GandG Nelson."  Friends that I can call on when I have a question about business or life.  They are friends, but more so, they are family.  We love them.  So thankful for the Nelsons.  So thankful.

9.  Snow!  I love winter, I love the snow...but I hate to be cold.  Let me repeat this...I HATE to be cold!  I LOVE the snow though!  It is so beautiful.  One of the true gifts from God.

10.  My brother and sister.  Older and Younger and I am stuck in the Middle.  I have learned so much from both of them.  Very thankful for my siblings.

11.  Chocolate and Coffee and Carbs and Chips and Ice Cream...I am so thankful for FOOD!  I love to eat!

12.  Thankful for the passion to cook and being blessed with the ability to be fairly good at it.  There is no greater joy than providing for your family through food....andy my bestest friend Josh....

13.  I am a stay at home mom.  Everyday I get to do what I love.

14.  My husband has two jobs.  One full time and one part time and I guess you could consider the on-call one too!  Blessed and thankful for employment!

15.  HALF WAY!

16.  Technology.  I love TV, Movies, my computer, iPad, the kids Leap Pads...I know when to turn it off, but it is so nice to have.

17.  Heat.  This time of year it is the little things to be truly thankful for.  My family has so much when others have so little.  I am thankful for never being cold or hungry.

18.  Finances.  My husband and I have finally gotten a "strong-hold" over our finances over 8 years of marriage.  No better feeling.  No credit card debt and the truck is almost paid off.  To finally have control is an amazing feeling.  It took a change in attitude, but I am so thankful that we are finally there and we did it together!

19.  My mom and dad.  What would life be like without my mom and dad?  So boring.  We have weekly meals together, they are so amazingly awesome to my kids and they have never questioned it when we needed help.  My mom and dad are such a gift to my family and they bring us all absolute joy.  Trust me, never a dull moment when we are all together!

20.  Reliable vehicles.

21.  Having a husband who is blessed with the gift of song.  He is so amazingly talented and I am thankful that every day I get to hear that gift.  You are missing out if you haven't heard him sing.  I am very biased :)

22.  A college education.  Yes, I am a stay at home mom, but my time at Bethel has and never will be wasted.  I have a love for learning that can never be extinguished.

23.  My in-laws.  Always accepting and loving to myself and my family.

24.  Faith.  I have a faith in God that will not waver, no matter what the circumstances.

25.  Friends.  True friends that have stuck by me through everything.  I am very guarded and choosy with who I let in my life, so to have this select few that has stuck with me, by my side...is such an amazing gift.

26.  CindyBlue Designs.  What would I do without my small business?

27.  My grandma.  There is nothing I can say that I have not already said about her.  Such a truly fantastic woman, with undeniable class and grace.

28.  My grandpa.  He was taken too soon, but the memories I have of him live inside.  So thankful for the memories.

29.  Rainy Lake.   Where the memories start and where the memories will end.

30.  Passion.  Passion for photography.  Passion for love.  Passion for everything I do.  Passion that gets me through.

Marianne

New Product Line!

Here at CindyBlue Designs, I am so excited to announce our new product line!  We are now creating color sheets, that can be downloaded instantly!  Our target market for these are primarily children, but my mom and I are really focusing on churches and Sunday Schools.

The idea came from my own kids!  Natalie and Eli LOVE to color!  So...why not offer an affordable option to churches and Wednesday night groups.  For $1.00 you get the rights to the artwork and can make as many prints as you need!

Here are the prints we have so far, with more in production!

 

 They can be found at my Etsy Shop, CindyBlue Designs

Have a great day!

Marianne

Copyright © CindyBlue Designs 2013

Lacking ?

When this week started I had great aspirations for it.  I was motivated and ready to conquer the five days I had ahead with no husband!

Today is Friday and I am lacking motivation and I am looking around my house thinking....what did I do all week?  I kept the kids alive.  That's what I did.  Natalie made it to school.  Eli made it to daycare.  We had dinner every week, even though it wasn't documented in my "week four of meal planning."  Oh well.  I shouldn't feel like a failure, but I do.  Isn't that crazy?  It is so easy to be disappointed in yourself and that is what I am facing today.

Disappointment.
Depression
Sadness
No motivation, drive, or care for anything but a nap!

Sitting at the kitchen table with my cup of coffee, I felt the sudden urge that I needed some Jesus.  I opened up my devotional to today's date and this is the title...

God Knows What He's Doing

Reallly....could this be any more clear for me today!  Thank you Jesus.  Thank you for the reminder that you are in control and I am not.  Thank you for reminding me to trust you and it is ok because

"God is God.  He knows what he is doing.  When you can't trace his hand, trust his heart."  Amen to that.  Thank you Max Lucado!  Trust.  Trust in Jesus.

Goodbye to the disappointment, depression, and sadness.  I may still take the nap though!

Marianne

DIY Monday: Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Since I am getting a little "salsa-ed" out...80 jars will do that to you, I needed a recipe for all of my tomatoes.  Thankfully, my mom had a recipe for, Big Batch Tomato Sauce.  I thought, why not, and took the morning with my momma and made some spaghetti sauce!

Big Batch Tomato Sauce

3 Medium Onions-Sliced
3 Large Carrots-Grated
2 Medium Green Peppers-Chopped
2 Cloves Garlic-Minced
1/4 Cup Oil (olive or vegetable)

Cook until tender in a stock pot.

1 1/2 tsp Fresh Basil-Chopped
2 T Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
12 Pounds Tomatoes-Peeled and Chopped
1-12 Ounce Can Tomato Paste
1/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar

Add to vegetable mix.  Mix well.  Bring to boil.  Reduce heat to low.  Loosely cover pot and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.  Pour into sterile jars and can in a water bath for 15 minutes or you can freeze.

Makes roughly 9 pints.

All labels on the jars can be found at CindyBlue Designs! 

Another note...I am making the switch to Word Press!  My goal is to be up and running some time this week.  My new blog address will be:  www.stayinggroundedinfaith.com.  Bookmark it!  Follow it!  I cannot wait to continue this journey with you!!

Marianne

Pie Day 2013

I have lived in Braham (almost) my entire life.  I have attended Pie Day in the past, but this was my first year as a vendor.  Let me tell you, we had a blast.  I say "we" because I had my trusty sidekick-husband Ross, along for the ride!

Not familiar with Pie Day?  Pie Day is an annual event in Braham, MN.  It lands on the first Friday of August.  Estimated attendance is around 5,000 people and Braham is considered the homemade pie capitol of MN.  Lots of crafters are in attendance and lots of pie is eaten!!!

I truly believe what made this sale so much more successful than the sale in Eden Prairie was the fact that it was local.  We are local.  We live blocks away from the sale.  My mom and dad are local.  That is what made it so much fun.

We were able to see old friends and classmates from high school, make some sales, and interact with people from the community.  I LOVE that!  We also had a steady flow of law enforcement and fire department members in and out of our booth which always adds to the good time.

So much was taken away from this sale.  I feel as if nothing needs to be changed design wise for my booth, but some pricing needs to be tweaked for our next sale in September.  We will keep you posted on the details for this!

Thank you to all who came out and showed love and support to CindyBlue Designs.  It means so much to my mom and I, coming from this small town of loyal Braham-ites!  I am so proud to call Braham home and I am even more excited of where CindyBlue Designs is headed!!!

Thank you!

Marianne