Londyn's headbands

If you have met Londyn you know that I love to put bows in her hair (more like on her head:)). I love the headbands with the big flowers. However I never liked the price. I have seen them between $7 and $20. Tonight I decided to get it a shot and try to make them by myself. Below you will see how I made them. Bargain: $19.59 bought 10 bows, 2 head wraps, 25 hair clips, E-600 glue, black and white ribbon.

Steps to making a bow:

First you have to cut your ribbon to the length to cover the clip. I did this so that there is some cushion between her head and the metal.

Second glue the ribbon on to the clip and press for about 2 minutes. Let sit for about 10 minutes for adding bow.

Third cut stems and or leafs. Put glue on the clip and press bow until dry (about 4 minutes)

Fourth, you can sew your headbands together if you know how to sew. For those who can't, like myself, just overlap the material a little and clip the bow on, no sewing necessary.

When you want a change just change out your flower to match the perfect outfit.

I will be on the hunt for more bands and flowers. This might become an addiction of mine:).

(Sorry my pictures uploaded backwards)Check my facebook to see more options

Little Debbie:Oatmeal Cream Pie

Every Tuesday evening we have taco Tuesdays with friends. Last night our friends brought over Oatmeal Cream Pies for dessert. The whole pie melts in your mouth, the thick cream that is placed between two cookies, yummmmm. Even though per serving consist of 300 calories I still have a love for them.

Here is how they are made:

Ingredients
1 cup margarine
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups quick oats
Cream Filling
2 teaspoons very hot water
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow cream
1/2 cup shortening
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
1In large bowl, cream margarine, sugars, molasses, vanilla, and eggs.
2Combine flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
3Add to the creamed mixture; mix in the oats.
4Drop dough by TBSP on ungreased sheets.
5Bake at 350°F.
6Bake for 10-12 minutes,or until just starting to brown around the edges.
7They will look moist; don't overcook.
8While the cookies bake prepare the filling.
9In small bowl, dissolve the salt in the hot water.
10Allow this to cool.
11Combine marshmallow cream, shortening, powdered sugar, and vanilla in med bowl; mix on hi until fluffy.
12Add the cooled salt water and mix well.
13Spread filling on flat side of one cookie, press 2nd cookie on top.

Strikes and Angel kisses

It's funny the things that we believed as kids. Last nights storm brought a memory back for me. I don't know if you know this or not I am a big scaredy cat.:) I use to run down the hall screaming "boo" at every door thinking I would really scare someone if they were out to get me. I remember always being scared when the storms came rolling in. I remember this day very vividly. It was storming really bad and the electricity had been knocked out. Two fears, the dark and storms. So I would cry and cry and cry. My mom finally came up with this excuse for the storm. God was bowling and whenever the thunder would BOOM God made a strike. Still being startled by the sound of the thunder in our flash light lit room, I began cheering God on. "Go God! Woohoo!" It's a miracle how though I was so scared I began to cheer God on in the darkness.

Today I was in the breakfast room at work and one of the kids said, "I have a lot of freckles". It made me think about how every time I would visit my moms house she would say that the angels had been busy kissing me because I have a lot of angel kisses (freckles) on my face.

The innocence that a child holds is so great. I hope that someday Londyn can look back and have stories of the same. I also hope that through my parenting and watching Londyn grow that I gain that child like Faith.

.....Today I will marry my best friend....

Wow! It's been three years since I have said that. Today Keith and I celebrate our 3 year anniversary. Last night we began to reflect on what God has brought us through in our marriage. This morning I was doing a little bit of reflection myself.
The day I said I do....Saturday, June 16th at 2:30pm I was going to be walking down that Aisle. All morning I was nervous, excited, and ready to be married. I remember brushing my teeth right before heading for the aisle, we waited to kiss for a week:). I remember trying to get in the bathroom stall so I could go to the bathroom, thanks Misty, Julie, and Amanda. My sister Julie prayed over our day and marriage 15 minutes before it was time. Then of course there were things that I didn't know like, that my dad wasn't there yet, the cake was late and not how we wanted it (looked better than we could have imagined). Now it was time for my dad to walk me down the aisle. As we were walking he was holding my arm so tight that I lost feeling in it and thought I was going to faint walking in my 4 inch heel. I was able to do something that my father and I promised each other since I was a little girl, before he gave me away we gave butterfly kisses.
A year went by and we celebrated a year of marriage. At that time we didn't know that we would go through the deepest valley out there. At a year and a half we decided we wanted to start a family. As many of you know we were pregnant within 2 months and lost our baby at 8 weeks of the pregnancy (the baby was only 6 weeks). We went through a really hard time trying to cope with why God would let something like this happen to us. The only thing that I can think of is that it was a relationship building moment. Our second anniversary passed.... We started trying again as soon as the doctor gave us the okay. That August we found out that Precious Londyn would be here in April (same month we miscarried).
In December we went through another valley when I was placed on bed rest. In April our family expanded to a party of 3. 3 weeks into parenthood we closed on our first house that we call home. Today we are celebrating 3 years. No it was not all a bliss. There were many bumps, no wait potholes in the road that we have traveled. I have learned something through all of this though, God never fails! Even though there were times that I felt alone in the past 3 years, that God left me hanging on the edge of the cliff, I know that because of this journey called life my marriage is what it is today. No we never wanted to go through it, but we understand these things: How important it is to stick by each other, that we truly do love each other, Life is precious and should not be taken for granted, and that God really never left me I pushed him away.
Today I want to thank my husband for an amazing journey in our marriage...I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us this next year and many years to come!
Happy Anniversary my love, my Keithster;).

My God My Savior

Wednesday night our teens have a band that leads worship. This Wednesday they sung this song. I have heard and sung this song before. However, I have never truly read and listened to the words. As I stood there holding Londyn the words came strong. I could feel the goosebumps throughout my body. I am so glad that he is my Savior and He chose ME! Listen to the words of this song, the lyrics are below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0WluTpFTg

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

Chorus (2x's)
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be

Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

Chorus (2x's)

(Instrumental)

Chorus: (2x's)

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior loves, My Savior lives

She truly is a Miracle

I know I talk about Londyn A LOT! I am one of those parents:). I just have to share how in awe I became over the weekend. Keith left for the weekend with some of the teens from church and so I decided to visit some family. We always stay with my in-laws when we visit Bedford. The last time that we had visited was Friday December 18th. That was the night that my placenta previa became complicated, putting me on bed rest. As I was getting Londyn and I ready for bed I realized how scary everything had been. Here I stood alone in the very same room I had bled in 6 months ago. I began to realize just how fortunate my own life and the life of Londyn was today. I remember how the doctor in the ER that night told us how Londyn would not survive if I went in labor. I remember all of the beeping of monitors to make sure she was still surviving. I also remember that she was so little it was hard to keep track of her, when the alarm would go off the nurses were back in looking for that little heartbeat. We were also told that night that if the bleeding did not stop I would be life lined to Indianapolis, possibly fighting for my life.
Standing in that room last Saturday night, remembering how scary life became 6 months ago. I stand here today, both Londyn and I, healthy. God is so faithful and truly worked a miracle in the life of the Deckards the early morning of December 19th.
I hope that I never forget where the Lord has brought me from and how he is never to busy to work a miracle in my life.

Thank you Jesus for Loving me and protecting my baby!!!!!!

What happened to us?

About 8 years ago is when it all begun. My family began to fall apart, crumbling like coral. I left for college January of `03 driving my bright yellow 2001 Mustang GT convertible, having a dorm room full of luxury, not knowing what no meant. I guess I can admit, although I hate to, that I was VERY spoiled. I like to think of it as being fortunate. I went back for my high school senior prom that year to find out that my family was separating. My sophomore year of college my world came crumbling down even more. I had doctor bills that I found out my insurance didn't cover, my car was being repossessed, my checking account had been frozen by the IRS. All of this to find out that my father was loosing everything that he had. My mom bought me a car, I began making payment arrangements with the hospital, and let my checking account go (The IRS took all but 12 cents from my account, I receive a bank notice every month reminding me), and began to look for a job.
After all of this happened it seemed like we were on a muddy slope and there was no chance for things to get better.
About 6 years ago I began to separate myself from my family, I think I finally realized how "un-normal" we really were. I don't know if this has hurt me or helped me. I do know that I have become stronger from having an "un-normal" family.
Today Keith and I live 2.5 hours away from my family. My father is a truck driver and I haven't seen in 2.5 months. My mother lives 13 hours away in NC, this has nothing to do with the craziness, just thought I would add her in. My step mom pulled herself away from me the day of the wedding, not really sure of the reason. My little sister has seen and knows more than any 10.5 year old should know. My sister with cerebral palsy has been led down so many wrong paths by her caregivers, she has not had good influences. My oldest sister and best friend, might be one of the "normal" ones in the family with her husband and four kids. I recently spent a few days with her and it was amazing...we wait WAY too long to get together, it was great catching up with her and feeling her love. I have 4 step siblings....the oldest has 3 kids and I recently found out that she has left one of their dads to care for them and she left with her own father. The other one, Misty, I grew up with, was a close friend of mine before becoming my sister, she might be the only other "normal" one. She has 3 kids of her own and is definitely a soccer mom. Then there is "Boo" aka Victoria, I remember dressing her up and pretending to play house with her. Now I hear how poor choices has ruined her, I just want to love her and hug every breath out of her. Then there is the youngest my step brother, whom just graduated from high school this month. Though he made poor choices he finished school and hopefully is on the right track now.
I worry about my family all the time. I don't talk about them much, people wouldn't understand if I did. We are broken and yet how did we get here? How did we drive each other so far apart? We were so close at one time, we were like gorilla glue. A bond so tight it was untouchable, so I thought.
I am wondering how I am going to explain this all to Londyn some day. I don't want her to know many things, some things are better left unsaid.

Lord give me the strength to raise my child in your church and under your wing. Help me to know what to say to her some day and how to explain things to her. Amen

1st week of separation

One word to describe me this week is emotional basket case, borderline depressed. This was my first week back to work. I knew this day was coming, I even worked it out so I can work half days for two weeks. I honestly don't have a good reason for feeling so anxious about leaving my sweet Londyn.
Here are my reasons: What if she thinks I have abandoned her? What if she gets so upset and no one can calm her down? What if I miss her roll, first steps, or even her sitting up? What if she forgets who I am? All of these things race through my mind every morning.
I somewhat have to laugh at myself. I always tell parents when They drop their children off at Kiddie Kollege, "They will be fine as soon as you leave". Why cannot I not chew my own words? It's not even Londyn who is upset, she is perfectly content. It's all me.
I know that she is in great hands with Heather and little Luke, I also know that she is mine at the end of the day. This is all good for her social growth too.
I guess I never realized how hard it would be to leave my baby. I am honestly counting down the months till she is able to attend Kiddie Kollege. Yes, I will still be leaving her, but I will see her in the halls, I can give her a little hug anytime of the day.
I know that God will take care of Londyn and I. I hear it gets easier, we will see about that.