My Newest Splurge

For those of you who know me well, you know I am pretty cautious about spending. I really don't shop much and I don't spend money on big items when I do. Well, I have a confession, I am a true fan of one big brand name store....Williams Sonoma! Oh wow, has it changed me. People, if you do not get kitchen stuff there, go online and start shopping today. Now granted, many of you have probably been shopping there for years and years, but some of you don't and so I am going to tell you about my favorite purchases and why I love them.

1. Counter Top Spray - They have the best smelling kitchen cleaners. I love their counter top sprays. They make your kitchen smell so clean at the end of the day and do a great job cleaning as well. My current favorite flavor is Olive Oil. I know that sounds random, but it is surprisingly awesome. Cody was the one who picked it out. If you live near a store, you need to swing by and sniff. The counter top spray is only $9.00. My favorite flavor of the year is always the Peppermint spray in the Winter.

2. Goldtouch Muffin Tin - ALL of their Goldtouch nonstick pans are awesome. You will not believe how evenly they cook and how nothing sticks to them. I have found this to be very true with all of the, but especially helpful with the muffin tin. I made my simple Walmart brand packet of blueberry muffin mix muffins the other Saturday and it was crazy at how good they were compared to the other pan. Everything just cooks better. I am also a huge fan of their cookie sheets.

3. Melamine Mixing Bowls - These bowls are the coolest. The have a cool contour design that makes it really easy to mix and pour. Nothing sticks to the side of them. They are heavy so they don't tip or scoot around easily on the counter. I also have the matching measuring cups which are the same way. They also have a rubber ring around the bottom that holds them in place. There is a set of 4. My set has a red, an orange, a yellow, and a green which Carley loves. Also they are dishwasher safe.

4. Flexible Grill Basket - There are lots of different kinds of these, this is just the one I have. I saw they on Oprah's favorites and I had to try. It is so cool because you can cook fish, veggies, bread, anything on the grill and it doesn't stick and it is easy to flip. You don't lose the little pieces and your food doesn't tear because it was on the actual grill top. Also, your veggies aren't mushy because they aren't cooked in foil.

So tell me some of your favorites. I love to hear of everyone's newest splurge. Where do you think the bang is worth the buck?

It's a..........

Perfect, healthy, perfect, healthy baby BOY!!!! Corey Wayne Nelson. We are so thankful and blessed!!

Thoughts for a Tuesday

- Darius Rucker's new song, "It Won't Be Like This For Long" makes me tear up every time I hear it. So sweet, so true....

- The Office featured a John Denver song. You know how happy this makes me!!!

- Oprah had an episode on talking to your kids about sex last Wednesday. Ummmmm, interesting television. I could blog on many thoughts on this episode, but do not want to throw that out on the web for all to read. Let's just say, she and I feel differently about this on some issues.

- I have been losing my voice, hoarse, or had a sore throat for a week. I hate it when that happens. There is nothing I can take strong enough to kick it!

- We find out if baby Nelson is a boy or a girl on Tuesday. This blows my mind. Since this will be our last child, if I have a boy, I will be thrilled because Cody has a son and if I have a girl I will be thrilled because Carley has a sister. I have no gut feeling on what I am going to have. I think I am blocking it in my mind because I always go against the mom's gut instinct.

- Alyssa did a great job teaching Lauren, Carley, and Camryn about the crucifixion this weekend. Every time we see a cross anywhere, Carley yells out "Jesus died on the cross. I found it. I won" We are not sure what game she is playing, but glad her confidence is boosted by this???? Carley does love to talk about the cross and the empty tomb. Even though I know she really doesn't get it completely, it is still a cool step in her faith development.

- I have been eating lots of Easter Candy.

- Cody Nelson gets 5 stars for today. He was off while I was at work and he did ALL the laundry in the house. He washed, dried, hung up, and folded at least 4 loads today. Since we were gone for several days, this was a lot of laundry. I never even asked him to do it. He even did Carley's which is a first for him. If you see him, PLEASE pass on my gratitude. I want him to know how appreciated this is (so maybe it will happen again) Thanks so much, Cody! You are the best!

- Sometimes I feel great and the other times I feel really pregnant.

- We had a picnic at Carley's preschool today. She was so cute and so sweet while we were there. She was mad when we left though.

Aunt Lynda, Siblings, Soulmates,

My aunt Lynda died today. She had fought a long , hard battle with ovarian cancer. Most people do not survive months when diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer, but Lynda did 5 years. She beat it several times. She was strong, faithful, and fearless through it all. She died today with her two daughters, husband, son-in-law, grandson, and two sisters at her side.

The picture above is when she came to see Carley when she was 2 months old. Lynda had already beat cancer twice by that time three years ago.

I know that Aunt Lynda is at the best place possible to celebrate Easter Sunday and the Resurrection. She will be there to see first hand that death really does have to happen to have a resurrection and rebirth.

My sweet mom has lost three of her 4 siblings. My uncle died in a car accident when we was a young 22 year old, newlywed the week before Easter as well. He was my mom's only brother and his service was on Easter Sunday 33 years ago. Now my aunt will me remembered on this same weekend. My mom and her sister, Anella, are the only ones left from their family of 7. Please pray for them.

My sister read an article not too long ago that talked about how your siblings are your life partners and soul mates. They are with you truly for longer than anyone else. Most of us will know our spouse from the time we are in our twenties on. Our children we will know from an even later time. Our parents are there from the beginning, but sadly, are not always there when we are in old age, but our siblings are often there for it all.

Today is my sister's birthday. It is a sad day because of my aunt's passing, but also a really sentimental day to be thankful for siblings and soulmates. It is a blessing to have people to go through life with, to know you for the journey. I am thankful each day that Alyssa is mine!

Please keep my family, specifically my mom, my uncle, and cousins, in your prayers.