Catching up on various things....

Gosh its been so long since I have updated my blog. Not sure what happened to the time, but somehow or another it disappeared on me while I've been living this thing called life.


Well to start we have a new addition to our family. He came to us about a month ago from a lady that lives in Morgantown. After hours of searching on a website called www.petfinders.com, Mark found this dog and embarked in trying to find out about him. After leaving a few messages and waiting for a call back, someone finally called and I talked with this lady over the phone for a while. I could tell that she really was attached to him and it was heartbreaking for her to let him go. He must be a special dog, I thought. After negiotiating a meeting spot, we settled at the Sheets gas station in Weston and waited for our meeting of the dog. Him and his owner arrived and what a huge puppy he is. Part Great Dane and part German short-haired pointer, he came out of the car and instantly had his nose to the grown and was sniffing all that he could. The owner was so nice and supplied us with a 55 lb bag of dog food, toys and balls for entertainment and a little laser light. Didn't realize how much fun it would be to play with that little thing when we first got it. I think that, we found out, was his favorite toy out of it all. He pounces on that light like a cat and to see a huge dog like Munch, it is hilarous.

I have to say for a person that can take or leave dogs, this one has weezled his way into my heart and loving him is not hard at all. He is well behaved, loving and extremely attentive. He is obedient and eager to please. The kids just love him and the kids enjoyed the fact that I have relaxed on the rule of "no dogs allowed in the beds". The kids argue over who gets to sleep with him next. It's great that not only is this dog loving our family, but he is teaching my children how to love as well.

"Detective Munch" as he is called is a welcomed and will be cherished addition to the Hallman household.

Mark's Torino

Well, he did it. Mark has finally put some fresh paint on his pride and joy. I think he's been trying to get this thing restored for about 4 years now. Long time to wait for the finished product, but I'm sure he doesn't mind after seeing what he's done. This car was given a 429 cobra jet engine full equipped with top performance parts. He wants this thing to go fasssssst! A complete interior re-do from the dashboard to the trunk. Then finally the paint job that shines so brightly. Mark did a fantastic job on it and I'm so proud of him. I only hope that he realizes how talented and gifted of a man he is. I know I give him a hard time every so often about putting so much money into this hobby of his, but truth be told ~ he is doing something that is worth while and I shouldn't be doing that. He deserves to have this. He's a good, attentive and loving father. He doesn't abuse me or the kids. He doesn't drink himself to stupidity, nor does he indulge in drugs. I can't complain about this hobby, but only love him for being a special guy that has a passion for cars.

Great job Mark ~ I love you!!!! ((hugs))

"Anything that is worth doing, is worth doing right"

Oh I just love summer!! A time to really spend some quality time with the kids. During the hussle and bussle of school time, I think I tend to just skim through it all. Missing out on things.

One of the things the kids did this summer, was fix and get running their go-kart. A friend of mine gave the kids a double seater. After bringing it home and tinkering around with it, they got the it running. So now we have two running go-karts and 3 crazy kids! You can drive up to my front yard and tell exactly where they have been making their rounds. The path is definitely worn down. Tristan decide to take a stroll through the fence today. Thank God for helmets and roll cages other wise he would have been hurting a bit. Mark wasn't to pleased that he has to know replace the fence, but he'll get over it I think. We'll all just help him, so it won't be that bad.

I'm wanting to plan a camping trip here soon. Not sure when though and where. (might just end up camping on the hill across the street). Maybe something will present itself here soon, so I can get inspired!

Well, I am off. It is midnight here and this cinderella is about to turn into a sleepy servant girl!

Chat with you later!

Old Paths

I was forwarded this today by a friend. For some reason my mood went from being alright in the morning to just plain ole' MISERABLE by afternoon. I am not sure why this email showed up today, but it sure did validate some of the things that I was thinking about today. I bolded the parts that stood out to me. All of it was good, but those points stuck out to me. Gosh, I desire so much to just be able to get my kids to respect and behave, my husband to turn to the Lord for salvation and people to be mindful of God's laws and not their own desires. That people would respect the Holy Spirit and LISTEN when prompted to be God's helping hands for others. I so desire and pray that I get out of this funk, because with this defeatest attitude how in the world am I going to teach my children all these basic principles and be the witness to my husband or even be the best person I can be to others. Lord help me to stop thinking like this and help me to be more positive!!!

I wish the old paths were before us instead of behind us.

I liked the old paths, when Moms were at home.

Dads were at work. Brothers went into the army.

And sisters got married BEFORE having children!

Crime did not pay;

Hard work did;

And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook;

Dads would work;

CHILDREN WOULD BEHAVE!

Husbands were loving;

Wives were supportive;

And children were polite.

Women wore the jewelry;

And Men wore the pants.

Women looked like ladies;

Men looked like gentlemen;

And children looked decent.

People loved the truth, And hated a lie;

They came to church to get IN,

Not to get OUT!

Hymns sounded Godly;

Sermons sounded helpful;

Rejoicing sounded normal;

And crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked;

Drugs were for illness;

And divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honored;

America was beautiful;

And God was welcome!

We read the Bible in public;

Prayed in school;

To be called an American was worth dying for;

To be called a Christian was worth living for;

To be called a traitor was a shame!

Preachers preached because they had a message,

Singers sang from the heart;

And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!

A new birth meant a new life;

Salvation meant a changed life;

Following Christ led to eternal life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God;

Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;

Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;

And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

Laws were based on the Bible;

Homes read the Bible;

And churches taught the Bible.

God was worshiped

And the Holy Spirit was respected.

Church was where you found Christians on the Lord's day,

rather than in the garden,

in the creek bank,

on the golf course,

Or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the old paths the best!

"Heavenly Chocolate Cherry Cake"

I am about to embark on a new receipe today. I don't know the name of it, but I am going to name it myself. "Heavenly Chocolate Cherry Cake". A lady at church talked about this cake and gave me directions on how to make it. I thought it was absolutely neat how you can add the cherries to the top of the batter and it will sink to the bottom which will end up being the top of the cake once you remove it from the pan. Here is the receipe. I'd post a picture of it, but unfortunately my computer is brand new right now and has some issues. One of which is not getting my camera to connect to the computer. Making it quite difficult to download pictures. Anywhoooooo.....I'll have to make this again when it is working. Any excuse to make it again, huh?


Step 1 ~ making the Chocolate Cake
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/4 c. shortening
2 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs3 (1 oz.) sqs. unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 c. sour cream
2 1/2 c. cake flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2/3 c. water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 13 x 9 pan. Cream butter and shortening with brown sugar and vanilla. Add eggs; continue beating until very light and fluffy. Blend in melted chocolate and sour cream; beat 1 minute at medium speed to mix well (15 strokes by hand). Add dry ingredients and water. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed (450 strokes by hand).


Step 2 ~ setting & baking cake

Layer small marshmellows on bottom of pan. Pour cake batter on top. Then add one can of cherry pie filling to the top of the cake batter. Bake 35 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Pull from the oven and let it cool. Invert the cake onto a tray and serve with a dollop of whip cream.

Step 3 ~ eating this delicious "Heavenly Chocolate Cherry Cake"

Yummy!!!!