Spiritual Sunday

Join in for Spiritual Sundays! Share your worries, prayers, and support. There is a community of Christians friends waiting for you. God Bless You!!
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This weekend my daughter is at a Christian Teen Acts Retreat. The mission of the retreat is based on the Acts of the Apostles. I attend the Women's ACTs retreat almost 3 years ago. It was a life changing experience. My son also attended a teens ACTS retreat last year. Life is still challenging at time, we still fall and get up again. Christian retreats don't remove all problems, instead they give us the tools and faith to get through things with the help of God. We learn to trust in a power higher than our self and we become aware of other people's needs. I am so glad I attended the retreat first because I believe that parents should lead by example.

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Adoration ~ The call, acceptance and response to God
Community ~ Love and caring for each other as members of the body of Christ

Theology ~ Study of our faith through Scripture

Service ~ To God, each other and our parish family

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"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

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My prayer for Gina is that she strives for a deeper relationship with our Lord. I hope she gets to experience God's love and joy. Please pray for Gina and the teens of the world that they may find their place in the family God.

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Hints of Pink

Join in at Pink Saturday!

Have a good Weekend!

Yoli :)

Friday Sharing

Apron Senorita came about from a long love affair with two cultures and traditions. Being from the Rio Grande Valley of deep south Texas gave me a love for historical Mexican architecture. Being a proud Texan gave me a love for rustic ranch living. My design point of view also mixes in some French Country, Tuscan, and Mediterranean. At times it seems like I just "sew" aprons but I have to say that each design style is inspired by a greater purpose. I truly enjoy what I do. I love the use of rich and vibrant colors like terra cotta orange, cobalt blue, brick red, sunshine yellow, and creamy whites. I try to incorporate different fabric textures like rustic leather, vintage lace, natural cottons, and some cowgirl diva bling. My hope is to bring a little bit of Texas Senorita flavor to kitchens around the world through my aprons.

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Maybe I'm just dreaming by hoping to reach people through a simple apron, but I believe that the kitchen is the heart of a home. I hope to share my faith with women, especially other single-mothers like me. If I could tell them anything, I would tell them to reach within themself to find their God given gifts. It is possible to succeed through hard work, courage, and perseverance. I believe that we can be self-sufficient and instead of expecting to receive a handout, we should reach and give a hand-up. I strongly believe in empowering women and encouraging each other. We have the strength to change our world, even if it is one apron at a time..

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I find design inspiration in many places, especially books!




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I find inspiration especially through blogging friends.
Buzz On By Thursday at The Two Savvy Sisters
Keeping Company Thursdays at Heck of a Bunch
It's Friday I'm Hopping at Home-Mom
Friday Blog Hop at Momma to 3 & Home Grown
Follow-Friday
Green Friendly Follow at Eco-Friendly and Frugal
Thursdays Friends and Giveaways
Blog Hop Friday at Chubby Cheek
Follow me Fridays at Trendy Treehouse
Follow Back Friday at NYC Island Gal
Follow Friday 40 and Over! at Never Growing Old
Friendly Friday Follow at Toddler Awesome
Playdates Friday Follow at Stash Mama
Friendly Friday at Thanks Mail Carrier
New Friend Friday at Girl Creative

Wednesday Gratitude & Friends

Hope you're having a good Wednesday. It is partly cloudy in central Texas. It is a busy week but I've still have time to visit with blogging friends. I'm so grateful for so many of them and for he opportunity to share a glimpse into my happy & hectic life.

You've got to go by to visit Heidi for Wednesday Gratitude at Heart and Home I've been following her blog for a while and she has fabulous postings. The pictures she takes are gorgeous!!

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Wednesday Gratitude @ Heart and Home

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Welcome Wednesday @ Take It From Me

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Blog Parties

Busy week at the Kalkofen home!

My 2 teen kids are my blessing and I'm very grateful to God for them. Most of their life it has been just the three of us. We are very close and we take care of each other. We have typical family issues like chores, teen-stuff, and budgets to live by. Yet, we always manage to get through things. Our Christian faith is a big part of our life. We pray together every day and. A day never goes by that one of us doesn't do something silly and we all have a huge laugh. As a single mom I have to ensure that discipline is consistent. There are house rules to follow and education expectations. Good manners are extremely important. We all have good days and bad days. The best part is that we have a loving God to guide us and forgive us. This week my son started working at his first job and my daughter is going to a Christian teen retreat. As for me, I work and try to fit in fun when possible!

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Me at my office this morning. Where's my diet coke?

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Rambling thoughts Mid-Week & Blog Parties

Sometime I just have to get away, even if its in my day-dreams. Life is good but sometimes days become too routine. I'm finding that as I get older and start preparing for my kids to leave for college, I'm starting to wonder about my future. So what shall I dream of?

I know I want to travel to Italia. Maybe I'm hoping to star in my own Italian romance filled with great scenery, delicious foods, exciting fashion shows, and hidden villas. I dream of shopping the local market for fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood.

I can see me walking up cobble-stone streets to a quaint little cafe shop around the corner. Visions of old-world sculptures and paintings fill my imagination. The air is filled with the sound of Italian music and the laughter of women as they bake fresh artisan breads.

I imagine a life of centered around family and friends; living a life of culture and elegance. My dreams take me to the streets of Milan for shopping at chic boutiques where the fashion designers of Europe come to brag.

Then off to the Colosseum in Rome on a hot summer night for gladiator games of times gone by. At night I am on a romantic gondola ride on the canals of Venice. Oh how a girl can dream....



Ciao Amore'

On to more fun at Blog Parties & Events. CLICK HERE ~ join me !

Monday "FUN-day"

I had a fun weekend. My kids got back home from a 3 week vacation with family and friends in south Texas. They had a great time. Today my son starts his first job. He is 17 years old and will be in 12th grade this fall. He will be working part-time, evenings and weekends. I'm so proud of him for having the drive to find a job and having the discipline to follow-through on his commitment.

This past weekend I spent time with my daughter. We went to San Antonio to visit my aunt. We went to a couple of boutiques and had lunch. Saturday night we stayed home and watched movies. Sunday afternoon I started sewing holiday aprons for children. They are coming out adorable. They aren't ready for Etsy posting yet because I want to make matching hair bows to go with the apron.

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Love the Green Background!!

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Love the Pink & Blue combination. (Yeah, Blue Monday)

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Monday Blog Hops ~Join in the fun!
Meet me Monday at Inspiring You to Save

Mingle Mondays at Kd Buggie Boutique

Meet me on Monday at Never Growing Old

Posts "Get to Know You" questions. Below are my answers.

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1. What one food could you eat every single day?

I love Nachos and could eat them every day. I love them with cheese only, or with beef or chicken. I like them with salsa, and even more with guacamole.

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2. Do you wear glasses or contacts?

I wear both. I really need to research into Lasik eye surgery.

3. What kind of cell phone do you have?

I have 2 phones, a Blackberry for business and a Pocket phone for personal use.

4. What did you have for dinner last night?

I had a Dairy Queen Crispy Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard. Yum!!!

5. What is your favorite candy?

I love M&M's.

More Monday Blog Parties & Events
Blue Monday - Smiling Sally
Brag Monday - Graphic Fairy
Craftastic Monday - Sew Can Do
Its So Very Creative Monday at It's so Very Cheri
Just Something I Whipped up for Monday - The Girl Creative
Mad Skills Party at Mad In Crafts
Made by You Monday at Skip to my Lou
Make it 4 Monday - Cottage Instincts
Make it Monday - The Persimmon Perch
Making Monday Marvelous - Craft
Making The World Cuter - I Made The World Cuter Today
Market Yourself Monday - Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Marketing Mondays - Trendy Treehouse
Messy Monday - The Pumpkin Patch
Metamorphosis Monday - Between Naps on the Porch
Modern Craftswoman Monday at Tools Are For Women Too
Motivate Me Monday - Keeping it Simple
Night Owl Crafting - Hoo's Got Talent?
Silver Lining - Friend Makin Monday
Southern Hospitality - Thrifty Treasures
The House In The Roses - Show Off Your Cottage Monday
The Shades Of Pink - Room A Month

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Quiet Meditation

Spiritual Sundays

Prayer and meditation are essential to a healthy Christian life. It is a our way of trying to reach the depth of God’s message to us. It is best to find a quite place for a few minutes and read a bible verse. We start by placing our self in God's divine presence and knowing he is there with us. Next we ask God to forgive our sins, open our eyes to Him, and protect us from evil intrusion. We seek to do the God's will and not your own. Praying to increase our faith, turn away from sin, and follow Jesus Christ more closely. We focus our mind on God, mindfully asking him what he wants us to do. When we are finished with our meditation, we give thanks and praise to God for his love.

God Bless You!