Where Chaos Meets Creativity

Birds of Feather LoveBirds Blog Hop!!!!

2012-02-10T09:01:00.007-05:00

Welcome Everyone! I am so glad you stopped by my blog today! I am so excited to be part of the Birds of A Feather Blog Hop all weekend! The designers have created some special posts full of inspiration, prizes and LOVE :)

If you are just starting the hop now, make sure you go back to post on the Birds of a Feather Blog to find out all of the fun details and blog hop order. You should have arrived from

Today I am sharing with you my Birds of a Feather Challenge for our LoveBirds Crop.

My Challenge for you is to create some Valentine or Love Decor! Anything goes.... and here is what I have to share...

A Love Banner

{I just had breast surgery, but the photos will be up shortly when help arrives}
this banner was created with the February Birds of a Feather kit {see below} and add on paper. It was also made with some cotton fabric and some basic punches and sewing.

Make sure you hop to all the blogs for a chance to win this amazing prize....

~ Maya Road "Home" Mini-Album
~ 2 Full Blister-packs of Maya Road Mini Chipboards
~ Full Pack of Maya Road Kraft Tags
~ Pot of Maya Road Glitter
~ Maya Road Ink Pad
~ Exclusive Maya Road "Home Is" Stamp
~ All papers needed to create this project
~ Step-by-step Instructions

AND come play along for your chance to win a prize on our message boards (The Hen House)... I cannot wait to see some of your own Love decor!!!!

Your next stop is Linda's blog. Thank you for joining us!

Lastly, as a thank you to all of my lovely visitors I am offering a $10.00 GC to the Birds of a Feather! The winner will be posted Monday February 13 by 12pm, just leave a comment for your chance to win!

Happy Valentine's Day!

day 9. doors.

2012-02-09T15:58:00.001-05:00

maybe not front doors, but real doors. ones I had not seen before. and ones that tell a story.

one I did not know I would be telling. at least not when I left my house that day. I knew I was meeting with a surgeon. I knew it was more than just an infection at this point and I knew I needed something done. I did not really know that it would be immediate and not without a visit to Operating Room #3. I did not know it would be full of hard decisions for me to make. and full of pain. a lot of pain.

Somehow I made it through the fear, with much prayer. and before I knew it, it was done. and my sweet boy, who I did this for, who was with me, he slept through all of it, as a sweet friend watched over him.

now I wait. rest. heal. and have hope for sweeter days.

day 7. button. really little buttons.

2012-02-07T17:54:00.007-05:00

and bigger ones on the big sister's sweater.

and a basket full of a little baby and the clothes and blankets and wraps and bibs and bitty socks he wears right now....

he has already outgrown a few outfits. they do grow so very fast. one month passed quickly by. I want remember what his favorite thing were at this very little stage and what we loved to put him in and do with him. I want to cherish the memories these first few weeks have brought. and write it all down so we can remember.

Levi at one month

weighs 8 lbs 8 ounces

is 21 inches long

has blueberry eyes and reddish blond hair

wears size 3 months and has outgrown his newborn clothes

wears size one diapers and has outgrown his newborn diapers

smells like his baby bum butter by Garden Dreams (yummy!)

fusses when he is hungry, but is usually a very mellow content little man

likes his toes curled and his hands in fists still most of the time

he can roll from back to side and push up when on his tummy

he can smile. big and sweet and sure.

eats every 1 1/2- 2 hours, with one 3-4 hour stretch from 10pm - 2am most nights

as long as he is wearing his Halo Sack Swaddler ;)

has his outfits changed one hundred times a day by his sisters ;)

is held. most all of the time. by the many hands that adore him.

he makes our family complete. it seems like he has always been here. truly.

Happy Homemaker Monday and day 6, dinner.

2012-02-06T18:53:00.002-05:00

Happy Homemaker Monday, my friends!

The weather:::

warmer than expected. very little of that pretty white stuff to play in.

On my reading pile:::

besides my Bible, nothing. I would love some suggestions.....

Dinner Tonight:::

Thai Chicken (made and plated by Sophie)

This recipe can be found in the "Robin to the Rescue" cook book, which we use often!

On my to do list:::

pictures. more pictures.
planning for school to resume next week to our full schedule
Valentine's Day crafts

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::

a LOVE banner {check back on Friday for that}
Valentines for a local nursing home we will visit next week

In Homeschooling:::

simple slow and purposeful learning

Looking around the house:::

It is busy. FULL. but perfect. and our rhythm it is becoming more clear and founded each day. the laundry is done. the dishes are done. the mommy and children are healing from a week of sickness and making plans to do something. anything.

From the camera:::

{he loves the bath}

Something fun to share:::

our one month old can roll over to his side and smile and suck his thumb :) we think he is the smartest cutest baby ever! :)

On my prayer list:::

provision for our little family. peace. finding our way in the midst of change. and more change.

Bible verse, Devotional:::

"I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from?" Psalm 121:1

day 3. hands (and feet to follow)

2012-02-03T21:41:00.000-05:00

big brother hands. little brother feet.

he waited a long time for this. a brother. a like one. for the numbers to turn. he probably gave up on it after the second sister came along... maybe the third? fourth? yes, he has had to wait and wait. and he has done it well. most of the time. he loves his sisters. the grumpy bossy teenage one. the creative messy stompy one. the quiet oversensitive one. the little buddy one who follows him everywhere one. he loves them all. and plays with them. and needs them. but something was missing.

the brother bond. the truth is I did not think that he would ever know it.

it was a gift. a miracle that should not have been. but it was more than a healthy baby that we did not lose in miscarriage. more than a heartbeat of life that we so tenderly embraced. it was a boy. the unexpected blessing and true desire of this mama's heart. another boy. I was overjoyed. and so were the men in my life... no more than his big brother.

his hands seem so big compared to his little brother's feet. huge, in fact. and the most amazing thing is how it is a great representation of my desire and prayer for their life journey. together. the big hands holding, protecting, guiding and teaching those little feet on their journey. those hands offering comfort and a hand to hold in the uncertain times. those hands offering wrestling and climbing trees and exploring together. those hands of a big brother offering freely and the little feet following behind, one step at a time.

day 1. my view. 2112

2012-02-01T19:13:00.003-05:00

this may be a bit nontraditional, but so realistic and so very much a part of my day and the view I encounter over and over and over. yes, those are my boobs (well one anyway).

a little revealing. yes. a little personal. maybe. but real and honest and not with out a story. a painful one. a tender one. a real one.

nursing. honestly it is supposed to be so wonderful.you have read the blogs. the articles. the happy stories. the "it does not hurt" and "you must do this to make it work". that is all great. and I am sure those moms exist... the ones who never have discomfort or pain or any of the issues I have had in my journey.

but what about those of us who have. are we failures? did we mess it all up? I am not sure. maybe I did mess it up. all 6 times. maybe I am just not very good at breastfeeding. maybe my breasts are just messed up. at least one of them. maybe.

it takes a toll all of this worry and second guessing yourself.

I considered stopping at the two week mark this time. the pain was overwhelming. I tried lanolin, soothies, pumping manually and with an electric pump and a nipple shield. but the pain was so intense and nothing seemed to be helping. I even started taking fenugreek to increase my supply incase this was making that side harder for him. nothing. I had used these with my other babies and it always pulled things in the right direction. Maybe I was just too old, too tired, too fragile this time around. I had an abscess by that point and cracks on that left side.... which were bleeding. I was in tears. lost and overwhelmed.

then, like a miracle I stuck with it and I began healing. slowly. over the next few days things began to improve to where I was not curling my toes when my little one latched on. my nipple shield was my best friend. then another hurdle. a houseful of sick kids and a tired mommy who was too tired to watch her latch at night and a blister. a painful one. and my baby.... he refused. refused the nipple shield. refused one side completely. I was distressed and in tears again. ready to give up again. was this really worth it?

then it went from bad to worse. while still battling with the energy to keep up with sick children night after night I felt it. the lump. then the fever. then the pain. the really intense pain. and the run over by the train feeling. mastitis. I was failing. over and over.

my hearts desire and my ability to keep on was not matching up and it was heartbreaking.

I made an appointment, saw the midwife and started my medicine and vitamins and some ibuprofen. The dresser is covered with all things related to breastfeeding. and it is working this time. and I feel encouraged.

I always forget how hard these first few weeks are. I always doubt I can make it through and I always have some struggles. but this view. I LOVE IT. it really makes it worth it. every single pain, every two hours, everything. I have never felt a more satisfying feeling than knowing I am sustaining and nourishing this little life. one God made and let me borrow and raise for Him... not without burden, but in pure joy.

this story. it is hard. and good. and beautiful.

and thankfully the Words in my lap were ever present and full of promises.

Little Red Blog Hop!!

2012-01-28T16:21:00.003-05:00

Did you see that Little Red Scrapbook is having a blog hop? There are some fun challenges and prizes, too :)

The fun starts HERE. <----- check it out!

goals, plans and dreams... fit mommy friday

2012-01-27T14:58:00.005-05:00

Well, it is about that time...

Do you know it? It is the "I just had a baby and I know what I need to do next" time. The knowing and the doing can be different, though... and harder, too. so. much. harder.

But I am making plans. and dreaming dreams. and with that I have set some goals. small ones. big ones. reachable ones.

I WILL wear my wedding rings.
without resizing and BEFORE our 15th Wedding Anniversary in October.

I WILL run a 5K.

but first I may walk/jog one with my 13 year old. we will be training using the COUCH TO 5K training program. we plan to start the beginning of March. and we will continue to do this together. just us. running/jogging and just being together.

I WILL be a fun active mommy.

I will play outside, inside, everywhere. I will make myself have fun. gasp.

I WILL live healthy.

I will drink more water than ever before. I will eat what I feel adds to the health of my body and makes me a stronger healthier mommy and wife and I will sleep.

This week, my goals are simple as my newest is just 3 weeks old.

*Drink plenty of water.

*Eat more often and more whole foods.

*Sleep as much as I can when my baby sleeps.

*Relax more, stress less.

February Photo A Day...

2012-01-27T01:10:00.003-05:00

so this is my February Inspiration for my Project Life.... I NEED help and encouragement to keep it up.... and with so much in my full life right now I needed a plan....

so please follow me, stalk me, bug me, ask me to see my pictures and please will you....

join me???

Do you ever????

2012-01-26T21:05:00.014-05:00

Do you ever get a new scrapbook kit in the mail and not know where to start? What you are going to create?

Sometimes this happens to me... especially with a new baby in the house and even with the most beautiful kits :) So I wanted to share a fun idea with all of you....

First of all, I would encourage you to look at your new kit, piece by piece and see what elements are really calling to you... which ones you LOVE :) Then, I would pull out your pages and see if you have any pages with the same basic elements as your inspiration....

As I was looking through the Birds of A Feather February kit and paper add on (pictured below) I found a few elements I JUST LOVED and were "asking" me to play with them..... some of them were the crocheted doilie, the grid paper, the envelopes, the layered paper & fabric trims and the flowers.....

gorgeous kit, huh???

then I went through my pages....

and THIS one caught my eye.....

I was inspired!!!! I started by following the basic design and adding the similar elements in the same basic spots in the design... then I added multiple photos, too....

and here is what my "scraplift" looks like....

I really like the end result and honestly the page above is my favorite page oh any of my most recent... scraplifting myself created a page that was truly me all over again and that was perfect :) and then it was so inspiring I went on to create 3 more pages, a card and a banner is in process all because I created a first page I REALLY liked!

Make sure to check out another page and card HERE and then come back for a VERY "LOVE"ly blog hop coming in February to see more of what I have been creating as well as some inspiration by the other design team members, some fun challenges and even PRIZES :)

Happy Scrapping :)

as I drive by... a wordless wednesday

2012-01-25T02:28:00.001-05:00

this is a peek out my window, as I drive, this winter..... and I could not be more thankful.

peace.

2012-01-12T17:55:00.000-05:00

I am thirsty. I am sinking. I am in need. of you...

I know my blessings. there are too many to count. too many.

and I am thankful. I am.

I am honestly aware of your grace.

your gifts.

of abundance.

but I am searching.

we have had a hard year.... season.

we have never been hungry.

or lost our home, our shelter, even when it seemed no other way.

we have been warm. and together.

we have not lost our view of you.

but sometimes I just want.

want peace.

want easy.

want enough.

want him to be able to just work.

want to just be a mommy. and cook and clean and teach and train and love and just be who I was created to be.

in peace.

so I am searching today....

beyond my wants.

to what YOU know I need.

I need.

so I can become more thankful.

more me.

more like YOU.

welcome sweet boy

2012-01-07T19:39:00.002-05:00

you came fast.and with little complication. it was a miracle. when I saw you all the pain. the hurt. of the labor. the losses. of so much. was gone. all worry left.

and I rejoiced. rejoiced in the miracle. of birth. of life. of you.

you were perfect. more than any of my hopes and dreams.

you were here.

Levi Noah Wilkinson

born on January 7, 2012

at 7:39 pm

7 pounds 15 ounces

20 1/2 inches long

crying and pink and full of life.

and I said it over and over and over

you are loved.

the search for finer things..... scrapbooking in 2012

2011-12-31T00:07:00.003-05:00

search. it is my one little word for 2012.
and I will search my heart. and search out what God wants from me this year. I will search for meaning and purpose. search for the better. the real. search in the moment. search.

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

and that has led to some decisions over the last few weeks that will change my life as a scrapbooker in many ways. I am not sure why I have waited this long to do this and yet I do know why. honestly.

I love to create and I love to share. I enjoy connecting with friends around the globe in this way and it has been a source of joy for me over the years....

but it has also consumed me, taken precious time and made me feel both insecure and unsure. it has caused me joy and concern and those rarely walk hand and hand.

I will always create, but I need to think over what my priorities are and what I value the most. I have been dragging my feet in this out of pure selfishness. I enjoy my late nights of scrapbooking and my big boxes of pretty paper and embellies that arrive month after month for free. I would never have been able to buy so many beautiful supplies and I have been so thankful for every box that has arrived. it has been like my birthday here month after month.... and it has been a privilege and a joy to inspire and share with all of you.....

but I need to scale down. and become more organized and decide what kind of scrapper I am. and what I want to accomplish with this hobby.

I have decided to stop trying to impress everyone with talent and trying to be as good as others. I am soon to be a mommy of 6, a wife, I am a home educator, I cook and keep a pretty clean house, I preserve and can and homestead and I like to play outside, too. I am busy. my life is full, even without any time for creating. it can be overwhelming and a task for which I feel unprepared and incapable on any given day.

then there is time with God. what little I squeeze in many days. my morning time is so very precious and I am so thankful to start my days with coffee and quiet and God's Word, but then after blogging and creating in the evenings I rarely spend what is left with God at all. I have spent too much time reading blogs and searching the web and not enough in God's Word. it is a true and sad conclusion. one that I have made excuses for time and time again.

..... but I do need a creative outlet. I do need time to create and time to scrapbook, but it needs to be the lesser part of me, not the greater. I know many of you reading this will think this will mean many less pretty pages to share and less step by steps or tutorials, but I do not think that will be the case. I just think they will be well planned and less stressed. and they may look a bit different from time to time. they will be truer to me and less of what I am told to create. they will be my heart.

so, I have made decisions and I will be scrapbooking in 2 ways this year and more in the "family" way and less in the "artistic" way.
I have made the decision to "Project Life" and "Project 12" this next year....

to continue artistic pages for 2004-2012 until I have artistically scrapped all the photos I want to....

and even complete the Creative Memories albums I have bits and pieces left on for 2002 and 2003.... crazy, huh?

it will be more of a family event in this way

one special picture each day, even if my house is not one of those dream houses with wood floors and fancy decor and pretty everything... even if we do not have a budget for special props, or outfits or trips or vacations..... even if they are simple and messed up and not quite right.

one two page home schooling layout each month.... this is something I have been wanting to do for quite some time... for commitment, for sharing, for remembering... home schooling is a joy in my life and one part that remains a BIGGER part of my life right now.

one two page layout for each month with random pictures that are not the "one picture a day" photos... this will be the project 12 spread.... it may be a one day event that was so special or many little moments that really touched my heart.... either way it will be 2 pages that represent our month....

where will this all be put together? well, this is my inspiration....

so real., so inspiring. so perfect.

honestly I am using this VERY old (2009, I think) album below that I have given up on year after year due to insecurities and this year I will be embracing. I will be keeping it VERY simple with sweet little touches here and there that make the album my own. I have been thinking about it... dreaming and sketching and planning for a few weeks now and I am so excited to finally be working on it..... each week when I post my spread I will post a more detailed look at my supplies for you and some hints or tips that helped me and even featuring some very special artists who have been helping add little touches to this album, since I do not have a budget for buying "new" things.... I really am not sure how this will all evolve, so I do not have any idea what that will look like, but I am excited to be sharing it with all of you.....

and I will share that scrapbooking *will* be an artistic outlet for me for me this year in this way...

I will still be designing for a couple of companies that inspire me..... it will be hard to say good-byes over the next couple of months, but it is what is needed. I will share more about this in the near future.... but there will be fun artsy pages on this blog and there will be tutorials and step by steps along the way.... even some upcoming blog hops you will not want to miss..... hint hint ;)

lastly, this post is inspiring me to capture 8 people 12 times. I need to let go of my insecurities and my need for perfection and just be a family.... grounded in faith, NOT perfection. and capture us together because life here is not lasting and we do not know the amount of days we will be given.

and I simply want to remember to.....

quit waiting for everything to be perfect, you already have everything you need.

may you capture this year in a way that makes you remember, cherish and count your blessings.....

the blanket of white covers the grey

2011-12-29T18:00:00.000-05:00

to have walked a year in these shoes. to have seen what they have. lost what they knew. gone without. questioned. wondered. to have known things beyond their years. these feet have travel through much. grey and unsure. uncertain and unknowing. steps that have tested their faith. and mine as their mommy. steps that have been slow and deliberate. but steps that have always brought them two things. together. and hope. and has grown the one thing I could have never taught them without the journey. FAITH.

and the grey here.... the loss... over and over and over again. the fear. the untimely gift. the questioning. the growth that has been inside has been deeper. deeper than a growing baby. deeper than than I ever knew. as I see this sweater swelled with the growth I also see the heart that swells from the journey. like the jewels that hang around my neck I see the jewels of a year of relying not on myself, but of trusting. trusting my Lord. trusting my husband. trusting.

where you are... even in the mist of grey skies and rocks that stack one upon the next without end in sight... it does not define who you becoming. it does not need to cloud your view. you will stumble and it may be hard to see. impossible at times. but it is the best part of the journey. it is the place where you find meaning. it is the place where you find the blanket of white.

it really is true that my grey was planned for me. i am confident of that. now. it changed me this year. it was dark and heavy and as I climbed the rocks I wondered if I would ever see the end of it all. I questioned my faith. my path in life. our uncertain future. I thought about running away from everything and surrendering to that grey. instead I did what you only can when you cannot see, I fell. fell to my knees and leaned in close to my Creator. I looked for the white. I begged to see it. to experience it. to FEEL it. I asked for wisdom and understanding. and I searched for the gift.

and it was not hard to find. the blanket it is white. it is pure. it is for me. and it is soft and slow and perfect. it covers. it heals. it proves true. and it never changes. ever.

and even though this year is almost done. passed. the gift is lasting. the lessons have been learned. the journey has shaped me. and our faith has grown. in the mist of the grey, covered by the white. and it is part of the story that never belonged to me to begin with. yes. everything is YOURS.

wordless wednesday. stripes.

2011-12-28T05:55:00.004-05:00

it was unintentional, but perfect in every way.

i do adore these perfectly imperfect winter girls.....

Birds of a Feather January kit..... and design team news....

2011-12-27T20:36:00.000-05:00

today I am sharing this page that I have created... it is more of where I am headed in the next year.... more of where my heart is in 2012. it is artsy and layery and painted and misted and full of white space like I love to create.... but it is also full of my heart. the heart of why I started doing this to begin with. to document. to journal. to record. to share. and it will be more of what you will see in 2012. there may be less pages, but there will be more heart. I will be posting all about my scrapping plans and ideas in another post, but for now here is a peek at one part of where I am headed..... and I pray you are going to follow along..... to see it unfold into a beautiful year of memories....

this girl is a bit lost these days.... and this picture just drew me in. it was recently pointed out to me by a dear friend what I have been missing in these pleading eyes this year.... what she is going through and I have committed to take those words to heart. to embrace them. to learn more about what these eyes are telling me and to make more time for this girl. to show her exactly where she fits...

in my heart

and here are a couple of close ups....
a home made paper from the Studio Calico "scraps"

and a mixed up title with a lot of layers...

this page was so easy to put together. it was all from the January kit and add ons from Birds of a Feather. if you have not seen their kits or tried them, yet, make sure you check them out HERE. if you subscribe there is a great price for you and you will not miss out on any of them... or the beautiful add ons that sell out so quickly! The kits combine paper, embellies and unique elements in a fun and unique way and it is like Christmas every month when the kits arrive.....

{January 2012}

if you do love them as much as I do you might also want to know about the design team call going on right now.....

Here is the information for you....

Birds of a Feather Kit Co. is seeking a team of enthusiastic, creative, motivated, and dedicated designers for a term of six months: January 20th through July 20th, 2012.

You may submit your application to birdsofafeatherkits@gmail.com. Please include the following:

1. current design teams you serve on, if any
2. your public online galleries (url's please)
3. 3 examples of your work which best expresses your style
4. 1 example of something you altered or upcycled
5. a short biography
6. why you feel you're a good fit for Birds of a Feather

Design Team members have two or three reveals per month, plus a written tutorial (your choice) with step-by-step photos or video. Other expectations include but are not limited to:

~ daily participation in the forums and gallery
~ assisting in the execution of online crops, monthly challenges, and other online events
~ promoting Birds of a Feather Kits on your blog, Facebook page, and online galleries
~ ability to meet deadlines
~ a positive attitude!

As a DT member, you will receive a monthly kit each month plus a 20% discount on any Kit Extras or other product purchased from the Boutique. Shipping is complimentary on any orders that can be included with your monthly kit shipment.

Deadline for applications is January 1st, 2012.
Open to U.S. and Canada.

I hope many of you will apply. Amy is a joy to design for and the message board is full of amazing ladies I feel blessed to know!

My December Daily

2011-11-20T14:16:00.010-05:00

I am so excited to share this December Daily album for 2011 with you all today. I am hoping it will fill up with many happy new memories and some favorite family traditions that we cherish year after year. December will most likely bring us something else very special, too.... the birth of our 6th baby, a precious new baby boy. This season is special and full and I am looking forward to every moment and I am so thankful I now have a little book to document and cherish it all.....

Most of my supplies came from this Birds of Feather December kit (and add ons), but below is a full list of supplies.

This album is a simple design with a few basic papers and products to give the album a cohesive design. I like how simply adding circles, strips and mist can give this album all it really needs as a base for our photos and memories and I cannot wait to start filling this little book with our month of memories. I will be sharing my progress with you later in December. I will be adding photos, journaling, more embellies and white paint on the edges of all of the pages. You may notice that my album only has 25 days. I have decided to start my Project Life (more on that coming soon) album on Christmas Day, so I felt I would be documenting in that album for the rest of the month, but this album could easily be made into a full month by adding a few more envelope or paper pages.

Here is my supply list

album

Tim Holtz Ideology 6x6 Grungebook

papers
Fancy Pants “Saint Nick” Sugar Plum
Fancy Pants “Saint Nick” Naughty or Nice
Fancy Pants “Saint Nick” Joy
Lily Bee “Jingle” Pepperment
Lily Bee “Jingle” Tinsel
Lily Bee “Jingle” Cranberry Dot
Lily Bee “Jingle” Spruce Dot
Lily Bee “Jingle” Frost Dot

embellishments
Fancy Pants “Saint Nick” Glitter Cuts
Fancy Pants “Saint Nick” Element Stickers
Fancy Pants “Saint Nick” Chipboard Banners
Lily Bee “Jingle” 12x12 ABC Stickers
Lily Bee “Jingle” Element Stickers
Lily Bee “Jingle” Index Journaling Cards
Prima “North Country” Hydrangea Mix
Authentique “Wonder” Collection Diction Stickers
Bazzill Policy Envelope
white mist
white paint
dark brown baker's twine
Stampin Up circles punches
cardboard from circle shaped game pieces that were punched out

thank you for taking a peek!

Birds of a Feather Christmas kit???

2011-11-20T13:47:00.008-05:00

the truth is everything about this kit SCREAMS Merry Christmas, but often we forget that every kit holds possibilities... so many fun and creative possibilities.... and this kit is no exception.....

the colors are warm and inviting, and rustic, too..... I added some of the delightful December add ons found HERE to this amazing December Birds of a Feather kit and when I saw this sketch below I knew what pictures I really wanted to created with first.....

you can find out more about this sketch over HERE on the Lily Bee blog... oh to design with their products every day.... what a dream that would be!!!!

and here is my page.... Christmas colors are all over this page, but it is the story of something new and wonderful and joyful... welcoming my first teenager!

may we celebrate our childrens ages and stages and milestones as much as we celebrate the holidays.....

Paper Lovelies December Kit

2011-11-18T15:54:00.001-05:00

I wanted to take a moment to share the VERY festive Paper Lovelies December kit with you and what I have created with it so far.....

Isn't this kit so beautiful????

this page of my little Christmas shepherd is called winter.... she was the sweetest shepherd ever... with her real sheep and all, as big as she was!

this page is simply called "sing".... it is such a sweet gift to share ourselves with those who need our smiles and songs and time around the holidays.....

and here is a pretty little card I created.....

I am so thankful to be designing for Paper Lovelies. Each month the kits are so very pretty and Carrie, the owner, is such a kind generous woman! This month and last she has been donating all of the proceeds of her beautiful kits to Katie Renz at www.katiespaperhaven.blogspot.com. What a beautiful thing to be a part of! Please pray for her and her family... may God move mightily in their lives!!!

Even though this kit is sold out, I am hoping to finish my Christmas countdown cards made with this kit and share them with you REALLY soon :)

and make sure you check out the design gallery HERE... the designs are so pretty this month....

Have a beautiful day.... counting your blessings along the way. There are many when you take the time to see them.

13.

2011-11-14T21:04:00.002-05:00

13.

13 years ago it happened.
my life changed forever.
i became a mother.
i held a 14 day overdue baby girl in my arms and repeated the one word i could say, "beautiful" over and over and over after a 40 hour labor of love.
i left a hospital with precious cargo and a world of fears.
and it has not stopped there.
today i think of every first, every memory.
the good, the bad, the easy, the hard.
and today we step into yet another first.
one i admit i had worried about.
wondered about.
but NEVER thought would come SO quickly.

and what does 13 look like?

well, if you are this girl it looks like

hard working and dedicated

motivated and persistent

creative but not crafty

homesteading and homemaking

styling and accessorizing

stripes and jeggings, pearls and boots

dancing and pointe shoes

one more book from the library

tender and tough

faithful

real

honest
beautiful
and radiant.

how blessed I am that she is my teenager. God has truly given me a gift. May I cherish it always!

two more Birds of a Feather Creations.... and a bit more of nature...

2011-11-11T17:51:00.009-05:00

After creating my last page I share I was inspired to create with more birch bark. Since my husband had to take a tree down in our yard I knew where to find plenty of pretty bark to use and was inspired to create a cover for a mini album....

I added paper, embellies, trims, flowers, twine and twigs and was happy with how the little family nature album turned out.

a little peek at what the inside looks like.....

and here is my last page with the kit~ FAMILY

It was a beautifully different kit than I usually would pick to work with, but I admit I adore every page and project, so I am so glad I was blessed enough to play with it! Make sure to check HERE and see if there is one left for you to create timeless projects with, as well!

Happy 11*11*11...... may you spend it reminded of how time is fleeting but the best memories last forever. I cannot wait to fill our little mini albums with some of our favorite memories from 2011.

all about nature...

2011-11-10T10:41:00.001-05:00

there is so much nature inside our house lately....

on the table in decor and in craft time....

and on my scrapbook pages, too (using THIS perfect autumn kit)....

the little strips of birch bark adds to the sweet journey of these girls....

it makes me happy when the outside is brought inside (well, EXCEPT that dirt... that can stay outside thank you) and is being enjoyed and created with....

simple, sweet and no cost involved in this natural crafting and decorating..... just a love for everything naturally beautiful.

Happy Homemaker Monday

2011-11-07T09:15:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday Everyone :) Thank you for stopping by my blog today :)

The weather in my neck of the woods:
cool and sunny

Things that make me happy:
teaching science and learning along side my children
decluttering and fall cleaning

Book I'm reading:
this week I am resting in the Word

What's on my TV today:
nothing... and I LOVE that :)

On the menu for dinner:
a lovely Shepherd's Pie my thoughtful sister-in-law made for us......

On my To Do List:
so many plans.....
a birthday party for an amazing 13 year old
preparing for our baby who's due date seems to be coming too quickly!

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:

my two "S" girls made these fun owl cupcakes......

they were so fun and so easy and I think they came out so cute....

then we came up with a whole muffin tin lunch idea......

"Owls in the Snow" Lunch Tin

row one
banana and raisins for making eyes and candy corn for making a nose

row two
greek vanilla bean yogurt for snow, rice cake faces with natural peanut butter "glue"

(come back next week to see how the Owl Moon Studies are coming along.... paper plates and natural crafts and even dressing up to share)

In the craft basket:
a Christmas card kit for an online Christmas Card Class I will be teaching {{more info soon... only adding the last touches}}
Christmas Crafts

{a peek}

Looking forward to this week:
new things.
hope.

My favorite blog post this week:
THIS ONE on Project Life is VERY inspiring!

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
Life goes on. It may mean starting over and it may seem impossible, but it does go on.

On my mind:
how to best support my husband in this time....

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
James 1.... it is pressing on my heart daily as my children are memorizing these verses and sharing them with me daily. God is so GOOD to have planned this out for this time in our lives!

make sure you stop by HERE to see more Happy Homemaking posts :)

changes.

2011-11-06T07:14:00.002-05:00

I am not sure what I am thinking right now or where I am going from here....

I am not sure even why some of you read my little blog. It started at first as a place to share my creativity, my scrapbooking. I do not have a lot of talent, but I do love creating and I enjoy sharing what I have learned or created with each of you who have read.

I added little bits of words and little peeks at my life, my children.....

and our organizing and recipes....

and my faith.

I added my heart and my beliefs.

Sometimes a follower has left and sometimes a few new followers have found a new place they enjoy visiting...

and that warms my heart that anyone stays.... and reads my posts. my words.

but often I think I let it consume me.

Who is reading....

why they are reading...

why I do not have many comments....

if I can measure up....

if I am sharing the right things.

So, in 2012 things are changing here.

for the better I hope.

and I hope you will stay.

and if you look but do not follow I hope you will follow along with me...

I will still be sharing and still be creating,

but I will be balancing my life in a true way.

I will be worrying less and enjoying more.

I will be embracing who God made me

and where he has placed me.

I will not have the prettiest photos

or the most eloquent words.

but I will be me.

and that is a perfect reason to blog.

to share my pictures.

to share my creativity.

to share my journey.

to share me.

show me....

2011-11-05T16:02:00.000-04:00

I will return soon..... I am taking a few days to breath....

Happy Homemaker Monday

2011-10-31T16:05:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday!!!

The weather in my neck of the woods:

We had snow..... in OCTOBER this year..... it is not the first time, but it is the first time it stayed like this! This was a quick picture I took on our journey to "town" today.....

Things that make me happy:
good well-child check ups with a doctor who really cares and listens
a warm house provided with love
the white blanket that fell from above covered by the falling colors, like a special made quilt never seen before

Book I'm reading:

I have been looking over so many books this week in hope of finding a book that I can gift my daughter with on her 13th birthday in just two weeks, so we could study together.... and I am at a loss... any suggestions???

On the menu this week:

Sunday
breakfast~ oatmeal with toppings
lunch~ leftovers
dinner~ chicken and apples over noodles, made and delivered to us by a dear friend

Monday
breakfast~ gluten free cereal and milk
lunch~ chicken and fries with apple slices
dinner~ sweet and sour meatballs with brown rice

Tuesday
breakfast~ fresh fruit salad
lunch~ homemade gluten free mac and cheese with broccoli
dinner~ roast chicken with homemade mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, winter squash

Wednesday
breakfast~ pumpkin pancakes with freshly made pumpkin butter :)
lunch~ veggie patties and garden salad
dinner~ chicken, bean and cheese burritos, tortilla chips and salsa

Thursday
breakfast~ baked apple oatmeal
lunch~ Owl Moon {Five In A Row} Lunch Muffin Tin
dinner~ roasted tomato soup with grilled cheese and pesto sandwiches

Friday
breakfast~ grapefruit
lunch~ homemade vegetable soup and corn muffins
dinner~

make sure you check out all of the meal ideas HERE at orgjunkie.com :)

On my To Do List:
baby preparations
fall cleaning and organizing
preserving sweet zucchini relish and applesauce

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Sweet Potato Cookies with White Chocolate Chips and Cranberries

{hoping to add a pretty picture here tomorrow after we have tried them}

In the craft basket:
the last of the Christmas cards that I am preparing for an online class {{info soon}} and bonus projects for that class, as well.....

Looking forward to this week:
home schooling
rowing Owl Moon with my little girls

Tips and Tricks:
making an all purpose spray cleaner is so easy and my children love to use it because it smells so good..... a few homemade cleaning recipes coming tomorrow :)

My favorite blog post this week:
THIS POST by Becky is very sweet and honest.....

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
THIS BLOG is not new to me, but every week I find myself hanging on every word and the words others share there, too..... take a moment and see the perfect in the imperfect....

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

{taken by my daughter Sophie... she has an amazing eye for color and texture}

Lesson learned the past few days:
everything belongs to God. EVERYTHING. and how to hold more loosely to those things and more tightly to God....

On my mind:
our house. lots about that. and lots to wonder about.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to to his life?" Matthew 6:25

make sure to check out all the Happy Homemakers HERE.....

I am being watched.

2011-10-27T14:38:00.002-04:00

it is true.
i have set myself up.
i am home.
almost all the time.
i home school.
so my children are home.
almost all the time.

and the truth is it is hard.
i do not have privacy.
or much time to myself.
or even a moment to think. breath. be still.

but what value do those things have?
what is the value in privacy?
being alone?
being away from these eyes?

just look in the eyes of these children....

what do they see?
what is of value?

do I act like this is my home? do I let the worries... the everyday life stresses rule me. rule my actions, my emotions, my every feeling... do I point to the things of this world as value? as my priority? as my anchor? what can control my good or bad days?

or am I pointing to my true home. to the place I belong? the place I am heading? does my voice speak of my true home? my true value? my true Father awaiting me?

I mess up daily. hourly.... so often it makes my heart break. i yell. i worry. i say things I do not mean. i create problems where there are none. i forget to be thankful. to start my day in the Word. in Prayer. I mess up.

but I am blessed that I am not alone. I have witnesses. and they see my every move and even on my worst day that is hard to ignore. they help keep me centered on what really matters and that gift is one I cherish.

In the end what I have truly set up is the perfect combination of accountability and freedom....
accountable to hold myself to what I want mirrored in the lives of the 5 that are watching with intent...
and the freedom to know I can choose God first every minute of my day, since no one can say otherwise. I can share my heart, my life, my faith.... honestly.

My prayer is that my heart is one I want to be reflected to my family and that I live contently knowing what a blessing these witnesses are and that mostly what they keep me from is me. and often when "me" takes over it does not take a magnifying glass to see what is in the heart.... it becomes loud and ugly and very far from where I want to be.

Scrap Yourself (with Birds of a Feather November Reveal!!)

2011-10-26T10:03:00.005-04:00

I have been so excited to share this with you today! I have been wanting to start journaling me.... embracing and sharing and capturing before it is too late.... before I forget or my insecurities take over and I never do it. I was so honored when I was asked to join the Scrap Yourself design team and know this will be the start of something really wonderful.

The first assignment threw me off, though.... it was all about scrapping "little you"..... oh my!!! I do not think I had ever scrapped any pictures of me when I was little.... and it scared me. That is not the easiest thing. Just thinking about it brings up feelings and memories and well, pain and hurt. The truth is I do not even have very many pictures of me when I was little so that made it even harder. In the end I found only three to choose from..... and the photo I found of myself as a new baby in the hospital at only 5 pounds or so really was calling to me......

See, I was born early and fought my way through many health problems and risks from being born premature with complications. I have wanted to put down how I feel about that for a long time... and now I have.
The story does not end with the baby who made it through the surgeries and malnutrition while in the womb.... it leads to the rough childhood and the lost and lonely feelings of a child growing up in some of the hardest of circumstances. Sometimes I have questioned God about WHY???? Why I grew up this way.... why that baby even fought through all that to only be faced with what her childhood would be laced with. Why I would not have grown up in a easier simpler way. WHY? And the more I have grown and learned and matured the more I realized WHY.... it has been through all the fighting and growing and years of questioning have been the key to becoming the woman I am today.... and that is priceless. I have a faith that is strongly rooted that can only come from adversity and a drive to serve and give that only comes from being without. My journey is the key to who I am becoming and that gift is one I am so very thankful for.
God never mistakes and He continues to amaze me daily with what He can empower me to do and break me to become.

I used the VERY beautiful kit found HERE from Birds of a Feather for my page. It is a vintagey sweet kit full of stunning embellies. I love how it lead to the aged feel of the page and the little hits of glitter (from the kit!!) and mist made the page feel complete to me.

I hope this will inspire you to scrap the little you... the one that has a story of her own.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

Happy Homemaker Monday

2011-10-24T22:20:00.013-04:00

The weather in my neck of the woods:

but there is chance of snow this week..... I am so hopeful the chance passes us by. we are not ready yet.... at all.

Things that make me happy:
celebrating 14 years of marriage
a love letter from a loving devoted husband who still adores me after all these years
the little one who squirms and squiggles inside and the 5 that busy my days on the outside....

Book I'm reading:

On the menu this week:

Monday
breakfast~ Baked Apple Oatmeal
lunch~
dinner~ Steak and Green Bean Stir Fry and mashed potatoes

Tuesday
breakfast~ strawberry soup
lunch~ roasted tomato soup with grilled cheese and pesto sandwiches
dinner~ leftovers for the children.... a night out for Mommy and Daddy thanks to good friends....

Wednesday
breakfast~ scrambled eggs with cheese and veggies, turkey bacon
lunch~ creamy vegetable corn chowder
dinner~ Bacon Chicken Crescent Ring with creamy vegetable corn chowder

Thursday
breakfast~ Baked Apple Oatmeal
lunch~ pesto with pita chips and fresh veggies
dinner~ Easy Gluten Free Chicken Pie (we use this as a base and mix up our veggies and herbs)

Friday
breakfast~ pumpkin pancakes with pumpkin butter :)
lunch~ How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World muffin tin lunch for FIAR
dinner~ Stacked Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas{{see below}}

make sure you check out all of the meal ideas HERE at orgjunkie.com :)

On my To Do List:
baby preparations
fall cleaning and organizing
preserving squash pickles and applesauce

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
I have added this beautiful (and hopefully very tasty) recipe for Stacked Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas to our menu this week.....

In the craft basket:
everything I did not finish last week :)

Looking forward to this week:
a night out with my husband
home schooling
my Mom's Group to study that book I am reading and just be with the beautiful women that are there....

Tips and Tricks:
always check the clothes before washing. just sayin'

My favorite blog post this week:
this post... I need to learn to stop, detour and observe.

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
THIS blog is full of sparkly sweet simply beautiful eye candy...... I was so thankful to find it and be inspired!

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
I knew this already, but I always forget....
I set the tone in my home. There is much power in my hands.... how am I using that power??

On my mind:
14 years. the years I have shared with my husband.... my whole adult life. the good. the bad. and everything in between. how it has shaped me and made me into the woman I am today and how I pray I may become an even sweeter wife to my amazing husband, making God the center of all I do.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

make sure to check out all the Happy Homemakers HERE.....

them. the picnic in the park.

2011-10-21T22:55:00.002-04:00

she.

she is aware..... of everything in her path.

she.

she is growing wildly.... like the grass in this meadow.

she.

she is dreaming.... simply and fully in bright color.

he.

he is choosing.... to be rooted with purpose or fly through air like the blowing leaves with no direction.

she.

she is finding her way.... from one season to the next.

sometimes you stop in a quiet spot on a beautiful day and have a picnic off the beaten path... and what you see is more than you ever thought you would.

may I learn to detour more often... and be still and just observe....

it took many written words to get here.

2011-10-19T11:38:00.005-04:00

but none were needed to share these photos.....

we are so very thankful to the friends, family and amazing summer reading program that made this day possible for our family... it was truly a blessed day of fun....

Little Red Scrapbook October Reveals!!

2011-10-18T14:40:00.009-04:00

I have been having so much fun playing with my Little Red Scrapbook October kit. I admit at first I was a *little* intimidated by the patterns and embellies and how I would fit them all together on my page, but as soon as I started cutting and placing and adhering my pages together I fell in love.......

Here are a couple of my pages this month.....

this girl warms my heart.... my cute solenne... I really do love spending every day with her... even the hard ones.

a mixed up title and dabs and paint and glitter finished off this page perfectly :)

and lastly, girl you sing to my heart
and she does.
especially in moments like this where she just lets go and is simply herself.

now you can head over to the new Little Red Scrapbook store and check this beautiful kit out!!!

and make sure you check out the add ons while you are there, too! Also, you can see all of the beautiful work by the design team HERE.
Have a great day!

Menu Monday

2011-10-17T18:11:00.006-04:00

Here is our menu this week....as the time for the baby grows even closer, I notice my meal planning to be many more simple one dish type meals and pots of soup and that seems to be okay with everyone here, so if you have a favorite easy recipe, please share it with us so we can try it!

Monday
breakfast~ GF cereal, milk
lunch~ tree of all seasons lunch
dinner~ Carrot Tomato Soup, garden salad

Tuesday
breakfast~ strawberry oatmeal honey muffins
lunch~ fruit salad, garden salad
dinner~ Stuffed Green Peppers (our family recipe)

ingredients:
6-8 large green bell peppers
2 T butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1-2 lbs lean ground beef
1 T chili powder
1 quart of homemade tomato sauce
2 cups cooked brown rice
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Wash and prepare bell peppers for stuffing. Steam bell peppers until crisp tender. Saute the onion and garlic in the butter. Add ground beef and cook until brown and crumbly. Sprinkle mixture with chili powder and salt and pepper. Reserve 1 cup of tomato sauce, pour remaining tomato sauce over the top of the meat mixture and stir until combined. Stir in brown rice. Spoon mixture into bell peppers and place in them in a glass baking dish with the one cup of sauce evenly spread over the bottom. Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Wednesday
breakfast~ scrambled eggs with cheese and veggies, turkey bacon
lunch~ cheesy broccoli soup
dinner~ Smothered Steak Stir Fry, mashed potatoes

Thursday
breakfast~ Blueberry and Cream Cheese French Toast Grilled Sandwiches
lunch~ roasted tomato soup, carrot sticks
dinner~ tuna casserole

Friday
breakfast~ pumpkin pancakes with pumpkin butter :)
lunch~ grilled ham and cheese with roasted tomato soup
dinner~ mommy and daddy will be home alone :) shhhhhhhhhhh... do not tell :)

make sure you check out all of the meal ideas HERE at orgjunkie.com :)

Happy Homemaker Monday

2011-10-17T11:39:00.001-04:00

Happy Monday Everyone :) Thank you for stopping by my blog today :)

The weather in my neck of the woods:
cool sunny and very autumn~y... the change is blowing and swirling all around.....

Things that make me happy:
pumpkins, acorns, pine cones and colorful leaves
applesauce and pumpkin butter simmering away
decluttering and fall cleaning

Book I'm reading:
this week just my Bible

What's on my TV today:
nothing... and I LOVE that :)

On the menu for dinner:
Carrot Tomato Soup

On my To Do List:
fall organizing, cleaning and decorating
autumn crafts and snacks
making drop cloth curtains to cover our slider (which has been bare for 3 years too long)

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
THIS pumpkin butter is in the works....

and we had wanted to try the cutest little acorn treats... they turned into a whole muffin tin lunch idea......

tree of all seasons
spring~ kiwi leaves
summer~ kiwi and raw snow pea leaves
fall~ kiwi (or not) raw carrot and corn leaves, dried up raisin leaves, nutter butter and kisses acorns
winter~ white chocolate chip snow
with a peanut butter and honey tree :)

In the craft basket:
3 kinds of number cards for the little girls
a Christmas card kit for an online Christmas Card Class I will be teaching {{more info soon}}
felt and paper dolls

Looking forward to this week:
a clean and decluttered home.... or a start to one

Tips and Tricks:
When you are pregnant with baby #6 it can be so helpful to cook/prep most of your meals on one day and then you have fast and easy meals for the week. I have started doing that on Mondays and that has been such a blessing. It helps our home run so much more smoothly and takes the pressure off of us.

My favorite blog post this week:
I found the recipe to the carrot tomato soup HERE and love the way the post is written with heart and love....

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
THIS BLOG is full of cuteness and sweetness and I fell in love :) I will be visiting again soon :)

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

{life is not over, but it is changing}

Lesson learned the past few days:
Chaos is a part of my life, but does not need to take over my home.

On my mind:
What it must be like to become a teenager and have so many younger brothers and sisters following you....
Being at home almost day without other options is sweeter... and exactly what I am called to do... being busy at home.
Hope. and how you can not push it away even in a situation appearingly hopeless.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
"Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:4, 5

make sure you stop by HERE to see more Happy Homemaking posts :)

Burlap and Buttercups Reveals!

2011-10-17T07:36:00.001-04:00

I have been waiting and waiting and so excited to share these pages with you. I LOVE working with the Burlap and Buttercups October kit and adore the fun pages I was able to create. The pages came together so easily with so many papers and embellies to play with.... and I still have so much left to create with, so you are sure to see more pages with these lovely supplies soon!

this first page is of best friends, playmates, everyday buddies...
two

and this girl... who is resisting photos these days....
I am SO thankful for her... for who she is and who she is becoming... what what she chooses to do and what she chooses not to do... I am so thankful I can call her my daughter!

and these perfect pumpkins are from the patch last year...

What a joy to have been able to create with this sold out kit!!

make sure you check those kits early in the month, so you never miss out!
Have a HAPPY AUTUMN DAY :)

she.

2011-10-14T13:25:00.007-04:00

she is growing up.
she makes her own decisions and plans now.
some that do not include us.
she is working hard for what she wants.
she is capturing life.
she is hope minded.

she is learning to control her emotions.
which were wildly all over the place this week.
she is finding her place. where she fits. who she can be when she tries.
she is moment minded.

she was pushed WAY outside her comfort zone in the last week.
and she managed.
she is very protective of those she loves.
and she loves EVERYONE and ANYONE.
she has a heart to tell everyone about Jesus before it is too late.
she is heaven minded.

she is bold. and loud.
she is writing her own name. over and over.
and asking one million questions.
she has been crying a lot lately.
she has been crawling in our bed... often.
she knows change is approaching.
she is what-if minded.

two more Birds of a Feather pages and a WINNER

2011-10-13T10:33:00.001-04:00

I have been playing with this kit again and wanted to share with you a couple of new pages I have created.... this kit is still available, but there is ONLY ONE LEFT, so hurry over HERE to check it out!!

and now here are my pages...

this little girl is so sweet... she is always ready to unzip fun!

and here are my A+ students. they really shine, each in their own way....

make sure you stop by the gallery to see all the wonderful creations with the kits each month....

and now the winner of the $10 gift certificate to Birds of a Feather from THIS BLOG HOP is (as drawn by random.org)........

becca said...

love those magnet clips!! such a great idea! cute stuff! im now a follower!

Congrats Becca!! Please send me a message at wilkinson6282@roadrunner.com for more info.

wordless wednesday. autumn where i live.

2011-10-12T08:25:00.007-04:00

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz

a tradition....

2011-10-09T19:24:00.009-04:00

for as long as I can remember my mother has taken me to the fair for my birthday. it is tradition. it is something we have always done together. and as my family has grown that has not changed. it has just become a bigger and bigger party. more french fries and fried dough. more blooming onions and cotton candy. more excitement over all the things that you only find on a trip to the fair.

it did not go quite as planned today, but there were many sweet moments along the way and these are a few that were captured....

these were the cutest. ever. I wanted to bring one home.

these girls loved on them all... no matter how big they weighed in at. they wanted to take one home, too.....

this girl often hears comparisons about her hair and a horses' braid... it all seems fitting after really looking today...

ironically she has a way with farm animals. she has a way of connecting with any animal really. in a true and deep way. one i will never know.

this gypsy wagon was one of my favorite things of the day. it lead to dreams and thoughts and its beauty captivated me.

the dark circles do not lie. they are tired. cranky. and done. but their grandmother does what she does and buys them one last treat. one the mama never would, but this is what these fair days are all about.

and it melts in this little girls' mouth and makes her hands, face and hair oh so sticky.

it was a beautiful day for creating memories. and we did. bad, good, and everything in between.

onto 32.

2011-10-08T20:47:00.001-04:00

it seems impossible. where does the time go?
i am more mindful these days.
of time.
and the value in it.
more mindful of how i want to spend my days.
more aware of how little i know.
and how much i have to learn.
i am recognizing my weaknesses sooner
and knowing my need to rely on God to become the woman i dream to be.
i am learning what i value.
what brings me lasting joy.
what i am missing.
what i am seeking.
what i need to change.
i am learning how much i want to finish well.

i am lighting a candle.
every morning.
for my time with my maker.
every time we need to stop and pray...
for peace.
for the Holy Spirit to lead us.
for taking a moment to listen
and start over.

i value.
my faith.
my family.
my journey as a wife.
my impact as a mother.
the great commission.
and my part in that.
and the need for that to become my largest part of who i am and what i do here on earth.

i am missing time.
time to tell.
time to share the GOOD news.
time for people.
time alone. in quiet.
time to journal.
time to pray.
time to sing.
time to play.
time to smile.

i am seeking joy.
in my words.
in my attitude.
in my impact.
on those that daily cross my path.
in my every thought.

i am letting go.
of perfection.
of guilt.
of past sin that has been atoned for.
of the need for control.

i am changing me. because i cannot change anyone around me,
that is God's job. not mine.

and being a transformation is the most beautiful birthday wish to have.

i am praying that this year will bring me one step closer to becoming who i was created to be all along. filled up and sent out.

A Trip to Sherman Farms

2011-10-07T19:34:00.014-04:00

A Farm Adventure....our day in pictures.....

this girl could hold her own in a tractor.

corn maze cuties...

can you feel the excitement in her step? I can.....

not sure about getting "lost"....

3 feet at 3 years.....

two new friends....

one really fun corn box....

she was in there somewhere.....

and we headed out on a tractor ride to pick these perfect pumpkins

we even had a very special friend come along with us... she was the sweetest and loved on the little girls all afternoon....

It was a beautiful day for field trip to Sherman Farm!!

A Birdie Blog Hop!!

2011-10-07T07:45:00.013-04:00

Welcome to the Birds of A Feather Blog Hop!! It is Birds of a Feather's one year birthday and we are ready to celebrate!!!!! Will you join us????

I have something fun to share with all of you, but before I get to that, please make sure you go back HERE to the Birds of A Feather Blog. You should have arrived from Kayla's blog. I hope you have enjoyed seeing all of the fun projects and pages and hopping along with us. This is your last stop on the hop, but please go back to the Birds of a Feather Blog and leave a comment for your chance to win a $50 Bella Blvd Prize Package of goodies!!!! Then, please stop over to check out our weekend crop on the message boards!! We hope you will come play along with us!!!

and now here is the project I created...

I am always looking for ways to decorate for a party or gathering that is simple and inexpensive, so when I was playing with some clothespins the other night for the girls busy bag activities I knew they could be perfect for a refrigerator banner or for hanging pictures of the birthday girl over a span of her life.

I started with some basic pieces... the clothespins, some punched out patterned paper from the kit and some magnet strips for the back....
then I pieced them together and this is what they look like on the refrigerator....

and for those who may have missed it, I wanted to share this new page, too....

{{I loved the sweet pocket... I filled it full with pictures of the many faces of Grace}}

I used the lovely October kit for this project which you can find HERE... hurry, though, because I see there is only ONE left!!!! and check out the BIG sale while you are there!!

and now here is the last word in the quote

Have fun unscrambling the birdie birthday quote!! The hop will end on October 10th!

And, if you follow my blog and comment I will enter you into a drawing for a $10 Gift Certificate to BOAF :)
Have fun!!

Our School Journey Weeks 3 & 4

2011-10-06T11:05:00.004-04:00

What a few of weeks of blessings we have had, but school found a place in all of that, as well....

We read and read about Jamestown and the older children also watched THIS documentary....

National Geographic: Nightmare In Jamestown

Nightmare in Jamestown | Watch the Documentary Film Free Online | SnagFilms

It is very graphic, but has a lot of information and they REALLY enjoyed it!

then we constructed this village.....

It had MANY problems and our supplies did not work quite the way we thought they might, but in the end I think it came out nicely. I kept trying to stress having fun, but it seems I have created too many overachievers and now I am paying the price for that when things do not go as planned. We ran out of some items and I thought it would be fun to create around it and lets just say there were more than a few tears.... but I know God can teach me how to become a better example and how to encourage and empower my children through this.

and we created these wigwams.....

I had made a gift for someone and inside the supplies were these pieces of styrofoam and I knew I should save them for a project and they work perfectly for poking our sticks in and creating our wigwams... we used oil crayons and spray ink to create dirt and grass, then we covered them with real bark. They were different than the example MFW gave for creating wigwams, but they used items we already had right here inside and outside our home, so that was PERFECT!

and they have been well played with over the last week....

We studied Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact. We also played some really fun and challenging Indian games.

and celebrated a "Thanksgiving" meal all together....

We learned about the trueness of what would have been shared between the Indians and the Pilgrims and was able to gather many of the foods that would have been eaten between our garden and local farms.

If you are interested, here are some fun facts we learned.....

When we think about Thanksgiving dinner, there are certain food items that come to mind. We think of turkey, stuffing, cranberries, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Well, the Pilgrims ate some of these foods, particularly turkey (or wild foul of many types), but things like sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie were not on the menu.

One thing we learned is that there was plenty of food at the first Thanksgiving. This celebration lasted for at least three days, so it was different from the one BIG meal that we usually think of... they feasted for breakfast, lunch and dinner all three days!

We learned that meat was plentiful at the first Thanksgiving. A record from one of the pilgrim’s journals says five deer were killed for the feast, so we know there was plenty of venison. There were also plenty of birds killed during that time. The same journal records that enough fowl was killed to feed the whole party (53 Pilgrims and 90 Indians) for a week. We know that the Pilgrims of that time also ate dried meat and plenty of fish as well as lobster. These meats were the bulk of what was eaten during the celebration.

There were also plenty of vegetables to go around. The first Thanksgiving was a celebration of the first harvest so it is likely that the Pilgrims feasted on what they just harvested. That probably included corn, but not the way we think of it. In those days, the corn was not good to eat from the cob the way we eat it today. Back then, corn was removed from the corn and turned into cornmeal, which was then cooked into cornbread (that resembled pancakes), a kind of corn mush, or pudding. Other vegetables that were likely to be on the tables during that Thanksgiving were onions, winter squash and pumpkins.

There were probably no sweets at all. The Pilgrims had brought sacks of sugar with them when they came from England, but the sugar was probably gone by that time. Even if they did have sugar, it would only be used for sweetening. For example, sweetening the corn mush that was served for breakfast. They did make pumpkin pudding, so a little of the sugar might have gone to sweeten the pudding, but because there were no ovens for baking, pumpkin pie was a long way off. The Indians used molasses for sweetening so there may have been molasses at the party.

It is hard to know exactly what was eaten during the first celebration of Thanksgiving. The only hard evidence comes from the Pilgrim’s journal that talked about the venison and the birds. Those are the only things that we can be sure that they ate. Other items on the menu we assume would be eaten are the common foods eaten at that time. It is possible that there were dishes introduced by the Indians for the festivities. One recipe that was common at that time was called Indian Corn Pudding. This pudding was made with cornmeal and molasses. The recipe we used is below.

The final fact we learned about the first Thanksgiving is that the pilgrims ate without the aid of forks. Forks had not yet been invented at that time! So, we had dinner WITHOUT forks!

here is a recipe for you.....

Indian Corn Pudding (my children LOVED this)

ingredients~
3 cups milk
1/2 cup molasses
1/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a medium saucepan mix the milk and molasses, bring to near a boil, remove from heat. Stir in the cornmeal, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Cool and whisk about 10 minutes or until the mixtures thickens. Pour into an ungreased 1 quart casserole dish. Bake uncovered in 325° oven about 1 hour. Top with a drizzle of molasses, if desired.

We also enjoyed studying more about mammals. We finished up the study with leaf mammals.

first we collected some pretty leaves....

then, each of them created a favorite mammal....

then, they finished by writing a few sentences about that animal.

It was a VERY full couple of weeks, but oh so fun!

Sweet Peach Crop

2011-10-06T09:26:00.008-04:00

I have a couple of pages I completed for the Sweet Peach Blog Crop yesterday and wanted to share them with you. The challenges were VERY inspiring, as was the design team work, and with a chance to win 3 free kits I just had to try a few of the challenges! I ended up with 2 pages, one bookmark and I had been blessed to have completed the photo challenge already! So, anyway, here is the first page....

you at 6 shine (I made this for the office supply change since it was created with an office tag and grid paper)

and another page....(I made this page for the numbers challenge, even though both pages I made last night had numbers...lol)

lastly I made this little bookmark for my boy.....

I used what I had left from this kit for my designs. I do not normally keep much in my stash since I like to keep my space neat and clutter free, but I knew I had some sweet pictures that could still be used with this kit, so I help onto my leftovers. The kit is sold out, but every kit at Sweet Peach is amazing... you can check the kits out HERE.

I really miss those kits every month, but cherish every page and project I was able to create with them. They are some of the most funky fun kits you can find!

Hope you find some time to just sit and remember like I did while creating these pages....

history. a wordy wednesday.

2011-10-05T21:52:00.000-04:00

we all have it.
our history.
our family's history.
our country's history.

and our town has history.
it has a story.
and much of it involves faith.
the fight for keeping God the center.
and spreading it everywhere.

we took a detour the other day.
to see and share.
and talk.
we saw a large rock.
in a beautiful spot.
just outside our little village.

and we read the words.
words that share the story of a man.
a man who loved his God.
and the people his God created.

it was in this spot that this man was ordained into ministry...
THE ministry.
and he continued to live his life
sharing the Word of God
in this town
and the surrounding towns
for his life.
and knew what finishing well was all about.

our town shares this HERE.....

Perhaps the person most influential in Tamworth history was Parson Samuel Hidden. He came to Tamworth freshly graduated from Dartmouth College in 1792. He was ordained at Ordination Rock and became the first settled minister in town. His interests were broad and, besides spiritual leadership, he brought cultural benefits to this small town. He taught music and started a choir, supervised existing schools and opened new ones, and started the Tamworth Social Library (the fourth in the entire state).

We are so thankful for those who began the good work here in our town so many years ago. May we be fruitful in carrying the light into the darkness.... may God empower us to pick up the torch and carry on.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Do you know your history? It could help you press through your today.

"shades of color"

2011-10-04T15:12:00.001-04:00

The older girls and I have been working so hard to fill the little girls busy baskets with new activities each week.... this week we have been working on color activities.
This activity was less than a dollar to create and has been well used in just a couple days..... a new favorite for sure!

more busy basket ideas coming soon..... we need to keep these little hands out of trouble!

Happy Homemaker Monday

2011-10-03T22:13:00.009-04:00

I found THIS blog today and thought it may be fun to answer the random questions and see what others were posting, as well.... maybe you will join us, too??

The weather in my neck of the woods:
a touch of fall with rain rain and more rain

Things that make me happy:
a successful day of home schooling
little girls fast asleep, all cuddled up
autumn... and all things that the season brings

Book I'm reading:

Praying For Your Unborn Child
by Francis MacNutt and Judith MacNutt

What's on my TV today:
80s music station made the cut today.... can you say Dance Party???

On the menu for dinner:

Refried Bean Soup, tortilla chips and salsa

On my To Do List:
home schooling
preserving, canning, and baking
creating activities for busy little girls

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Syrup for Pumpkin Spice Lattes is at the very top of my list right now (and the best part is I can use our home grown pumpkins and change up the ingredients a bit for a healthier latte)

In the craft basket:
four amazing scrapbook kits
busy basket projects for the little girls that I *hope* to finish tonight and share tomorrow
the start of some felt and paper dollies for the little girls

Looking forward to this week:
our home schooling First Thanksgiving Feast
The Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze at Sherman Farms

Tips and Tricks:
I have some busy basket activities we have been creating to share tomorrow :)

My favorite blog post this week:

THIS post I wrote this week has healed my heart this week

and THIS post just made me think about apologies

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):

(something that has been heart for awhile... to scrap myself... more on that very soon)

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
I will mess up, but my family always forgives my shortcomings.

On my mind:
...going into my last trimester, I am thinking more and more about the little boy squiggling inside of me

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:2-6
I am working on memorizing these verses with my children....

I hope your Monday was wonderful!

another menu

2011-10-02T10:27:00.010-04:00

Here is our menu this week.... It will be a very simple week for the most part with meals we love and know well, with a fun home school project thrown in. We are working on creating a Thanksgiving dinner much like what the first settlers would have had with all the interesting foods that would have been across their tables and not with the foods we see as Thanksgiving today... it will be a very interesting experience for all of them I am sure! More on that coming soon :)

Sunday
breakfast~ apple crisp
lunch~ summer squash and fresh corn soup <----- click for our own recipe
dinner~ Pioneer Woman Spaghetti with Artichokes and Tomatoes (with rice noodles)

Monday
breakfast~ gluten free zucchini bread, yogurt and apple slices
lunch~ apples and peanut butter
dinner~ refried bean soup, tortilla chips and salsa

Tuesday
breakfast~ Baked Apple Oatmeal
lunch~ garden salad
dinner~ A Home School First Thanksgiving Celebration
with offerings of Duck, Chicken, possibly Venison and Lobster, winter squash assortment, corn pudding and pumpkin pudding baked in the pumpkin

Wednesday
breakfast~ scrambled eggs with cheese and veggies, turkey bacon
lunch~ leftovers
dinner~ leftovers

Thursday
breakfast~ Baked Apple Oatmeal
lunch~ roasted tomato soup, gluten free pretzels
dinner~ Pepper Steak Stir Fry, Mashed Potatoes

Friday
breakfast~ GF cereal, milk
lunch~ picnic lunch
dinner~ Keilbasa Skillet Dinner

make sure you check out all of the meal ideas HERE at orgjunkie.com :)

Happy World Card Making Day (and a little happy news!!)

2011-10-01T13:37:00.012-04:00

Happy World Card Making Day!!!

I want to share a card I created today for World Card Making Day....

honestly I am not much of a card maker, but I *think* it came out okay :) I used a VERY GORGEOUS new kit to create that card and that leads me to some fun news.....

I have been asked to guest design for Burlap and Buttercups this month and I am so excited!

and HERE is the beautiful October kit!!!!

and here is the must-have add on

and the last little thing I am sharing is one of the pages I created this month (a peek at the B&B gallery) :)

the ribbon was so pretty I just had to make a little flower and layer some embellies together...

and do you see that???? yes, I STAMPED DIRECTLY onto my page and I did not freak out :) heehee

I hope you had some time today to make a card for someone special today!!

an autumn vacation....

2011-09-30T21:03:00.012-04:00

it was unexpected.
unplanned {{gasp}} and last minute.
gifted to us.

it was just three days.
3 days that started with a tire replacement.
on the way.
with a full car and no idea of what to do.

3 days with rain.
3 days that ended with sun.
and autumn breezes
as we hiked through the colors of change.

3 days of no making beds.
no doing dishes.
no rules about tv.
or bedtimes.
3 days of fun
and rest
and letting go.
3 days of the heated pool and hot tubs.

3 days of simple.
3 days of autumn.
3 days together.

sometimes just a few days of stepping away, refocusing and relaxing is all you need. to remember all you have, count your every blessing and gain strength for your journey that awaits you back home.....

these 3 days did that for us. God answered the desires of this mommy's heart.... and I relished in it, with all my soul.

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

i am scared.

2011-09-29T22:38:00.001-04:00

when i was little i would dream.
of being a wife. a mother.
i would dream of cooking and cleaning.
and writing.
i would dream of teaching and playing
and singing and dancing.
of adventures.
of JOY.
i would dream of all it could be.
as I did not know what it could be like.
i did not experience those things
so I dreamed big and bigger.

it all seemed so wonderful.
until I became a wife.
and failed.
a mother.
and failed.
it became impossible to live up to who i wanted to be,
who i needed to be.
i felt like like this tree.
full.
full of clumps of life.
berries that made me more.
more busy.
more heavy.
more weighed down.
more colorful.
more strong.
more fragile.
full of berries.
too full.
the more berries that grew the more i felt scared.
scared of more failure.
scared of the weight of it all.
what if i crumble under it all?

what if i do not try hard enough?
what if i try so hard and continue to mess it all up?
what if i let the berries down?

then, i wonder, why i am scared?
i know what is needed.
i know what is lacking when the fear seeps in.
the roots.
are my roots deep?
are they grounded in the Word?
in my Creator?
in the One who offers GRACE?
PEACE?
true security?
are they strongly planted deep within?
guided by the One who has all the answers?

i am scared.
scared to be a mommy of 6.
scared to get through this time in my life.
scared to home school my children.
scared of all i could fail at.
and i will.
i will fail at times.
i will melt down.
i will disappoint.
i will yell.
i will expect too much.
i will cry.

but i need to know i am planting the roots.
deep.
and He will catch any berries that fall
and help me let go of those i cannot hold
and stay strongly planted in Him to hold the ones i need to.

these berries are just a part of how i will become more like Him, each one bringing me one step closer to becoming who i truly am. may i allow Him to prune me, strengthen me to hold the weight He wishes for me and to learn to give to him the falling berries i cannot.

May I focus more on the roots and less on the berries.

wordless wednesday. almost.

2011-09-28T12:55:00.002-04:00

A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life. ~Isadora James

Even though the journey may be rocky and the path uncertain, if you remember to hold each others' hands your life will be sweeter.

Birds of Feather October Kit Reveal (with a favorite new page)!!

2011-09-27T19:13:00.007-04:00

Have you all seen the October kit, yet???? It is packed full of everything you need to document your autumn memories.....

Here is one of the pages I created with this warm and wonderful kit....

fall GIRL.... this photo from last year of my Gracie fit so perfectly with the warm tones in the kit and the funky fall embellies....

love the zipper trim....

I combined some of my favorite embellies in this kit to create a homemade flower... I poked one of the pearl brads through one of the wooden buttons, the wrapped the zipper trim around and around until I liked the look.

I cannot wait to share more of my pages with you! Birds of a Feather will be sharing a Blog Hop with all of you from October 7-9, and we will be having a BIG BIRTHDAY CROP BASH on the message boards, too!!! Make sure you check out all the fun challenges, prizes and inspiration!!

And you do you know why I am SO excited???? Well, it is MY birthday over that weekend, too :) What a GREAT way to celebrate! You will join me, right????

Apple Picking... a simple kind of JOY

2011-09-26T19:56:00.001-04:00

the traditions I share with my children are simple, yet fresh and full. they are often the ones that bring us together and the ones where we laugh and smile and let go. traditions are the little things we do that make us a family, form us, create our bonds, draw us closer and bring us JOY. we have missed many little traditions over the last year, but this one was not forgotten. it was a gift I am grateful for. one I will not soon forget.

a collage of our sweetest moments....

{{{most of these will be here again with more words on scrapbook pages very soon}}}

and the blessing of two older girls made my afternoon complete, FULL, all that it could be. they are both a blessing to me, whether they believe that or not.... and I adore them both.

this girl... whom i carried the longest, have loved in ways I cannot give words to, the one who gives me so much more than i ever knew was possible....

and this girl... who is newer to me, but just as deeply in my heart. the one who God chose for me to spend one afternoon a week with....

on to many more memories....

Paper Lovelies Reveal!! only $15 for all of this!!

2011-09-23T20:04:00.008-04:00

This very affordable, very vintage-y, very autumn-ish kit is now available and you do not want to miss it!!! CLICK HERE to grab your own... FAST :)

Pretty, huh???? Wondering how much you can create for $15???? Well, amazingly I created ALL of these adding very little basic supplies from my stash....

I made these flash cards (which I shared HERE)

and these 2 pages....

you can read more about this passport fun HERE.....

and this page... sweet apples, sweet you (apple picking last year)

AND this mini school album. I did not have pictures yet to put up in the gallery, so this is the first peek at it! Check out all of the glitter edges... SO FUN!!

I even created a couple of quick cards with leftover papers and embellies.... and the gallery has some more beautiful pages and cards to create... they will inspire you to create much without spending much!!

Thank you for stopping by.... it means so much to me!

hello autumn

2011-09-23T10:33:00.002-04:00

you came in rainy and humid and unfall-like
you came in with a little color and a lot of clouds
but thankfully with a little pumpkin, too....

and i have a feeling you will go out with a bang..... especially while i sit and enjoy this..... a once a year treat... to savor, one sip and one bite at a time....

enjoy all the little moments... even when your plans are washed away, as the plans that follow may be so much sweeter than the ones you had planned....

saying goodbye to summer....

2011-09-22T22:32:00.009-04:00

i have been asked the questioned many times over the last couple of weeks....
how was your summer?
i cringe when i hear it.
mostly i give the short answer.
it was fine.
honestly it did not feel fine.
it felt unlike any summer before.
i felt like it was a summer of less and not enough.
a summer of what ifs and why nots.
but when i stop.
stop.
and really think about it.
the blessings ARE MANY.
the things we did do were cherished.
the things we gained, PRICELESS.
and the summer....
in the end it was a summer full.
full of blessings.
blessed with all the things that matter the most.

and one worth putting into a special place.
so I can remember and embrace it for a long time.
it wasn't our summer planned,
but it was God's summer orchestrated.
perfectly.
and that girl sitting in the last chair playing clarinet?
yup that is me,
just feeling the joy.
of being part of it all.

Just for fun I am sharing with you a fun use for the cute little jar pimentos come in (we use those often when we make THIS lasagna recipe).

I started with this cute paper found in my Scrapbook Sussies kit (see more information below)...

I cut out the cute little characters and several patterned paper circles, glued them together simply, then laminated them. I painted the lid of the jar, then decorated the little jar and all the little circles fit nicely inside. A simple fun memory game for two little girls to enjoy... two more activities for the little girls busy basket.

and here are a few views of the flash cards made with that paper, as well...

I wanted to let you know you can now buy the kit I used for these projects for only $18!!!! So, for less than $20 you could make memory games, flash cards, decorate a mini summer album and create at least two pages (like I did.... those coming soon)!! That is a steal!! Check out the sale before EVERYTHING is gone. I will certainly miss my Sussies :( Click HERE and scroll down.....

the truth is I am more than blessed, but in fact quite spoiled by my Father, who gave me exactly the summer I needed.

wordless wednesday. almost.

2011-09-21T21:11:00.004-04:00

"Where flowers bloom so does hope." Lady Bird Johnson

May I always hold tight to hope, standing on the Word and grounded in my faith.

Autumn Flash Cards in a Flash

2011-09-20T20:25:00.003-04:00

This is not the first time I have shared a set a flash cards I have created for my girls, but with all the lovely alphabet patterned papers out there and some sweet little girls who love to play and learn with them it is so fun, especially when you find seasonal paper with fun prints that come together so easily!

Here is my newly made set....

See this paper??? It totally caught me eye and I knew it would be perfect for a school project for my little girls......

Then when I realized I also had this pretty paper in the kit, my idea came together...

I cut out all of the alphabets (be mindful you are missing a "V" on one paper and will need to be creative) and matted the smaller alphabets to the back of the larger set. I ran them through the laminator and trimmed them down to size. I made a little cover out of another pretty Graphic 45 paper and strung them all on a metal ring. I finished off the set with some pretty flowers and ribbon.... It took less than an hour and the girls love them.... especially "L" is for leaves. We love fall!

Want to see a bit more of the October Paper Lovelies kit I was blessed to play with this month????? Well......here are a couple more sneaks peeks of what I created...

and if you come back on the 23rd of this month you can see the full reveals of the kit and my pages and mini album! I cannot wait to share them with all of you!

Menu Monday

2011-09-19T09:50:00.011-04:00

Here is our menu this week.... we are ready for more comfort food.... a big pot will be pretty constant on the back of the stove, bubbling away with something and warming the cooler air that blows in from outside... the oven is often full of baked goods these days and the smells of our home bring comfort and joy....
but oh wait... that may be a few months away :) Enjoy mealtimes.... enjoy creating and enjoy those your share it with.....

Monday
breakfast~ GF cereal/milk, bananas
lunch~ roasted veggies, home canned peaches
dinner~ soup and sandwiches (mama will be gone)

Tuesday
breakfast~ amish baked oatmeal, homemade applesauce
lunch~ garden salad
dinner~ spaghetti with meatballs and/or eggplant parmesan and garden salad, apple and nectarine crisp for dessert

Wednesday
breakfast~ strawberry soup with fresh raspberries

Strawberry Soup

ingredients
2 cups of washed and hulled strawberries
1 cup of orange juice (fresh squeezed is perfect)
1 cup plain yogurt (we use homemade)

blend until smooth, chill at least one hour (we leave overnight), then top with fresh berries and vanilla yogurt, if desired.

lunch~ refried bean soup, tortilla chips and salsa
dinner~ lentil tacos with corn tortillas, leftover refried bean soup

Thursday
breakfast~ amish baked oatmeal, homemade applesauce
lunch~ pesto pasta salad in a jar, crispy baked green beans
dinner~ Pioneer Woman Spaghetti with Artichokes and Tomatoes (with rice noodles), cucumber salad

Friday
breakfast~ scrambled eggs with cheese and veggies, turkey bacon
lunch~ summer squash and fresh corn soup <----- click for our own recipe
dinner~ parmesan chicken strips, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob

make sure you check out all of the meal ideas HERE at orgjunkie.com :)

do I see Him???

2011-09-18T20:01:00.003-04:00

you can miss Him.
in the rush.
the madness.
even in the everyday.
you can miss Him.
in the creation...
of His hands.
in the moment...
He gave you.

you can miss Him if you are distracted by you.
your lists.
your plans.
your tasks.
your day.

but this girl....
she sees what is.
the truth behind these leaves and rocks.
i wondered.
i asked.....
what are you creating???
her answer was simple,
yet FULL.
GOD.
she explained it to me clearly
the leaf is God.
the rocks are the parts of Him she knows...
the three parts that form one.
my heart welled.
FULL.
i saw it.
i heard it.
i felt it with her.

do i see Him in the swirling leaves?
in the pocket full of rock treasures?
in the mountain in the distance?
the lake that surrounded us that evening?
do i see clearly?
do i see faith first?

"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." Romans 1:20

many more beautiful posts here....

and here

see HIM today... in every piece of your world....so you may come to honestly know Him.

Birds of Feather......

2011-09-17T11:58:00.006-04:00

Before I share two new pages with you, I wanted to tell you there are ONLY TWO of these kits left!!! You need to check them out here and grab one fast before you miss them!!! Also, make sure you look HERE for how to buy the kits for less every month!

and......

here is my favorite new page... bright and bold, with a great chipboard label from the kit as the base for the design and heartfelt journaling....

a close up of the beautifully textured flowers.... all the feathers and glitter and layers....swoooooonnnnn..... and did you see that I added a hand-sewn border around the tag in the pocket.....

and this page of my sister. we miss her. I hope she knows that.... that we want to see her... be with her... know her more.... we love her in the deepest way.

Make sure you do check these kits out... and all of the lovely pages the design team created (and how different they all are) HERE in the gallery!

another school week behind us.....

2011-09-16T20:55:00.016-04:00

Like the passing wind, this week passed much too quickly and yet soft and gentle. As I look back, like so many weeks I see what I have missed, left out, not done enough of, but for today I am going to rejoice what we have accomplished.....
as there is much to look back on....

This book of the Bible was the focus all week, well, the first 4 chapters anyway. We have begun to memorize the book of James. The children were all so excited to see what my Bible looked like, as they know my love for the book of James, and there are many notes, markings and crinkles on these pages... My hope is that they will now be a part of my memorized verses I can fall on now, too.

In Science, we studied The Classification System and they loved my animated story of their daddy and a mixed up grocery story. I am still smiling thinking of their faces looking at me, hanging on my words and their giggles as I continued. I was so thankful I had read it through and prepared the night before....

I was also thankful My Father's World had shared this little sentence.....

King Philip cried out, "For goodness sake."

It even helped me to learn and remember VERY fast :)

This boy worked so hard to catch our science activity, and did, but in the end, Sophie our neat freak (like her mama) decided to wash his catch and the fish took advantage and swam away..... good thing we were gifted a fish by an older couple fishing along side of us.... they fell in love with our family and made the most beautiful comments to us, our children and about us... it was a wonderful experience!

This girl was not so sure about these squiggly worms and did not actually fish at all.... although she spent the moments just standing beside her daddy, enjoying his company...

This girl had done a 180 by the time we arrived home, excitedly watching daddy dissect the fish, one part at a time, until the backbone was left for us to discuss....

We spent time discussing vertebrates and invertebrates. It was so real to touch and see the backbone up close. I think it made the concept sink in.... deep.

At the end of the week, I wanted to give the children a chance to experience a day exploring and discussing classifications up close and personal. And there were many questions along our adventure at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.

I was so excited to see this display where you can see how the bones of a deer come together... do you see that backbone??? Gracie saw it right away and had to show us all!

and then we saw the real thing all together... the littles were in love and full of "awwww"s all day.

I had given the children an assignment for the day, to refresh and follow up a bit from last week. They were each given 3 index cards to write their new words from last week on.... Botany, Zoology and Biology. They were to write anything they saw today that they wished to study more this year on the appropriate card. I was so please to see so many things written on the cards throughout the day.....

For lunch we had prepared a pasta salad in a jar, a "botany" shake up lunch.

To create such a lovely lunch all you will need is this quick and easy recipe (and maybe a garden full of goodies) and a canning jar

pasta salad in a jar

(layer in this order for each jar)
5 cherry tomatoes, halved
strips of roasted red peppers (this was done with garden peppers, sliced, drizzled with olive oil, then roasted in the oven until tender)
a few spoonfuls of homemade pesto sauce (basil, pine nuts, garlic, parm cheese and olive oil)
and gluten free pasta

leave a little space at the top for shaking and shake and serve :)

At the end of the day, the little girls played this puzzle while talking about so many of the animals they had met at the Science Center.....

It was a full work load this week..... back to our complete school schedule and I admit it was long and I am so tired, but it was so wonderful, too...... much was learned and much was gained and it all started in our home and with the Word.

What an irreplaceable blessing.....

she. he. them. 9*16 the marshy mess.

2011-09-16T19:48:00.013-04:00

the marshy mess.

cluttered.
mucky.
beautiful.
sometimes (often) I am asked, how do I do it? what is it like?
you know, the 5 kid thing.
today as I was exploring with my five I spied this sight.
i took this picture.
and i embraced it.
it tells the story so perfectly.
cluttered, messy, growing wildly.
and so very beautiful.
perfect.
and truly nothing in this picture should ever change.
or in the days right now of this busy mama.

she.

she was born first for a reason. a divine purpose.
she is a leader.
she is creative.
she is gracious.
she is fun to be with.

he.

he is learning to share his feelings. the right ways.
he always does the job, even if he says no first.
he can be found with a hammer and nails often these days.
he went out of his way to say thank you today.

she.

she is a creative mess.
she is expressing her faith in ways I never dreamed she would.
she loves pinterest. a lot.
she likes to spend time alone with her mom, just being.

she.

she is growing. leaps and bounds.
she made new discoveries this week.
she is very sorry when she messes up.
she is my shadow.

she.

she is impossible for this tired mama to keep up with.
she is pushing limits and testing boundaries.
she is committed to living, not just breathing.
she is an adventure-seeker.

i am so thankful to spend my days with them.

the hardest post

2011-09-15T08:07:00.005-04:00

why?
it is simple.
i never had a photo like this.
not ever.
i never had someone so close. so safe. so protecting.
i never experienced the love of a father.
the encouragement. the acceptance.
i never had him choose me.
taking these photos are almost as hard as they are wonderful.
it is what makes it so hard for me to understand.
why.
why God would choose me.
why HE loves me.
why HE would bother with me.
if only.
if only i had experienced a love like this.
had a shoulder to lean on.
an ease of just being.
the encouragement. the love. the acceptance.
the experience of an earthly father.....
i would more freely understand what gift I have been given.
more freely accept that gift....
the way I know this girl does.
she embraces life.
and she embraces the LOVE of a FATHER.
she has my greatest dream...
and yet I have had it all along,
if only I will accept it fully.

HE is a father to the fatherless. (Psalm 68:5) HE will help bridge the path of confusion with the path of peace. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

may I be ever thankful for that.

May I live with the acceptance and peace in this love as this little girl.

May she know the value of having an earthly father of such value who loves her in a deep and true way and a heavenly ONE who chose her before she even drew her first breath.

another Monday, another Menu

2011-09-12T08:23:00.005-04:00

Monday
breakfast~ pumpkin bread, orange wedges
lunch~ deli meat and cheese roll ups, green grapes
dinner~ creamy corn chowder, nectarine and blueberry gluten free cobbler with frozen yogurt

Tuesday
breakfast~ gluten free cereal/ milk
lunch~ soup and salad fun muffin tin lunch
dinner~ GF Vegetable Lasagna made with our homemade tomato sauce

our muffin tin lunch

top: a turkey roll, a green salad (with lettuce and green peppers and cucumber from our garden), a tomato and mozzarella salad (with romas from our garden)
bottom: creamy corn chowder, harvest vegetable soup, and crackers

Wednesday
breakfast~ scrambled eggs with cheese and veggies
lunch~ leftovers, homemade rolls
dinner~ lentil tacos with corn tortillas

Thursday
breakfast~ Amish Baked Oatmeal, applesauce
lunch~ Pioneer Woman Spaghetti with Artichokes and Tomatoes (with rice noodles)
dinner~ garlic chicken in the crock pot, mashed potatoes, our garden corn

Friday
breakfast~ grapefruit
lunch~ picnic pasta salad in canning jars...more to come later....
dinner~ baked potato bar (with taco style toppings!!)

This week I am thankful that my children enjoy harvesting and creating, that they love to try new foods like their mom and dad and that we have enough to feed those hungry children!!

make sure you check out all of the meal ideas HERE at orgjunkie.com :)

and come back next Monday to peek at our muffin tin lunches :)

Today 91011

2011-09-10T21:10:00.003-04:00

Today I went to a wedding.

Today I hoped for easier days.

Today I dreamed of going back and being a better wife to my husband.

Today I forgot to charge my camera battery.

Today I heard I DO.

Today I read bedtime stories to a little girl who missed me.

Today I watched two people commit their lives to one another.

Today I said I trust God even when it does not make sense.

Today I believed in love.

Today I felt right. and good. and at peace.

Today I created these beautiful pages from a Paper Lovelies September I won on facebook....

{{photos tomorrow when the sun comes out again}}

Today I wondered Have I really been married almost 14 years?

Today I bought a Pumpkin Swirl Iced Latte. and that made me happy.

Today I cleaned my camera. It was ready to capture.

Today I was me.

Who are you today?

This is a once a month ritual I wish to keep as a part of my blog....

putting down my "to-do" lists and creating goals and purpose... introducing the Perfect Planner

2011-09-09T11:19:00.010-04:00

I have been making changes here. It has been a journey that has been on my heart for quite awhile, one I knew was needed, and yet one I had been putting off for a long time.

A couple of weeks ago my journey began with simplifying. If you want to reread what that included you can read my post HERE. It was refreshing and brought our home peace and ease.

but I *knew* that would not be the end of the journey.... there was more letting go I needed to pursue and that brought fear. more letting go???? really???

I felt God calling me to set aside my to-do lists.... to make more goals, plan around those and less around the "stuff" that was on my ever increasing lists. My lists were turning into my sense of value and that was detrimental. What if I could not keep up? What would that say about this organized wife and mother of almost 6? The lists were stressing me out... daily. They made me feel like I was falling behind and less of who God created me to be.

Then, I stumbled onto a website one day and *knew* as I was reading THIS that this could be what I have been searching for. It was not another planner to fill in or check off.... it was my dreams, goals and plans written in my words and from my heart. There were no boxes to check off, discouragement when it was undone or feelings of failure.

It really was the perfect planner....

I started right away filling out the calendar for this month. That was easy. Now all my appointments and scheduling was in one place, a place just for me.

Then, I flipped to the first section... goals, my goals. Honestly, I drew a blank. What would I do with a list I had to check off??? Where would I begin??? I wrote out the 5 things I value the most at the top of the page... then the pen just started flowing.... and flowing.... and my heart felt free to dream, imagine and I began to trust God with my hopes for this month. It became my journal for the month. It became fun and easy. It became me.

next week, I will start the daily pages and continue with planning.... which is more like "goal-ing" and "dreaming".

It is so much more freeing to face your day with your HEART first... and when I start with God's Word and prayer, then my daily pages, I just *know* my days will begin with the right start and end just how they were supposed to.

Next week, I will be adding THIS to my planning because I am not dragging this bad boy anywhere...lol... it is a part of my desk now. and it fits. and that little handy book is a trusty companion I do use and enjoy. I also will add my My Father's World weekly schedule, as we enjoy following that the way it is for the most part and that can be placed after my daily pages.

Please check out the Planner Perfect HERE and buy one to change your perspective and your every day. You can also find the Perfect Planner HERE on facebook.

As a special gift to my readers, Jenny (the creator of the Planner Perfect) has graciously offered my readers a $5 coupon code if used by 9/15, just enter *planner10*!
Thank you, Jenny, for everything! You have created something of true value....

Blooming in Adversity

2011-09-08T23:21:00.000-04:00

when I picked up the camera awhile back and saw this photo taken by my oldest it really made me stop and just look. the more I looked at it the more I felt.
and that kind of stirring of the heart does not just go away....

adversity is all around us and most of what I feel as "trouble" or "hardship" is merely discomfort. it is little burden and many feelings. it seems to me the more I have the more I feel I suffer. the less of what I have that I see......

we all have burdens
but are we starving?
are we unable to worship the God we believe in?
are we safe?
are we in need of basic necessity?

sadly, most of us can answer too well. we are fed, clothed (and most with clean clothes at that), we are able to worship... to BELIEVE what we wish, we are fairly safe and our basic needs remain in tact.

sadly, as I fuss over yet another thing, I forget I can add to that list....

healthy, all of us, in most every way.
together, as much as we choose it to be so.
peaceful, if we allow it.

I can choose to be like this flower, OPEN, open to weather the rain, the heat, the little fingers picking at me..... the anything and everything that this world may have for me, knowing GOD WILL CARE FOR ME IN IT......
or I can choose to close my bud, seek inwardly to my own thoughts... worries, insecurities, sins.... I can seek to do this on my own and in my own thinking. I can choose to never be transformed.

May my heart see clearly (Matthew 6:21), my mind be transformed (Romans 12:2) and the little flower planted with love and care remind me of how I was planted (Matthew 6:26)....

to bloom and not to die.

May I never walk through adversity without knowing I am loved and cared for by Him.
and may my eyes be open to what true adversity is....

saying Good-bye..... with 4 new pages.....

2011-09-08T15:03:00.007-04:00

this is the very last one. the last Sussies kit. it is hard for me to write this post today. hard to find the right words. hard to let go. change has never been my thing and this is not any different. these kits are so fun and I admit they have stretched me each month and help me become a more fun scrapper. I will share my last pages with you today that I will ever create with a Sussies kit....

before I share my pages, I will share the kit.... you can still buy this beautiful September kit!!! Just CLICK HERE.

and here are my pages....

my sweet boy (the details on this one just make me smile)

hike with me. it is simple. colorful. exactly what I am feeling.

using this beautiful September sketch....

my sister, my friend. every detail and word on this page makes me happy. I wish I grew up with sisters like this...

and my sweet girl... she is simply me. just smaller.

I will truly miss my fun and playful Sussies pages.... they always make me smile and often are the easiest and hardest to put together with all the fun embellishments to choose from! I will miss the two kits in one box arriving each month, but I am beyond thankful for every memory I now have documented. Scrapbook Sussies was one of the first scrapbook kits I ever purchased back in 2006. WOW. 2006. Time flies when you are creating! Best wishes to Lara (the sweet owner) as she lets this kit club go and embraces her life as a part time working mommy and may she feel the weight of this lifted and a sweet sense of peace in all of this!

It is funny how life works since it seems I will be Guest Designing for not one, but two amazing kit clubs for October.... stay tuned!!!!

our favorite recipes for using your summer squash

2011-09-07T12:56:00.002-04:00

I am so thankful to have a husband who love to grown a garden for our family.... he has been working very hard since spring and in the last few weeks and baskets have been coming in from the garden full of lovely yellow squash and I have been working hard to use them in new and delicious ways.

Here are two of our favorite recipes.....

Summer Squash Pickles (with ginger)

4 c summer squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (or sliced if they are smaller sized)
1 medium onion, sliced
2 c water
1 1/4 c sugar
1 c cider vinegar
1 t pickling salt
1 t mustard seed
1 t ground ginger

Place the squash and onions in a large bowl, sprinkle with salt, let set for at least 2 hours, rinse and drain.

Prepare the jars and lids for canning.

In a large enamel or stainless steel saucepan combine the water, sugar, vinegar, salt, mustard, and ginger. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to melt the sugar. Add the squash and onions. Bring back to a boil and boil for 10 minutes.

Pack into five hot sterilized half-pint jars leaving about 1/2-inch headroom. Clean off the tops of the jars and cover with a lid. Close with a neckband & finger-tighten. Process in boiling water for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove jars from the water to a heat-proof surface and let cool for 12 - 24 hours (do not dry jars). Check to make sure the top of the jar has been drawn downwards, creating a seal.

Makes 5 cups of pickles.

Summer Squash and Fresh Corn Soup

4 medium summer squash
3 C chicken broth
1 C water
1 C heavy cream
1 C uncooked rice
1 medium onion, chopped
2 T butter
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 tsp fresh thyme
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (or more) ears cooked fresh corn
1/2 C sour cream
6 strips crispy bacon, crumbled

Shred the summer squash through the largest holes in a box grater or similar tool. Remove the corn from the cobs. Set both aside.

Saute the onions in the butter for a couple of minutes on medium-high heat. Add the rice and lower the heat to medium. Cook, stirring, for five or six minutes. Add the water, broth, carrot, squash, garlic and thyme. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Puree the soup, in your blender, in batches. Pour the pureed soup back into the saucepan and simmer another five minutes or so. Stir in the sour cream.

To serve, ladle into flat soup dishes and mound a pile of the corn in the center of the plate. Top with bacon, if desired.

we are certainly enjoying the bounty of our garden and relishing in the joy of the tiny seed and what it can become...

Little Red September Reveal!

2011-09-06T18:48:00.006-04:00

THIS soft, sweet and beachy kit is perfect for saying good-bye to summer...

I finished all of my pages so quickly this month as it was so hard to put the pretty papers and embellies back into the bag.... they were so easy for me to coordinate with my beach photos and I even created a very special keepsake. Today I am sharing one page, which is part of my September Challenge on the message boards and my Tip/Technique of the month which I am so glad I took the time to create because a certain little girls LOVES it, too.....

here is my favorite page this month... my gracie girl

here you can see where I transformed the flower embellie to match my page... that was what my challenge this month was all about... transforming embellies!!!

and also, this is a frame I created from rolled paper... as you can see in my slide to the side, I LOVE ROLLING PAPER and so I needed to think outside the box with that at some point and this is what came of my rolling this month.....

A rolled picture frame was perfect for this picture of Gracie! She loves the little butterflies and the pretty flowers, I love how simple it was to create. I plan on making some of these for Christmas gifts for sure with my girls!

and lastly, here are a couple of peeks of my other pages...

I am so thankful to be designing for such a wonderful kit club... with beautiful kits month after month and the owners are so kind and thoughtful.... it is such a blessing in my life.... make sure you pick up a kit to create some very special pages and projects too!

night of the moonjellies, muffin tin treat

2011-09-05T05:54:00.003-04:00

We have been making changes here... and along with these changes have come a few tears and a few not so happy little girls. We have been clearing out most of the plastic in our home and as we tossed many favorite character plates into the trash the girls gasped. Why would Mommy do such a thing??? Well, by now they should know this mommy is more creative that that. She would not just throw things away without a plan :)

That plan came as a new lunch serving system....

There it is and isn't it sweet??? As we have been reading NIGHT OF THE MOONJELLIES in our Five In A Row plan, I have been planning this special Muffin Tin Lunch. I knew it would be a hit, even with my fussy eater (she ate it the fastest!!) and having little spots for all sorts of favorites was very well received. Once a week we will share a special "themed" lunch with all of you.

Here is what we prepared in the tins...
goldfish crackers (what a treat!!)
an organic banana moon jelly
wild Maine blueberry water bubbles
moon jellies made out of turkey hot dogs and organic brown rice pasta (so easy, just stick dry pasta into the hot dog chunk, boil until pasta is cooked and serve)
with our homemade ketchup (recipe found HERE)

It was so yummy and so fun! The girls cannot wait to see what is next!

Next week will be more of a restaurant theme as we continue to read

we journeyed through the first week.....

2011-09-03T18:52:00.014-04:00

We walked slooooowwwwwlllllyyyyy through this week. It was gentle and smoother than I had thought....

but at times I admit I felt a bit like the explorers we were learning about... like I was treading on an unknown path. a lot of what I had envisioned for the year was different and our life has been a bit stressed the last several months so I wondered if that would play a role in us learning together.....

and it did... a bit....

and yet, the rhythm came quickly, the children loved what they were learning and they were full of compromising and smiles....

We started the week with many little "getting ready" projects since we just received most of our curriculum. This girl was more than willing to color, cut and laminate for our special time line we will travel through this year....

We cannot wait to hang these up with some twine and clothes pins....

We traveled to the ocean to soak in the Son. We reread the creation story in Genesis 1 and readied ourselves for learning in the next few weeks.....

We even found some beautiful examples of wildlife while we were exploring.... this little caterpillar was one of our treasured finds....

I held back a giggle when Gabby announced that this little thing had more hair than her daddy... oh my!

Learning about the explorers this week was exciting and very thoughtful. We had much discussion about how amazing it is that we are blessed to be here now because of the bravery and curiousity of so many....

Our book basket was full this week and one of the books, although long had so many beautiful photos and was packed with information and storytelling so we grabbed it for an evening trip to the lake. We brought along our simple homemade ships made with some household items (love how easy and inexpensive these projects are, yet FUN)...

Three willing sailors.....

set sail....

and one gave us the words...

My days were filled with jars full of colored pencils, number two pencils and crayons and tables covered with books and crafts and 2 little girls busily playing and learning along side of us. It was a beautiful chaos I can only explain as week one.

It was hard and perfect and it was good.

On to Week Two....

School Pictures 2011-2012 and a Scraptacular New Kit :)

2011-09-03T15:10:00.013-04:00

A New Year.
possibilities are everywhere.....

Grade 8

she was ready before anyone else.
she loves finding ways we can all work together.
she steps in and helps her siblings even when she doesn't need to.
she is a perfectionist and strives for her best in every subject.
she is too hard on herself.
school is all about sharing for her. sharing her time, sharing with her mom, sharing a piece of the knowledge of more.

Grade 6

he is stubborn.
he is a perfectionist.
if it is a challenge, he will count it out before even trying.
he needs extra hugs, encouragement and support.
he loves history and science more than anything.
school is all about letting go for him... of his pride, his need for perfection, letting go and just having fun.

Grade 3

she is hard to keep up with. grade levels will cruise by....
she is a fast learner.
she loves to draw. and will soon be learning more about how to. READ HERE
she is easily distracted, but easily refocused, as well.
school is all about MORE with her.... more learning, more books, more activities.

K

she is nervous.
she does not like new things.
she likes to explore with Gabby.
she is really working HARD. and it shows.
she has slowly come to enjoy our activities each day. not just get through them.
school is all about stepping out of her comfort zone.

pre-K

she is excited.
she is determined to learn.
she claps when school begins.
if it is messy, she is ready.
school is all about exploring, creating and copying for her.

I also wanted to share the new September Scraptacular kit with you! It was perfect for back to school photos....

a sweet new year together...

here they all are.... it made for a long hard week for this mama.... trying to keep up with all of their needs, but it was worth every second! i am praying each of them will have a great year... that they will grow in knowledge and especially in Biblical wisdom. may we find each day to hold learning and FUN.

and lastly this page.... with has nothing and EVERYTHING to do with the post today.... it was the hardest year Sophie ever has had. it was tears and pain. she did have a great teacher and had many good days, but i wish in many ways it never happened. i wish i could take it back sometimes and give her the gift of always having been home schooled. but i cannot. and i know God had a plan in that. i know it has made her appreciate being home with us even more and i know it has made her a stronger person. she did it. she made it through. and now she is where she belongs.... home.

May God keep JOY in our hearts as we venture through this year together....

WE. HEART

2011-09-02T18:04:00.013-04:00

I will start with today.
It did not go as I planned AT ALL.
It was starting to get to me.
I felt insecure, inadequate, and like all my plans were lost. GONE....
I had BIG plans for today. and little ones, too.
Do you notice a lot of something starting to happen??? YES. It was starting to get full of the "I"s.... me, me, ME. MY plans, MY hopes, MY MY MY....

It was not that my plans were selfish, or about ME at all, but were they focused on HIM? I had lost sight of the BIG PICTURE and had started walking the path on my own.... footprints were scattered all over the beach, my wayward ones, ones I knew, ones I did not.... along with the seaweed I didn't plan on....

then as I was moping, felling sad about the high tide and seaweed covered beach, I saw this....

Do you see it????

These footprints were staring at me... revealing the HEART of the matter.... the heart that needed to change.

I looked around and everything looked a bit different....

the ocean..... just look at these two girls on that pretty piece of drift wood...

it is one of our most favorite places to be.... together.
and nothing could take that away..... not even a day that did not go *exactly* the way *I* planned.....

Birds Of A Feather September Kit Reveals!!

2011-09-01T18:21:00.004-04:00

Have you seen this kit, yet????

IT. IS. STUNNING. The little embellishments and the pretty papers make it really special for whatever pages or projects you can imagine! The best part is there are just a couple of them left and you can find them HERE!!! I love the way the kits are broken down and everything you will receive is shown in one place. The kit is also a better buy if you are a subscriber, just CLICK HERE and make sure you say that I sent you over :)

Today I am going to share two of my pages with you... the pages were difficult for me to photograph, but I think you can see the basic elements... hope they inspire you!

my loves.....

and this page welcoming our last baby girl....

more pages from this kit to come soon.....

growing, too, but much slower.....almost Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-31T20:31:00.004-04:00

they grew this for me.
that guy I love.
and my Creator.

I am growing like this flower, too, only it seems much much much slower....

"But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it.They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy."
James 1:25

may my growing, even if ever slow, bring me to be happy in my journey

First Day of School..... my 5 In a Rowers

2011-08-30T12:47:00.009-04:00

Today we started reading Night of the Moonjellies and we talked about so many things...
about responsibility and helping and jobs. We talked about filling ketchup containers and how it is a simple task that helps a lot. We talked about how when everyone does their share, the work load becomes lighter. We talked about having a cheerful heart as we complete each task. We talked about each of the girls trying new responsibilities around our house and learning some of the jobs that the bigger girls can do.

Then, I took them outside to try something the bigger girls would usually do....

we went to our garden and picked..... and picked.... their Daddy grows the best tomatoes!!

and we canned homemade Ketchup!!! I let each of them smell, touch and taste EVERY ingredient that went into our ketchup... I was surprised how much they loved the vinegar and was not surprised that they did not like the ginger. We chopped and blended and whisked together.

Here is the recipe

Tomato Ketchup

ingredients:
8 cups chopped tomatoes (not peeled or seeded), blended by two cuties (or whomever you have on hand)

1 cup homemade applesauce

1 cup sugar

the juice from 2 limes

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp salt

1 tsp red chile powder

1/2 cup vinegar

1/2 of an onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

(here are all the ingredients before we added the blended tomatoes)

Whisk all ingredients together in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer until the desired consistency.

We then processed our ketchup for 30 minutes with 1/2 inch head space in a water bath.

here are the finished jars..... come back soon to see how our ketchup will be eaten in Muffin Tin Lunch :)

much more school to come.... did you see the bigger children in the background of one of the photos???? oh, they have been working so hard this week.....

she.

2011-08-26T07:29:00.011-04:00

she.

she gives of herself. even when it is hard. or she doesn't feel like it.
she does not seek praise or brag about what she has accomplished.
she is at an awkward, feel funny about yourself stage.
she is an amazing cook, baker, preserver.
she does the job right the first time.
she finds purpose in the mundane.
she inspires me to be more.

she.

she is dramatic.
she is a fast learner.
she is a daydreamer.
she is a great sorter, organizer and finder of lost things.
she is most like me in all the ways I need to embrace most.

she.

she is sensitive.
she is a little lost sometimes.
she needs everyone to be in peace with one another.
she never wants anyone left out.
she loves workbooks.
she can memorize ANY book after hearing it a few times and "read" it back to you word for word, with expression!
she makes me mindful of how I need to become a peace MAKER, not just a peace KEEPER.

she.

she is very vocal.
she is confident.
she is competitive.
she is wild.
she loves adventure and dirt.
she is her brother's buddy.
she is VERY excited about school.
she reminds me to be silly and just laugh.

you are all so beautiful, so perfect, just the way you were created. remember that. please. and I am not the only one that believes that to be true.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

I know some days are not sunny or beautiful or "nice". Some days are just plain or even sad, but each new day we have a choice... to let the dullness, the hurt or the bad days cloud what is REAL. what is TRUE. you can pop the color, the sunshine, the glow, the GIFT. you can find your faith growing on those days. you can color the world with God's Love and in the end that is ALL. the only thing that really brightens any day.

you are the sunshine of my life, sweet girls

wordless wednesday. almost.

2011-08-24T12:43:00.002-04:00

some unedited photos and unedited advice....

always follow him.

never leave one behind.

always stand together.

live in the moment.

remember I love you all bigger than the sea.

the gift of learning 2011-2012

2011-08-24T10:32:00.012-04:00

this year was unplanned. well, i had a plan. i knew what i wanted to do... what i was hoping.
but it was not happening. not at all.
i was school-less. clue-less. unsure.
it all started with a thank you note. a note that was more like an apology. how do you apologize for not buying from a company that you love, not purchasing what you had wanted? a note i only shared with a couple of close friends. it was a simple note. but what followed..... that was God. His power. His arms. His feet. His provision. it was e-mails and phone calls and 5 little ones with a few dollars they earned from their yard sale endeavors and blessings and it was tears.
it landed as a box on my door. then another. and another. boxes full of all we needed. a year of study and fun and God. a year of God proving Himself to me, yet again. He is never a last minute God, but He is a just-in-time God. honestly i am still trying to learn this. to learn and let go.

Here are the books we will be using this year for our family~

We will be using My Father's World Exploration to 1850. My children LOVE history and I know this year will be no different. We are explorers around here, so it will be a joy to read and learn and create and craft as we journey through this time of GREAT exploration! I am excited about the science, as we have not really studied much about animal classifications and I know this is something my children have been interested in and asking me many many MANY questions about ;) Our Bible will consist of learning through the book of James with THIS book. I am so thankful, as God has had me study this book of the Bible 3 times in the past year, either through Bible Studies or personal study and I know it was in preparation for guiding and pointing my children to Him in this important time.

These books will be shared over the lunch table

We will be working through Primary and Intermediate Language Lessons with my 3rd and 6th grader.

My oldest will also be completing 2 of the Progeny Press literature guides and Applications of Grammar.

We will continue using Spelling Power, which has been working well for all the older children.

Handwriting for my 3rd and 6th graders will be this book

For Math my children will be using Saxon Math again this year.

One afternoon a week, Sophie (8th) and Andrew (6th) will also be working through this book for some extra American History and peer group time. This will be a struggle, but since I know they LOVE history I think they can suffer through it!

On Fridays we will have Science and Nature day. In the morning will be time for exploring outside and nature journals, more on that later, though. Friday afternoons while I grocery shop with the younger three, or head to the park, or library, those older children will work on their Apologia General Science.

I will be unschooling my littles this year with a Montessori feel and a little Waldorf here and there with lots of texture, colors and exploration.
Once a month, the littles and I will be reading through one of the books in the Five in a Row series trying many of the coordinating activities.

This year my plan is to blog our journey weekly, not only to have more to look back on, but for accountability... any home school mother knows how important that is, but for a mother who is expecting her 6th little one, it is crucial. I need to know there are people reading and seeing what we are doing and I know it will push me harder to keep my schedule and my zest and love for my children's education and it will help me to press on..... one moment and adventure at a time.

I will be back on Monday with first day of school photos, sneaks and peeks of what our first day looked like.....

and the BEST planning system EVER!!

may I hold on to God's Word as I move forward into next week....

"Parents, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Eph.6:4

and may my children, as well....

"My children, observe the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the teaching of your mother." Proverbs 6:20

may I find a sweet joy in lighting a fire and not just filling a bucket.....

Where Chaos Meets Creativity

Birds of Feather LoveBirds Blog Hop!!!!

day 9. doors.

day 7. button. really little buttons.

Happy Homemaker Monday and day 6, dinner.

day 3. hands (and feet to follow)

day 1. my view. 2*1*12

Little Red Blog Hop!!

goals, plans and dreams... fit mommy friday

February Photo A Day...

Do you ever????

as I drive by... a wordless wednesday

peace.

welcome sweet boy

the search for finer things..... scrapbooking in 2012

the blanket of white covers the grey

wordless wednesday. stripes.

Birds of a Feather January kit..... and design team news....

My December Daily

Birds of a Feather Christmas kit???

Paper Lovelies December Kit

13.

two more Birds of a Feather Creations.... and a bit more of nature...

all about nature...

Happy Homemaker Monday

changes.

show me....

Happy Homemaker Monday

I am being watched.

Scrap Yourself (with Birds of a Feather November Reveal!!)

Happy Homemaker Monday

them. the picnic in the park.

it took many written words to get here.

Little Red Scrapbook October Reveals!!

Menu Monday

Happy Homemaker Monday

Burlap and Buttercups Reveals!

she.

two more Birds of a Feather pages and *a WINNER*

wordless wednesday. autumn where i live.

a tradition....

onto 32.

A Trip to Sherman Farms

A Birdie Blog Hop!!

Our School Journey Weeks 3 & 4

Sweet Peach Crop

history. a wordy wednesday.

"shades of color"

Happy Homemaker Monday

another menu

Happy World Card Making Day (and a little happy news!!)

an autumn vacation....

i am scared.

wordless wednesday. almost.

Birds of Feather October Kit Reveal (with a favorite new page)!!

Apple Picking... a simple kind of JOY

Paper Lovelies Reveal!! only $15 for all of this!!

hello autumn

saying goodbye to summer....

wordless wednesday. almost.

Autumn Flash Cards in a Flash

Menu Monday

do I see Him???

Birds of Feather......

another school week behind us.....

she. he. them. 9*16 the marshy mess.

the hardest post

another Monday, another Menu

Today 9*10*11

putting down my "to-do" lists and creating goals and purpose... introducing the Perfect Planner

Blooming in Adversity

saying Good-bye..... with 4 new pages.....

our favorite recipes for using your summer squash

Little Red September Reveal!

night of the moonjellies, muffin tin treat

we journeyed through the first week.....

School Pictures 2011-2012 and a Scraptacular New Kit :)

WE. *HEART*

Birds Of A Feather September Kit Reveals!!

growing, too, but much slower.....almost Wordless Wednesday

day 1. my view. 2112

two more Birds of a Feather pages and a WINNER

Today 91011

WE. HEART