Fun Visit

 

Mrs B came over for a visit this week. We had lots of fun with her!
 

 

--Shopping,

 --Yummy food at our favorite Mexican resturant

 --Chicken foot {game}

--Introduced her to Pinterest {per her request}

-- Road to Avonlea

-- Lots of laughs :)

 

 

So thankful for good friends!

 

God's Faithfulness

Many of you may know that I had been without a job for almost a year now.

Praying, trusting, some worrying (bad me!), and contentment about the situation pretty much sums up the year. 

I was talking to a lady I had just met this past Sunday and the subject of what I did for a living came up. I had explained the job situation, but then told her that I am happy being at home waiting for God to open something up. I had applied for several jobs, really desiring a nanny job or something with children, but God had not opened any doors.

Not 3 hours later, I received an email from a mom looking for a nanny for her little 18 month old boy. I emailed her back and we set up a meeting to get together on Monday.

 Monday, we met at Starbucks and I was able to meet sweet, little, curly-headed Julian. He instantly stole my heart and I officially started being his nanny on Tuesday!

God has a way of surprising us when we least expect it! I feel so blessed and thankful for God giving me this wonderful opportunity, truly the desire of my heart! God is so, incredibly faithful to His children. We just need to wait for His perfect timing in each and every situation.

Fall Wreath

Fall wreaths! I think they add so much do an outside door, don't you?!

This was another fall craft I was able to accomplish last week. It was fun to make and really easy! I won't even go into how to make it because another blogger has already done a great job showing how! You can {click here} to get the full tutorial!

You guessed it! My dad MADE that 'W'....didn't he do a fantastic job?!

Cost breakdown (another CHEAP and beautiful fall craft):

Twig wreath (scored big time at a local thrift store!!) -- $1.72

Burlap-type fabric (another thrift store score!) -- $.50

Leaves -- $1.00

Gold paint for the 'W' (we already had the wood to make it) -- $2.00

Fall wreath total -- $5.22!

Happy Tuesday Everyone!!

Goodbye Summer...Hello Fall!

Goodbye, beautiful evenings spent on the lake

Goodbye, hot summer days

Goodbye, fresh fruit

Goodbye, home grown vegetables from our garden

Goodbye, tan lines

Goodbye, gorgeous blooming flowers

Goodbye, wonderful-wonderful flip flops

Hello, pretty changing leaves on the trees

Hello, scarves and sweaters

Hello, pumpkin flavored anything!!

Hello, crafty fall decorations

Hello, warm fires

Hello, fresh apples

Hello, orange, red, brown and all you fall colors, you

Miss this boy

I am one blessed sister. I couldn't have even asked for a better brother or sister!



DIY: Fall Table Centerpiece

With official start of fall just a few days away, I have been gaining a lot of inspiration from the online world  for DIY fall decor.

I have several projects underway and this is the first one to be completed.

It definitely makes the table feel more fall-like and adds SO much to the dining area!

Here is the best part....

Wood (leftover from another project)-- FREE

Pine cones (picked up in the woods)-- FREE

Pumpkins and Gourds-- $2

Leaves-- $1

TOTAL cost for fall table centerpiece-- $3!!

I am so blessed to have a talented Dad who, after a long days work, is still willing to come home and work on little crafty projects for me :)

Brownie Points--1,000

Give 'em a try

Thanks to Pinterest, it seems like I am always trying out a new recipe.

Some GREAT, some not so great.

Who here likes to change things up a bit with the weekly menu?

I know I do!

I have found several recipes recently that I am swooning over!

{Korean Beef}

I am a lover of Asian food, so you should be able to see why I love this dish. It's quick, simple, cheap (it's made with ground beef), and deeelicious! Also, I double the sauce recipe which gives more flava to the rice underneath.

{Stuffed Shells with Sausage and Spinach}

Sausage. Cheese. Pasta. Sneaking the good-for-you-vegetable in. Mmm!

Need I say more?!

{Peach Freezer Jam}

This is the very same jam as mentioned in this post. First time making freezer jam, after lots of raves over the stuff. It's really good and super easy!

{The best-ever Chocolate Chip Cookies}

As you can see, these cookies 'claimed' to be the best-eva. After having a horrifying experience with another CCC 'claiming' to be delish, I was a little skeptical. I have an absolutely-wonderful Oatmeal CCC that we adore, but I wanted to try some without the oatmeal for a change. Letmetellyou. These were AWESOME! They fit the bill of the best-ever and are now my favorite CCC recipe. Oh, did I mention they have a secret ingredient?!  *insert mysterious smile*

On another note, why oh why does pinterest intermix delicious looking food pins with weight loss pins?! Do you want me to feel horrible about myself?

Totally me.

I remember

11 years ago today, my mom woke me up, with tears in her eyes, telling me about a plane crashing into a twin tower. Moments later, the second tower was hit, as well as several other places in the U.S. These two U.S. landmarks alone, held thousands of people. Many, many people who went to work like a normal day, not knowing they would pass away only hours later. 

At the time, I really didn't realize what was going on. As I grew older, especially as I see images from that fateful day, my heart breaks. I've seen pictures of people jumping off the building, just to try and have a chance at life. People being carried away dead, because they risked their lives trying to save others. It was all thoughts of self aside and all thoughts towards helping others.

{Here is a dad mourning the loss of his son that died that day. How does this not break your heart?}

Not only did thousands went go into eternity on that one day, but the past 11 years thousands of men and women have died to protect our freedom we so love. Thank you, men and women for your selfless sacrifices.

More importantly, how many people have passed from this life, in the past 11 years, that have not accepted Christ? People who maybe have rejected Him or not even known about the saving grace He offers. This is a sobering thought.

I remember. Do you?

Whhhhat?!

I am still a little stunned by the fact that it is already September. I mean, where did this summer go?!

I do like fall, but I don't know that I'm completely ready for fall. Although, I know, ready or not--it's coming! 

Looking back...I really did have a busy summer. Usually, when you are super busy time goes by waayyy too fast :)

I was blessed this summer with...

Relaxing times at the lake

Lots of silly faces

Tons of smiles all around

Great activites with our church {including VBS and Junior Camp}

Fun times with cousins

  << New Driver

Memories made with friends...and their sweet baby :)

Spending time with my favorite little boy

Oh, and helping the homeless...

{Just kidding, that's my cousin!}

It really has been a great summer, filled with memories and special moments! Even though I'm sad it's coming to a close in the next couple of weeks, I can end it knowing that it's been a very eventful/meaningful summer. God is soo good to me!

Bring on Fall!

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8~

 

No labor on Labor Day