we now interrupt the regular programming...

i was going to post about my christmas planner today,
but somedays just don't go as planned.
here's a peek.

i had so much fun making it!
thanks, alicia, for showing me the great idea!
i might even be organized this christmas.
i never thought those two words really went together.
:D


lying in bed last night, i was enjoying listening to the gentle rain as it fell against the house and lulled me to sleep.
this morning i woke up to wintry gusts and this...

or wait...
was it this?

yup.

i'm pretty sure it was this little guy.

in between elbowing me in the head several times while he bounced around my sleepy body,

he was saying things like,

"look at the snow, isn't it b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.?"

"it's so beautiful and white!"

"awww, i just love the snow."

"i'm going to get married in the snow on christmas eve...i can't wait."

whoa, buddy.

give your momma a break.

no marriage talk, yet.

needless to say, the boys were excited!

it was like they had been fed three months worth of sugar 

or had been injected with crazy drugs.

nope. just snow.

that's all it takes, folks. 

after i finally got them calmed down{and made a bee line for some extra strong coffee}, 

we had oatmeal for breakfast, because it just sounded good{to me}.

a certain little redhead let his get cold and then cried because it was 'yucky'. 

i was a wimp this morning and let him get away with not eating it.

that probably wasn't a good idea.

then the kids got bundled up and headed down to the neighbors to re-deliver some cookies they made.

they definitely didn't mind heading outside.

i just wanted to cuddle up with some tea and read this.

our poor ducks didn't know what to think!
meet starbright, bob, and frank.
or, frankie.
oh, yes, she's a girl.

in one hour, this is what we got!
it looked so awesome from inside, but getting stuck in the driveway was another story.
don't worry, i didn't hit the house like i thought i was going to.
{that was a close one}.
:D

here are a few pictures that i snapped of the kids with the cookies they made for the happy day project.
they tried to bring them to our neighbors last night, but nobody was home.
today they had success, though, and they even got to go in the snow doing it!  double score!
we are having so much fun doing this, even if we are a few days behind.
yesterday, we printed off this printable, and everyone sent out a letter to someone they love and appreciate.

day one. check!

day two, check!

day three{which is today], i'm still working on. 

it is so much fun to give to others, don't you think?

even if it is a quick text saying that you are thinking of them, 

people need our love.

so many people are hurting, lonely, and need the love of Jesus. 

this is such a wonderful way to start.

a great door opener, if you will.

i don't need the happy day project to show my love, 

but it sure was a much appreciated kick in the pants to do something.

gotta run for now, but i'll be back to chat again soon.

i hope that you have a blessed day, friends!

xo

5. today i am thankful for dear friends, who you can be yourself with, no matter what.

road trip

some days you just need to get out of the house.

and shop.  :)

you all know what i'm talking about, right? 

change of scenery.

score a great find.

take a drive.

wander around a dirty old, junk filled acre of property with thousands millions of goodies just waiting to be brought home and lovingly re-purposed.

oh, yes!

well, we happen to have one of those glorious places only a few miles from where i was going to drop off my daughter for the day last week. 

and i had big plans.

i posted about another trip we took there this summer here.

i'm always a little hesitant to whip out the OLD camera at the 'amish walmart', as we like to call it.

i know they have issues with photos and all.  

no worries, i had my daughter stealthily snapping away for me.

{they actually just don't like pictures of their faces, so the junk is ok}  :D

see her work here. 

mission drop off maddie.

maddie and her twin best friends.

aren't they adorable?! 

and we are on our way!

even though the leaves are all gone, the colors are still just as beautiful.

what a beautiful home God has blessed us with.

the dude.

these fellas were roaming free, crossing the road in front of us, and giving us great photo ops. 

take your time, guys.

our destination.
the amish walmart.
aka: a place where people get paid cash for their old junk and it is resold for peanuts.
get yer gloves on though, your gonna have to dig!

i was too lazy to take pictures while we were there last week, and it was freezing!
amish = no lights or heat.
we probably would have brought home more if i could have actually seen what i was looking at.
oh well!
we found some treasures despite freezing and running into things...
...like these old books.
one is a 1907 magazine of some sort, but i just fell in love with the owl on the front.
and....check out that november activity book!
it is loaded with vintage coloring pics and fall activities inside that are hardly even touched.
i totally love it.
also scored was the number '3' tile and the vintage green box.
elly has claimed them for herself, though.
she's a pretty awesome scout for me!

and for my boys room, elly also found some antlers to hang on their wall.
right now they are just propped up against the books, but they will be hanging very soon.

the boys are totally excited.
i have been collecting random vintage or antique wildlife pictures for one of the walls in their room.
so far i have an antique oil on canvas of cows, and a paint by number from the thrift.
not pictured are two stitched pictures, one of a squirrel and one of deer that i found at the thrift store last week for $1.50 a piece.
i'm getting excited to 'finish' their room.
yeah. right.
like it will ever be finished!
:D
i think you get the idea here...

it was a successful trip all in all.
i also found a set of WW2 head gear from a fighter plane{$12.00!} for my dad for Christmas.
my dad is sooo hard to buy for, so when i find something awesome and unusual, i grab it for him.
have you found any great junk finds lately?
what were they?
wouldn't it be awesome to go junking together?
maybe some day, huh?
i could seriously write a book on all the great finds i have found at this place, or at least seen there.
it was fun to get out, but it was equally as nice to get back home again and warm up.
:D


on another subject...
i have written and sent my letter from this project.

 

i chose to write my first letter to a little girl, sarah, from my sunday school class.

she has recently graduated from my pre-k-k class to first grade.

i am really going to miss her, too.

she was always very helpful to me, and was never afraid to participate in class.

i wanted her to know how encouraged i was by her and how thankful i am for her help.

it's not always easy to keep 12 pre-k and kindergarteners in line, and she was always obedient and helpful.

so, thank you, sarah! 

i am going to miss you!

also, we are going to be baking cookies for our neighbors later thanks to this encouraging project.

they even have awesome printables to go with each day.

yay! for cute printables!

hope you can join in on the fun.

you will be blessed for sure.

honestly, i have a major headache today, and the kiddos have been 'extra' loud,

but we have so much to be thankful for, so i'm going to suck. it. up.

are you with me?

keep on keeping on, friends!

God wants to use us, and people need our love and encouragement!
have a wonderful day.

xo

4. today i am thankful for loud, healthy children, and my sweet hubby who knew i needed take out over the weekend. :D

linking up here, here, and here.

complete in Thee

                                      :::favorite:::

3.  today i am thankful that my Father supplies all my needs and denies me no good thing.

He is my portion. 

i am complete in Him alone.

xo

man down

yesterday, henry wasn't feeling the greatest.

apparently, woody had a headache, too.  :)

last night, his brother and sisters were feeling bad for him, so they got to work.

it was a blessing to see them coddle him, and take such good care of him.

the pictures they made for him are exactly what he loves, and only they would know that.

a.  buzz lightyear

b.  nascar {orange=henry's fave color}

c.  spongebob and patrick

d.  the steelers

he always teases us that he doesn't like the packers, and that the steelers are his favorite.

{note:  his dad really, really likes the packers}

he is such a tease.

it was nice to be reminded that, despite the seemingly endless bickering and arguing,

our kids really do love each other.

image

and, thankfully, he has perked up a bit today!

2. today i am thankful for brotherly love.

have an awesome weekend everyone!

xo

so much to do

image

hey, friends.
i am just bursting at the seams with ideas of fun projects and things to do,
but not enough time to do them all!
have you seen all of the overwhelming pinterest ideas?!?
what's a crafty, crazy busy mom to do?
whoa.
overload!
i'm certain that you all have the same problem at times.
right?!
please? :D
between school, piano lessons, 3 meals a day, and the daily routine of life, there just isn't enough time.
well, there is enough time, but just not always to do the frivolous,
not as important tasks, that i sometimes push to get done.

some of the things that are going to get done, however, are...
i have committed to writing a thank you  note to someone who has been a blessing to me each wednesday in the month of november.
truthfully, this should be each wednesday day #fortherestofmylife.
i am excited to think outside of the box and send my love and gratitude to those who have blessed me.
on paper.
written by hand.
the list of recipients is a mile million miles long.

i also want to participate in the happy day project next week.
i feel like this is an awesome way to bless others and get my children involved.
i'm really excited about it!

with all of this holiday hustle and gratefulness of heart, i don't want to get so caught up in it all that i forget to thank the One who gives me everything.
Jesus, my Redeemer and Savior, Who makes all of this possible.
without His shed blood on the cross,
i wouldn't have a whole lot to be thankful for.
He is my {healthy} Hope.
so, my first letter of gratitude goes to Him.


1.  thank you, Jesus, for willingly shedding your blood, dying, and rising again, for me, so that i can spend eternity with You.   i am so unworthy.


i will still be sending a hand written letter to someone this week,
 and i will tell you about that when i get it done.


with all of the cute projects and thanksgiving goodness floating around out there, 
i found something that we are definitely doing.
it's simple, adorable, and totally doable.

simply vintage girl

seriously now, how awesome is this tree?

the kids are going to have a blast!

eeep!

love it.

so, do you get overwhelmed like me?

i want to do so much, but being a wife and mom is my first calling, 

so i really have to step back and make sure my priorities are in alignment with His.

and that's hard sometimes, friends.

for me, anyway.

i sure like to push past the work{laundry, grading school work, etc} and get to the fun stuff!

speaking of fun stuff,

my new friend, abbie, has a fun little party that i am going to link up to this week.

the theme this week is my favorite color.

bet you can't guess what mine is right now.

yes, it changes.

:D

well, here are some fun things that have caught my eye recently....

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

ok, ok, so there you have it.

a few of my 'ofthemoment' favorite color items.

i really do like lots of colors, but this one speaks to me now.

am i a trend follower?

great.

:D

i hope you have a lovely day.

thank you so much for stopping by, friends.

i am thankful for you!

xo

image