This study has been amazing! Each day has several different verses, on a common theme, from the book of Proverbs. You end the day with a couple interactive questions with blank journaling space that help you to apply and reflect on what you just read. I have enjoyed this approach as it is so different from most fill in the blank studies. I have challenged myself to just sit and really think about each question. It has caused me to examine my own heart as I read and study these passages. I come away from the study each day not only challenged, but uplifted and encouraged. I will be so sad when I finish this study. On the bright side, She Reads Truth has many more studies that I can pick from to do next!
two. The Small Things Blog. My favorite blog right now is The Small Things Blog. Kate shares the best hair (former stylist) and makeup tips. I love that she tries so many products (for both hair and makeup) and shares the ones she loves. I have purchased a few things that she has recommend on her blog and every single item has become a favorite! I now consider Kate my personal go-to beauty expert. She is a fellow boy mom, so we have more than just our names in common!
three. 15 Day Mommy Fit Challenge. I love these free workouts available on YouTube. There are a couple different versions, Trainer Nicole is my favorite. I have found a new routine that has been working for me. I drop the boys off at school and head home and do one of these workouts. The 25-28 minute workout is different each day, so you never get bored! If time allows, I like to combine them with a 2-3 mile run and boom, you have yourself a great workout! Nicole also gives modifications for pregnant women, so it's great for any of you expecting mommas out there.
four. T-Ball. Jack started t-ball and has had two practices. He is my second child to play t-ball and it just may be the cutest thing to watch.
They are not only adorable in their uniforms, but they say and do the cutest things. I love watching my oldest play baseball too, but it will be a sad day when I no longer have a t-ball playing kiddo!
I can't wait to sport my new Baseball Mom shirt that I purchased from my neighbor, fellow boy mom, and etsy seller, Kim. You can find her on Facebook or Instagram at Kim's Heart Strings. She will be taking orders for these baseball shirts through next week.
That's a wrap! Happy Friday. I'm so excited that the weekend is here. I'm going to get outside and enjoy the beautiful spring weather.
My youngest son turned one last week! I wanted to make a tissue paper tassel garland to hang on the wall behind his high chair for a festive look at his birthday party. If you are looking for a fun way to make an impact at your party, that is budget friendly, this DIY garland is for you. I found my tissue paper for $1 a package at Hobby Lobby. This project cost me less than $4 and I had tissue paper left over to add to my gift wrapping stash. Make sure to allow yourself enough time to complete the garland before your event. It does take some time to get enough tassels to fill your strand. I enjoy a good project, I find it relaxing (some will think that is crazy). Find yourself a good show to watch while you are working and time will fly by. I completed my garland while watching the Men's NCAA tournament, it took some of the stress away from watching the nail biting game!
DIY Tissue Paper Garland Tutorial
Step 1. Take your tissue paper and fold in half (fold is at the top).
Step 2: Take the left edge and fold over to meet the right edge.
Step 3: Repeat step 2 to fold over again (and take left edge and fold over to meet right edge).
Step 4: Begin cutting at the right hand side. Cut strips in desired width, stop cutting at least 2 inches from the top.
Step 5: Finish cutting strips across tissue paper.
Step 6: Unfold tissue paper, and cut down the center to create two separate pieces.
Step 7: Unfold each section and roll in the center from one edge to the other edge.
Step 8: Twist the center together and fold over.
Step 9: Fold the tissue tassel piece over the ribbon or cording you are using to hang your garland on.
Step 10: Create desired spacing (take into account how full you would like the garland to be) and hot glue each tassel in place. Repeat until you reach desired fullness and length.
Step 11: Enjoy the party! Don't forget to document your little one in front of the festive decor!
Six years ago, this week, I lost a baby to miscarriage. I was eleven weeks along and had already bonded with the new life growing inside me. Our two little boys (5 and 2 at the time) had already been talking about the baby in Mommy's tummy. Chris and I had been throwing around names and our days were filled with a new found excitement. We spent time hoping and dreaming about what having three kids might be like, when our world, suddenly came crashing down.
Grief came in waves, crashing against my soul, tearing at my heart with the power of a tsunami. I remember during that time wanting to do something to give my baby weight in this world. To ensure this little gift from God was remembered. Life goes on and others quickly forgot the sweet life that had so impacted mine in his/her short 11 weeks. It wasn't until I lost our second baby two years ago that I made my initial plan of remembrance a reality. I wanted a physical reminder of the two sweet lives that I carried for 11 weeks on this earth. They are as much my babies as the five beautiful boys that I have the privilege of mothering, loving on, and raising day in and day out. I knew I wanted to find and plant two flowering trees so that each Spring the new life and beautiful blooms would remind us that we have two babies very much alive in heaven. Because of the new life I have in Christ, I will see my babies again someday. Oh what a glorious day that will be.
Each spring, I wait with great anticipation to behold the beautiful flowering blooms. They do not disappoint. What I did not anticipate was, when I take in the beautiful blooms each spring, I am reminded of more than just the two babies that I cannot wait to meet someday. I cannot help but pause and look each time I walk by the window, or stroll past them in the yard. I am reminded that great beauty can come from great pain. In my case, in the form of a depth of compassion I had never known. Compassion that can only come through trial by fire, and through experience. I can now look back with a thankful heart, not that I would choose to go through the pain, but that the Lord was able to bring about good in my life through it.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
As I take in the beauty of the blooms I cannot help but think that I am just a stranger passing through, this world is not my home. After learning the news of my loss at my doctor's appointment, my brand new cell phone suddenly did not work, and I was not able to call my husband to tell him the news. I had a long quiet drive home with just my thoughts, and as tears streamed down my face I remember vividly the moment I realized I had a baby in heaven. Somehow, heaven seemed more real to me that day than it ever had before. For the first time I looked at heaven with great anticipation rather than with trepidation.
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:20
I think it's easy to get comfortable here in this world; in our lives, our homes, our striving, and our material things, that we forget this is not the end all. The good news is if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, your life on this earth is as bad as it will ever get. The best is yet to come. When I see these blooms, I think of heaven. That is my home.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials." 1 Peter 1:3-6
I am so thankful for these beautiful reminders each spring. There is beauty all around and though trials may come, I can face them because I know Christ is with me. He has proven Himself faithful to me through great loss. I am thankful that He can make all things new!
In what ways or area of life has He made all things new for you?
Planning special moments or occasions does not have to take lots of time, energy, or money. I planned this special breakfast the day before Valentine's Day with things I had on hand at home.
It's easy to get wrapped up in the Pinterest/Instagram culture and to let all the beautiful images of table presentations and decorations leave you feeling that you cannot measure up. But the only one putting that pressure on you, is yourself. Kids find the most simple things fun and exciting. Keep the who and the why in mind. Who are you trying to impress and why are you trying to make this a special occasion? For me, I wanted to make a special breakfast that was out of the ordinary to show my little loves how much I love and adore them.
As my boys came downstairs Valentine's Day morning, the delight on their faces was so rewarding for me. It didn't take much to make a special day even more magical with a fun breakfast. I prepared our favorite pancake recipe, this one which is a copycat of the delicious IHOP pancakes. A little tip for you, you don't even have to buy the buttermilk. You can use 1 tablespoon of lemon juice combined with 1 cup milk as a substitute for 1 cup of buttermilk. To make the pancakes a little extra special, I cut up some strawberries and had whip cream available as toppings. Strawberry milk rounded out our special Valentine's Day breakfast and was a huge hit with my milk loving boys, and fit in perfectly in the red/pink theme I was going for.
I cut a long sheet of butcher paper off a big roll and taped it down under the table as a table runner. I wrote each of my loves a special note, and spread some heart sequins I had on hand from a project last year (this is where being a saver comes in handy)! I was excited to use cloth napkins in hues of red to dress up the table. My four year old, Jack, exclaimed, "This is the best dinner ever!" So while it would never earn many hearts on Instagram or pins on Pinterest, the accolades of my four year old son is all the praise I need.
Making things special and fun for our kids doesn't have to take much time, money, or planning! I am thankful for that. Kids love when we do anything fun and different to make things special. See how creative you can be with things you already have on hand at home and get out there and make some memories.
How about you? Do you have any quick and easy tips for creating special moments?
I wanted to pop in and share with you guys a new study that I will be starting on Monday, February 12. It's put out by She Reads Truth, called See the Lord's Salvation. A Lenten Study of Exodus. This will be my first She Reads Truth study, I'm excited to dive in. The cool thing I discovered is there is an entire She Reads Truth community. You can do the entire study on your own, or jump in the conversation online or in the app. You do not have to purchase the beautiful book to join in, you can find each day's reading published online and in the app.
There is also a He Reads Truth and Kids Read Truth line so the entire family can study God's Word and go through the same book of the Bible together. I purchased all three resources, and I am excited to try a new way of studying God's Word, together as a family. I think the fact we are all studying the same passages each day will enrich our family and bring a special time of growing together in God's Word. I'm excited to see how this unfolds over the next seven weeks.
Here is a little peek into the She Reads Truth book. I love how beautiful this book is! The main focus of the book is scripture. It contains all the scripture reading for the entire study, and a place to journal and reflect at the end of each day. There is bonus material that includes recipes, Easter hymns, a DIY project tutorial, charts, maps, diagrams, and beautiful scripture cards to remove from the back of the book.
I love that this study will take me all the way up to Easter morning (April 1). This will be a great way to prepare my heart, the seven weeks leading up to Easter. This study is broken down into three parts. The first following the Israelites' road out of captivity. In the second section, we will study the second half of Exodus and discover what it means to worship a holy God. The third part of this study traces Holy Week from Palm Sunday through Jesus' resurrection.
The Kids Read Truth comes in the form of beautiful story cards, that when put together tell the entire story of Exodus and make a beautiful mural. The back of each card contains a title, a scripture, suggested extended Scripture reading, and a set of three questions to go along with that days content. I love how this engages kids of all ages to get involved learning God's Word.
I love that the mission of She Reads/He Reads Truth is to be Men and Women in the Word of God everyday. I will be popping back in to let you know what I think as we jump in and study God's Word as a family. There are a wide variety of studies available, check them out here.
Who will join me? You will find the daily reading posted here, or you can purchase the resources in The She Reads Truth online shop. I found a 15% off promo code (SRTFIRST) that was good on a first order from She Reads Truth.
Have you ever done a She Reads Truth study? If so which one, and what did you think?
I love Encouraging Wednesdays by French Press Mornings. Each Wednesday, Jenny Stewart shares a beautiful print file that she has created with an encouraging verse from the Bible. She makes the file available for download as a 4x6 for one week. You can also purchase these prints in her shop. I love her work! This weeks verse spoke to my heart, I have already printed it out and am going to set it in my kitchen, a place that I spend a lot of time. Head on over and get your free download.
two.
Apple cider donuts from Louisburg Cider Mill. Yum. Jack and Judson loved these and their Apple Cider Slushes. They tried to talk me into getting a slush refill for the ride home. I was tempted to buy the bag of apple cider donut mix from the general store, but I don't have a deep fryer, so I didn't. But, what could be better than yummy donuts year round? I'm hoping to get one more trip in before the season is over.
three.
Christmas Pajamas. I just bought the boys Christmas Pajamas online from Carter's yesterday. I know that it is only October 6, but I discovered that last year they sell out of the larger sizes fast. When you have five kids, and need a wide range of sizes, you have to jump quickly and get them before they are gone. I had success! They had a great Columbus Day Sale (50% off and then an additional 10-20% off depending on your cart total). My boys love pajamas, and often live in them. Four out of the five will all be matching and I cannot wait. Here's to hoping I can hide them from them until Christmas!
four.
I am a huge fan of Emily Ley and her Simplified Planner. I have been loving her Facebook live video chats and for the next seven Tuesdays she will be discussing simplifying your home, simple style and beauty routines, simple meal planning, simplifying your finances, simple motherhood + hospitality, simple self care, and simplifying the holidays. I am so excited to tune in each week. She shares little things that have worked for her, to help simplify life, so that we can spend more time on the things that truly matter most. Each time I sit down to listen to what she has to say, she is speaking my language. I am excited to find simple tips to help me manage the stuff that needs to be done, to give me more margin in my life to enjoy precious time with Chris and the boys!
five.
Lincoln's First Fall. I can't get enough of the way my boys love their little brother. They are so sweet with him. They look out for him, always want to know where he is and what he is doing. They love, love, love him. I'm hoping this bond only grows stronger with time.
I've blogged twice in one week, and two days in a row! What is going on? Yay, it's been awhile. I'm teaming up with the ladies of Mix and Match Family, The Larson Lingo, and Pinterest Told Me To for What's Up Wednesday.
What I'm Reminiscing About...
Judson turned 3! He was so excited to have his family Mickey Mouse Party. We bought little Mickey Mouse and friends figures to put on top of his cake and he could not wait to put them on top. The cake was in the oven and he kept asking if it was time to put them on. It was fun to see him so excited about his balloons, cake, and presents (which he may or may not have ripped into before it was time).
What I'm Loving...
I'm loving that it finally feels like fall here in Missouri. Up until two days ago, it had still been in the upper 90's and it was hard to get into the fall excitement when I was out sweating everywhere I went.
What We've Been Up To...
Bikes, Bikes, Bikes. Jack went straight from his strider bike to a regular bike (no training wheels). I highly recommend strider bikes. It took our oldest two longer to learn to ride a bike. The strider allows you to learn balance early on and Jack never needed training wheels on his big bike!
What I'm Dreading...
Teething. Lincoln is five months old so I know teething is right around the corner. He is such a happy baby, I'm sure he'll handle it like a champ, but I hate knowing that my sweet babies are in pain.
What I'm Working On...
I'm working on getting ready for the Christmas rush in my Etsy shop. The end of October through December is my busy season for Kate W Designs. If you are looking for a fun gift or stocking stuffer come visit my shop at www.katewdesigns.etsy.com.
What I'm Excited About...
I'm excited that I finished Lincoln's nursery! I talked about that HERE.
What I'm watching...
Chesapeake Shores...I love this show. I would love to visit the area where this show is filmed, it is so picturesque and beautiful. I believe it is filmed in Canada. Another reason I love this show is there are five grown children in the storyline. It fun to watch and see the dynamics of this big family. I cannot believe there is only two episodes left until this season is over.
The Roosevelt's. I've been missing the Crown so my mom suggested I check out the Roosevelt's. I must say I have learned a lot about this family. This series is on Netflix with 8, 1.5 hour episodes. I'm only on episode 3, so there is a lot left to learn about this family.
What I've Been Reading...
This is the Bible Study I've been doing on Wednesday nights! It's been great, check it out! She also has a book out on this topic.
What I've Been Listening To...
Broken Things by Matthew West. This song has been in my head all week. It came on while I was running the other day and I have been singing it over and over.
I love these two verses below.
Now I'm just a beggar in the presence of a King
I wish I could bring You so much more But if it's true You use broken things Then here I am Lord, I am all Yours
The pages of history they tell me it's true That it's never the perfect; it's always the ones with the scars that You use It's the rebels and the prodigals; it's the humble and the weak The misfit heroes You chose Tell me there's hope for sinners like me
What I'm doing this weekend...
I will be at the ball field to watch Max play a double header on Saturday. I'm not going to lie...it's hard having double headers with a five month old baby.
What I'm looking forward to next month...
I'm looking forward to all things FALL. The pumpkin patch, pumpkin donuts, the beautiful colors, fall Hallmark movies, and the boys in their costumes. This is them two years ago. Lincoln will get to make his debut as a pumpkin!
What TV show are you most looking forward to...
The Crown on Netflix and Designated Survivor on ABC.
