~Happy Fall~

Yes, I know. Fall happened awhile ago. I was in denial. I do enjoy fall... but I know what comes next and I'm just NOT into winter. I've been so busy (I know, nothing new!) that I haven't had a moment to enjoy the smell of fall, the crunching leaves, the cool breeze and the colorful trees.

I looked out my window this morning when I got up and our tree that changes colors first was stunning! It is no longer time to deny... I'll be embracing fall... soup and biscuits for lunch... tights on little legs... maple sugar candles burning... ahhh, much better!

~A Memorial Service & a Big Tray of Cookies~

We had the privilege of knowing a very godly man who recently went home to heaven. It was a happy memorial service! We knew he lived a full life... he owned many companies, he had a large family walking with the Lord, he was married for 74 years... he was basically healthy and active until he departed from us at the age of 94. It was my pleasure to provide the cookies:-)
I had fun baking them and thinking of this man's great life and all the generations that are blessed through him. I also thought about his wife. She has also been very healthy and just in the last year has had a hard time remembering things. She confuses easily and doesn't remember much but is still very pleasant. I thought of how merciful it was of God to let her loose her memory now. She will not be grieving for her husband... what a wonderful gift from God!

Anyway, as memorials should, it is always good to look over your life and see what needs to change so that when people look over your life in your memory they see a child of the King, a servant of the Most High, an ambassador for Christ.

BTW, the cookies were delicious=)

~Well Said~

I am a Little House fan... I love to have children play with real things not just plastic beeping toys... I want work to be seen as enjoyable...

I read a post today that was really cool! I hadn't ever thought of letting my kids cut out cookies instead of play dough...duh! I can either clean up colored goop from everywhere and wonder how I am going to get the baking done... or I can enlist my eager little helpers and teach them there is joy in work...

You have to stop over HERE and read this blog post!

~Smart Little Boy~

One day we got logs out to play with and Nathan wanted to build a house. I wasn't able to get down on the floor to show him what to do so I told him what to do. He built this house all by himself! I was amazed at how quickly he caught on! I remember some of his brothers really struggling with learning this.
And because Nathan always has something funny to say...

Nathan was explaining something to me this morning but was
getting frustrated trying to find the right words.
He gave a big sigh and said
"Mom, I can't say it, it's like my mouth is blind."

~She's Walking~

Kiersten has been stepping very carefully for weeks but hadn't ventured across the room... until Wednesday. She walked every where all day long! She really hasn't crawled since then. I took her outside today and she did very well in the grass. While I love that she is walking, I have found it much harder to keep an eye on her. She also doesn't like to sit in the shopping cart anymore.

I love hearing the little footsteps walking across the floor... too cute!

~I Won??? ... I WON!!!!~

Now, I can never say "I never win anything"... can you believe I won!??!?!

Monica over at the Homespun Heart was having a giveaway for this book. I have seen previews of projects from this book, but haven't seen it in person until now!
This book is beautiful and well done! I finally had a chance to look at it last night when all the young people were tucked away:-) I found the book very inspiring and I can't wait to carve out some free time! More than inspiring though, I found it very sobering. I don't see real poverty and need in my little corner of the world. I about cried every time I read about an organization that wanted donations. The hardest one was the people living in the dump. How horrible!

I guess I should say that along with each craft the publisher has listed several organizations that need that particular item and there is often a little tidbit about them and who they serve.

I can't wait to box up some homemade treasures and send them off. Wouldn't it be a fun way to teach children to give and to work with their hands!??!?!

~Sew Exciting~

Look what came in the mail on Friday!!! It is my brown bag quilt contest fabric! I'm so excited to do something "fun." It has been all work no craft around here lately.

I know just what I want to do with it too! It was all cut out between Friday and Saturday. I started sewing on Sunday afternoon but I'm not going to show it til I'm done:-)

I really like the fabrics. I have only added a creme color. I'm thinking I will be able to use it all no problem and I only have to buy batting!