Advent is a season of expectant waiting … preparing your heart…. More
Halloween Craft
12 Oct 2012 1 Comment
in Children, Crafts, Family Life, Holidays, The Home
A while back I found a Halloween craft on Pinterest. (By the way, are you on Pinterest? It’s awesome. Anyone can join anytime. It’s a virtual bulletin board.) I found this pin way back sometime this summer. So I just pinned it to my Halloween board and pulled it up last week to finish it.
The only real prep I had to do for it was to save my milk cartons for a few weeks so we’d have enough.
My 7-year-old had a great time doing this. She loves to be creative and she loves to decorate for changing seasons and holidays. 
I love that about her.
My 4-year-old decided to play drums on the finished product!
Last but not least … after the sun went down … we were able to enjoy our finished product! This was super easy and super fun, why don’t you give it at try at home with your littles? The ‘how-to’ is below!
How to make the Milk Carton Ghosts
What you’ll need:
empty milk cartons
black Sharpie marker
white string lights
sharp craft knife
How to do it:
Wash and dry out a few milk or bottled water cartons. Draw faces on the front with a Sharpie marker. Next, cut a hole big enough to fit the string lights in on the backside of the carton towards the bottom with your craft knife. Arrange your milk cartons where you want them and divide up the lights between the cartons. Push some of the lights in the back hole of the milk carton and string them between all the cartons. Then plug the lights in and enjoy!
Source: http://myimajennation.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-halloween.html
Happy Valentine’s Day
14 Feb 2012 1 Comment
in Blessings and Joy, Family Life, Holidays
My mom and I love Valentine’s Day. She always made it so special for me growing up. I just felt really loved and special on Valentine’s Day.
My husband and I enjoy doing that for one another and our children. Everything in me says ‘buy them a gift’ because it’s fun and, honestly, easy. But this year I tried to add in some other things to make it special.
A special breakfast … (the eggs are a regular around here for breakfast, but this morning I added the berries and my valentines mug!)
A special breakfast for the kids:
Words of encouragement in the form of valentine’s cards in my kids lunch boxes. I have a special card for my hubby for later on …
May you have a wonderfully loving Valentine’s Day today. May the lasting words of truth from the One who rescued us from all things unloving encourage your heart today …
“Dear friends, we love because love comes from God.
This is how God showed His love to us: He sent His only Son into this world so that we can know Him.
True love is God’s love for us! God sent His son to take away our sin!
This is how much God loved us!”
1 John 4:7-8, ICB
Much love to you all today!
Trying to save money & stay on budget in 2012?
06 Jan 2012 3 Comments
in Family Life, Holidays, Money
Every year, at the first of the year, my husband and I go over our budget, making sure it is accurate, taking away from, adding to, things like that. For example, our oldest is in 1st grade this year and it just dawned on me that we need to put school supplies in the budget. And so far, 2 years running, we’ve needed to buy extra supplies for when she runs out of something throughout the year and when she has other projects that require additional supplies. A new category (budget line) has emerged! More
What Christmas is all About
23 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Family Life, Gospel, Holidays, Mom Stuff
If any of you out there want to be the perfect Mom and Christmas hostess but feel like you can’t hit the mark-be encouraged and read this:
http://www.roomag.com/unwrapping-his-presence/
Wishing you a very Merry Christ centered Christmas:)
World Gratitude Day
21 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
I had no clue, but I just read that today is World Gratitude Day. That’s awesome. As a believer, I am full of gratitude for what Christ has done for me. I so want to display His glory and share with others the sweetness He alone can give. A few things I have gratitude for from my list of blessings are More
4th of July Fun
08 Jul 2011 2 Comments
in Family Life, Holidays
We love the 4th of July around here.
My 3-year-old loves fire trucks. Again this year a fire truck lead the neighborhood parade. Look at his older sister so excited to make sure he sees the ‘FIRETRUCK!!!’
Unfortunately it was a little loud at times … More
Christmas Scent
22 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in Family Life, Holidays
I started a Christmas Scent on my stove top this morning. It is FABULOUS!!! I got the recipe from a friend; you can see her recipe and all the amazing christmas traditions she and her husband do with their family here. It is just orange slices, lemon peel, apple slices, cinnamon, cloves & nutmeg. You simmer it on the stove top and it’s amazing. Just add more water and ingredients as needed.
Can you believe it’s already December 22nd? My kids couldn’t be happier. I’ve been praying we s.a.v.o.r. this time with our family. Michael and I truly desire for it to be a wonderfully relaxing, sweet time with our kids. I pray the same for you too 
Texas Trash
06 Dec 2010 2 Comments
I made my family’s famous Texas Trash yesterday. It’s a holiday cooking favorite that I’ve grown up with. It is basically a homemade Chex Mix. I love this stuff .. and could live on it all holiday season. I always thought it was a secret recipe that someone our family, way back when, created and it’s been passed down through the generations. Well, the luster was removed this year when I found out the recipe is the actual Chex Mix recipe that is on their website. I mean, I change it up a bit, but not much! I also found out a few years ago that my grandmom’s homemade fudge isn’t an original recipe at all .. it’s the fudge recipe found on the back of the Marshmallow Creme jar (also found here).
It was a weird feeling when I realized these recipes weren’t original to my family (as I’d thought for 30 years), but were the same ones millions of people all over the world were using to bake with. As petty as this seems … I had a perception of reality and now that was totally wrong. It doesn’t actually matter who invented those recipes. In my mind, they always were and really are the best and so I continue to use them every year!!!
As you moms and grandmom’s grow older every year … I hope you continue to do your favorite Holiday things. I hope you enjoy them more and more every year (no matter who invented them!). Merry Christmas season to all
Pumpkins on my Mantel
07 Nov 2010 3 Comments
in Family Life, Holidays
So … it all started last Tuesday. I was sitting at my desk in my preschool classroom and it hit me. It’s November! IT’S NOVEMBER!!! Oh my gosh, it’s already here! *gasp* That explains the excitement in my heart that just keeps growing and growing!!! I love, I mean absolutely LOVE …
ginicraven
Holly Dennis
