First day of MOPS

Tomorrow marks the first day of MOPS 2009-2010! I am excited and nervous at the same time. I'm excited to see some friends and make some new ones. We have moms that are new to our group and even new to our town. But the nerves always set in right around now! Will it all go as planned? Will the moms have fun? I have to speak in FRONT of everyone, what will I say?! As I go to bed I leave all these anxious thoughts in the Lord's hands. It is my hope for this year that Christ will shine through me. That it will NOT be about me and what we, the Steering Team, has done. Let it us glorify Christ as we love, nurture and support these Mothers of Preschoolers.

Bitter sweet...

As the summer comes to a close I am SAD and very HAPPY at the same time. This was a crazy summer, too fast paced for me. There were camps, dance classes, TWO birthday parties, moving and lots of other "boring grown-up stuff" (that's what I tell Grace when we are stressed about the adult stuff in life). I'm sad it is over. I wanted to spend the weekend doing one last fun thing, playing in the mountains as a family, but no it had to rain...already?!? But on the other hand, I'm anticipating the joy of having a routine, having Grace back in school, only one child at home, going to Bible study, MOPS, the holidays and getting on top of things. Good-bye Summer, hello Fall!

I won..I won!

I won the drawing over at Heidi's and I'm excited to see what my surpise will be! She said I had to start blogging more, SO here is a quick post to say "Thanks for the prize and for being such a good friend!" :-)

Oh my...

Wow, not surprisingly it has be months since I blogged...those of you close to me know that my life has been CRAZY and hard to maintain, BUT things are turning around. I am excited to get back into the routine of things AND have a presence in the blog world. It is such a creative and neat way to connect all of us together, ah, *sign* :-)

I took a quick minute to look over some of my favorite blogs and my dear friend Heidi is starting up her craft challenges again. So, go check out her blog for a fun and festive start to the fall!


Check back in a few days, I'll be posting "A Summer in Review 2009"

From the fields to the table...

A few weeks ago (already!) the girls and I went strawberry picking at Jaquith Strawberry Farm. It was a lot of fun and yummy! Once we got the berries home we made jam and strawberry pie. There is something so fulfilling about preparing foods from starch.








Strawberry Jam Recipe

5 cups prepared fruit
7 cups sugar
1 box Sure-Jell

Prepare jars and lids. Boil water in canner or large pot.

To prepare fruit, crush about 4 pt. fully ripe strawberries.

Measure prepared fruit into a 5-6 quart saucepan. Measure sugar into bowl; set aside.

Place pan holding fruit over high heat. Add Sure-Jell, stir until mixture comes to a hard boil. Add sugar at once.

Bring to a full rolling boil and boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat, skim, pour quickly in to jars. Put jars in boiling hot water or canner for 10 minutes. Let jars stand 24 hours. Makes about 6 eight-ounce jars.

Monograms...monograms!

This month's craft challenge from Heidi @ Blue Eye Blessings is Monograms. Although I love the look of monograms, I haven't really monogrammed much. I am sharing a scrapbook page I created months ago, but it is one of my favorites and one of the only monogrammed crafts I have (been too busy to create something new).


"G" for Grace... :-)

I made the "G" using blank chipboard and patterned paper. I added glue to the chipboard, put it face down on the patterned paper and then cut it with a craft blade.

10 years and counting...

Today marks our 10 year wedding anniversary! I can't believe it has been that long already. It all started 13 years ago, when I was a senior in high school. After hanging out as friends for a few months (our friends were dating) we went on a double date and as I always joke, it went down hill from there! He took me to my senior prom, supported me through college AND graduate school and has given me two beautiful girls! The times have been great and not so great, there was even a time I didn't think we would make it this far. But, Praise God, we did and I am SO grateful! Here's to another 10 years, I love you Jeremy!


Prom May 11, 1996


Wedding Day June 5, 1999