Craft Therapy

Our lists of groceries, to-do things, and remembers is taped to our fridge.  Reminding me of the daily up keep required to turn the wheels of the day. 

I've been thinking lately of some projects, crafty projects I'd like to pursue on the side to keep the artistic part of my brain going.  Somehow mowing the lawn doesn't satisfy it.  Perhaps a sewing endevor or a homemade wreath for the front door this autumn?  Or jewelry making!

Sometimes I long for my aunts and mother, who always seem to have a creative side project going on.  They inspire me.  Even though they are a few hundred miles away, I need to set about my own crafty work here.

Cute Email Exchange

I know I sometimes wonder if we've lost the art of old fashioned letters, with our lives being taken over my emails and texts instead.

But yesterday I was kindly reminded by my husband, that we have not.  No he didn't send me an envelope with pen scratch expressing his undying love (although I'm sure he would if I asked him).  Instead he wrote me a cute little email.  Subject line: Would you go on a date with me?

The email followed with a date suggestion.  I corresponded to say that I'd love to go on a date with him, and that I wasn't sure how I ended up with someone so cute to date!

In his email to follow he asked,

Can we date exclusively?  For life?  

(don't forget we are married now) He makes me laugh!

Just a cute little note to share!

Greetings!

Greetings!
I realized summer is truly wrapping up.  The kids were at the bus stop this morning, and the yellow school bus was rolling into the neighborhood.  I smell fresh pencils!

Before Fall is in full swing I hope to capture a few more summer moments. 
Try to:
Make homemade ice cream one more time
Light a few sparklers since we forgot on the 4th!
Picnic in Savannah, GA
Take a few more photos

It's been a wonderful summer, and my love and I have accomplished a few of our goals, including decorating and finding furniture for our living room.  The weather although hot, has allowed for many ice cream dates:)

And we can't beat the sunset over the mountains.  I know that all good around us represents our God, and if so, he certainly is beautiful!

A Mouthful

I've been reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver this summer and was personally challenged to think more about what I put into my body.

The book is all about how her family challenged themselves to grow their own food, eat local fare, and try their best to consume organic food for one year.  As I read more and more about heirloom seeds, the seasonal growing pattern, and just how very far many of the foods we consume and buy from our grocery store travel (millions of miles) I wanted to see what how the Mister and I could shape up our kitchen.

I started by really studying and reading what kinds of produce were available at my local chain grocery store.  I specifically paid close attention to those little stickers you find on tomatoes, bananas, etc.  Sometimes I could find out where the little guys came from, other times there was no sign and one could begin to wonder if it just appeared miraculously...(we know better then that!) 

We also did some comparison shopping between our regular chain grocery store and 2 of the organic grocery stores in our area.  Our comparison focused on quality, if it was locally grown (ie in the US? a state close by?), prices, and generally how the food tasted to us.

So far...the organic market is winning.  We have noticed a significant difference in the taste of the chicken as well as the vegetables and fruits.  The flavors are much more robust.  I also appreciate knowing that my money is going towards supporting local farmers.  In addition, I've been reading lots of labels and found out the the organic market does not carry any product that contains high fructose corn syrup (the yucky stuff!).


Now the big question I'm sure many of you are asking...how do the prices compare?  To be honest, when you are simply a family of 2 and don't have to purchase TONS of food each week, we did not see a huge inflation in our grocery bill.  You will find that most of the cost is from your meats, but for the Mister and I find this is a fair price to pay for getting much greater quality and a much tastier dining experience at our table every night.

And considering how often we cook - which we believe is greater then the average couple ...we are willing to challenge ourselves to see that what we are putting into our bodies is stuff that is actually good for us!

What do you guys do to try to eat healthy??? 

p.s. one last final thought...vegetables and fruits really are little miracles.  have you ever stopped to ponder all of the little processes that take place so that can savor these delicious flavors!  I tip my hat to farmers!!

Faith Journey

I had the blessing of attending the memorial service of a very inspirational man, Dan Kuban.  Although I didn't know him well, his life still had touched mine over a spaghetti dinner I had with his family over a year ago.  Before the memorial service in the evening, my husband and I went to a Habitat House Dedication in his honor.  Him and his family donated their time, talents, and resources to building multiple habitat homes built both in Knoxville as well as in Mexico.

This man was a true example of what it means to be Christ like.  Dan decreased so that Christ could increase in his life.  Whenever people commented on his ever cheerful disposition or the work that had gone into building the homes, Dan always answered "It's Jesus."  In addition to the memorial service, before we departed the church notes from Dan's journal entry entitled "What's the one thing I'd leave?"  His entry was all about  spending time in the bible.  It speaks specifically to how the bible can answer all of our life's questions.  It has the corresponding verses about: how to work, how to interact with our boss, co-workers, how to make decisions, how to handle money, how not to handle money, how to be a spouse, how to raise children, how to pray, how to take sorrow, how to be joyful, how to be healthy, how to preach, and how to follow the Lord.

I'm planning on my own personal bible study with his journal entry and do further reading on the verses he specifically points out.  I may share my reflections on here.

As I continue my journey of faith I am constantly reminded of the importance to read and study the bible.  This is what Christ left us so we can follow his example most closely.  If we love Christ, it is our responsibility to express that love to him through understanding and obedience and continually to strive to live like he did, and there is no better place to learn how to do that then from the bible. Man has certainly taken things and twisted and woven them into his own, and it is my responsibility as a Christian to examine and re-examine what the bible says about how to live and how to worship and praise him and to do these things in the spirit of truth.

I must decrease so that He may increase.   

27 Before 27

So I was inspired by Mytopography to come up with a list of 27 things before 27. 

Since technically that is only 5 months away, I will make an acception to this list, to try to accomplish at least 5 things from it (that would mean 1 each month).  Then the remaining items can carry over to the next years list 28 things before 28, and so on.

I'm going to try my best to just brainstorm some ideas and not get too bogged down in the logistics or the details on how these things will be accomplished.

To start:
1. Go camping with the Mr.
2. Ride a bike
3. Take more photographs
4. Attempt to make homemade cheese
5. Do a little bit of public speaking again -- I have 2 work projects that could provide opportunity for this
6. Weight train
7. Make a homemade wreath for the front door
8. Send a care package to someone
9. Map out a plan for landscaping the backyard
10. Go to the farmers market regularly
11. Attempt to write a chapter for the book
12. Organize our photos and put in album
13. Make s'mores this summer

To be continued....

Long Lost Blog

I am a neglectful blog writer.

It's been quite awhile...hasn't it my dear friend.

Let's blame it on summer and playing.  This summer my DH (dearest husband) and I have been on the hunt for furniture, mattresses, etc.  We have been enjoying organic fruits and veggies, and loving home cooked meals.  Gibson is great as always, and our siblings are all officially done with college and onto the working world!  It's been fun to watch.


Life is good.  I hope your summer is great!
Love,
E

Photobooth Fun

Summer

When summer arrives I conjure up romantic moments filled with walking through the woods, along the beach, and random roadtrips.

I think of spontaneous adventure.  I dream of picnics complete with odd cheese and rustic bread. With my hair in braids, and the dog along side me and my book.  I glimpse the afternoon sun, and a the touch of a cool breeze.  I taste ice cream, complete with sprinkles.  I smell wild flowers.

My dear summer in the south, please grant me a few romantic moments, won't you....

Family is a Gift

Family is a gift that God gave each of us.  For the past few months I've been praying for my sister and her husband as they navigated, thought, and prayed about their next step in life together.

As you may remember, I moved away from home in IL and have been away for a number of years now.  I love my dear home state of TN, but do miss my family greatly.  This being said, my sister just graduated and accepted a position for her first job here in TN!  Both her and her husband are amazing people with kind hearts and unique talents that I know will serve their new home in ways we cannot imagine. We cannot wait for them to share the same home state with us!  Soon they will only be within a few hours drive!  God has blessed them, and in turn blessed us abundantly with more family and bringing my family closer!

God is good.  My heart leaps for joy knowing how good He is.  At the end of the day when my eyes meet the mountains view from our back porch, I remind myself this life is to serve Him and what a privilege it is.

The Case of the Missing Updates

I haven't updated in forever! Things are great!

1.  Spring has arrived!
2.  Summer has practically arrived!
3.  We've accomplished some major yardwork landscaping!
4. My wonderful family is moving to TN! Woo hoo
5. The Mr. and I have planned a vacation for late this summer!

 Have a great day!

Not in Control

We were reminded yesterday we really aren't in control.  As we drove to church yesterday morning a deer ran and hit our car.  We were only 1.5 miles from our home.

We are thankful that neither one of us suffered injuries, but the car did take a little bit of a beating. Headlight cracked and hanging down as well as a large dent.

Take a moment to remember how quickly things can happen, and to be thankful for all you have! That's what I'm doing!

This is Just Like Us

Little Cutie

I love this picture. It's just happiness to the tenth degree.

Thank you.
From Here

The Blessing that This Life Is

I haven't been writing that much lately, more like mini posts here and there.  I want to remember these moments, the first few months of marriage, what we loved and liked, and what our life was like.  I want to *capture* it before these chapters too move on.

In short, marriage is making me a better person.  I've realized that much.

I've also realized the Mister is the one person on this earth that knows me best and will know me the best.  He is exposed to all of me, the good and the bad (the scratchy parts of me that need smoothing over spirtually speaking).  And there's a joy in that. 

There's a joy I've experienced knowing that while now I feel like we are best friends, we are only going to grow deeper and deeper, this is just the beginning. 

This blows my mind.  It leaves me in awe. And it reminds me of what a blessing this life is.

February

February was filled with a few snow moments, days, and hours that we got to spend up on the couch watching episodes of Lost.

Happiness Twin

To have joy one must share it - Happiness was born a twin. 

(Lord Byron)

 

This is such a great quote. The mister is my happiness twin.

Icy

We had a great weekend - the Mister and I!

Surprise dinner date on Friday complete with wood burning fireplaces in each room of an estate where we ate delicious food!

A Sunday complete with nap and Lost marathon.

Followed by a Monday with ice on the driveway and me nearly sliding down BUT

he was there, and grabbed me by the back of the coat, following close behind making sure I didn't slide, slip, or fall down the large hill that is our driveway.

All in a good day's adventure.  I felt like a kid, being picked up by the collar of your shirt. But this time it was more like I was being rescued!

That's love.

Can I wear this Please??

Can I wear this and get away with it? Please!
One day when I have a farmhouse, and I write and take my children to gather the eggs from the chicken cooop I will wear a little dress with golashes and a huge flower.

For now, I will dream:) And wear sweaters but with pink pearls.

from Emersonmade.

Inspiration

from She by Kobi Yamada