Happy 36th, Becky.

Today, a special birthday greeting goes out to one of my closest friends from my high school days, Becky A. Becky, I hope that this day is filled with love from your 3 precious kids and your hubby, Mark, and lots of pampering......take today to celebrate the awesome woman of God that you are. You have inspired me and blessed me with your friendship. Have a great day up there in Beautiful Northern Michigan country! You have a goodie box coming your way from me next week.....I decided to combine your birthday and Christmas goodies into one box, so it'll be something to look forward to........love you and miss you, Sister.

Still Sick.

So this post will be short and sweet. I am still coughing up a lung (or two), and have this lovely sinusy headache that just will not budge. My anxiety is mounting, too, because I should be grading papers, but that much reading makes my head ache and increases the nausea. I'm hoping that an early bedtime tonight, and coming home from work early tomorrow, will set me up for a clear-headed weekend of grading and scrapping this weekend. Night-night.

A Spoonful of Sugar.

We're dealing with a nasty cough around here, mainly affecting myself and Hayden. Of course, as the good parents that we are, we called our neighb0r, who also happens to be our doctor, and had him write up a prescription for some cough medicine. Yum. Now, even though I have a cough, too, that is getting the best of me, I typically will just suffer through it rather than take cough syrup. Yuck-O. But my own biases against nasty-tasting medicinal concoctions do not stop my from making sure that my son takes his medicine. After all, isn't that what a good mother does? What's fair about that? But isn't it our job as parents to make sure our kids understand that life isn't fair? :) My son has been a real trooper taking his medicine....and the "coolness" of being able to take it with an empty syringe is a little bit of sugar to help the whole ideal go a little smoother. And we only lost one syringeful when, in a fit of resistance, he shot the medicine across the kitchen all over the floor and appliances. Nice. Usually, our puppy laps up whatever we spill on the floor.....but she got one sniff of that stuff, and ran into the living room with her tail between her legs!

Today is all about resting and trying to shake this bug. I have HUGE MOUNTAINS of grading to get done in the next 2 weeks before the semester ends for Christmas break, and I don't have time to be developing a more serious illness. So, I'm sucking on the vitamin c-drops, drinking hot tea cup after cup, downing Thera-Flu in between, and trying to get as much rest as humanly possible when you work and have 2 young children. Why, oh why, don't mothers ever get a sick day?

Thanksgiving Highlights.

I am writing from a bit of a fog this morning, as I seem to have picked up a bit of a bug that my sister had over the weekend. Lots of gunk in my throat and a pretty foggy head makes for a slow-as-maple-syrup-after-the-break Monday morning. But, I wanted to log on to share some highlights from our wonderful and very blessed Thanksgiving weekend.

Wednesday was a nice, leisurely day of sleeping in, getting ready and packing. We left just in time to arrive at my in-laws' in central Michigan for a yummy lasagna dinner and some down time with the folks. It is fun to watch my kids play there, because my mother-in-law has many of the old toys from my husband's growing-up days. They love to be at their grandparents' house, for sure.

On Thursday, I slept in and read a few chapters of my book before heading downstairs around 10:00 am. Already, I could smell Thanksgiving wafting up the stairs to greet me. We woke to a fresh blanket of white on the ground, and the kids were so excited to go out and play. It was lots of fun to watch them frolick with Ruby in the fresh powdery white. We looked through all of the sale ads, amazed and even saddened that so many stores are now doing their best to lure people away from their families and into their stores on Thanksgiving Day. I, for one, would like to see all stores close their doors on Thanksgiving, to really emphasize the spiritual necessity of this holiday of gratitude. But once again, the mighty dollar wins. Such a sad sign of the moral obligations--or rather, lack thereof--of our society.


At 2:00 on Thanksgiving Day, we sat down to a delicious feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, cheesy potatoes, roast pork, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, assorted salads, fresh rolls....and so many other dishes I didn't even get a chance to try. Oh, yes, and I would be remiss not to mention that appetizers included fresh sausage from my husband's deer.....very tasty, if I must say so myself. When you have a group of nearly 50 people bringing their favorite dishes to contribute, there is never a lack of food. What a blessed time we had, celebrating thanks and anticipating upcoming weddings and watching football and napping and just being together. One funny story to share: I sat in the chair after dinner, and must have dozed because I woke up to my nephew (who has autism) making snoring sounds. I said, "Michael, are you snoring?" and then must have dozed off again, because I was again awoken by his snoring. Soon, I realized the truth...I WAS SNORING and he was imitating me. So honest. So funny.


On Thursday late afternoon, we packed up and made the one-hour drive to my parents' house in northern Michigan. We arrived to find a couple of my aunts and other family members, so it was fun to catch up with them. After sharing in some leftovers, I had my annual slice of fresh pecan pie, warmed with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. I eat pecan pie one time per year, and it is always heavenly delightful. I am not a big pumpkin pie fan or any other type of pie for that matter, but pecan pie is my all-time favorite dessert, and it never tastes better than at Thanksgiving. We relaxed that night and played with the kids, before settling into cozy beds for a good night's sleep.

On Friday morning, we slept in and then all went out to my grandma's house for breakfast. A morning trip to Grandma's is so reminiscent of my childhood, when we would often head out to grandma's house for Saturday coffee and breakfast. My aunt, uncle, cousin and her new twins were out there, so it was fun to meet Hannah and Nicholas for the first time and to get a photo of my grandma with four of her great-grandchildren. Notice how all the girls are behaving but the boys on the ends are causing all the ruckus!

It is always nice and comforting to spend time at my Grandma's house with family, and it has been too long since we have had the opportunity to do that. Matt hunted for the day but didn't get another deer (which is really fine by me!)

Friday afternoon was spent taking a walk, playing, and running into town for a few errands. At dinner time, my sister and her husband arrived for a yummy dinner of turkey noodle soup and turkey-and-dumplings. After our meal, we played a round of Apples-to-Apples Bible edition, which my daughter and I ended up winning. Unfortunately, Kendra wasn't feeling well so decided to go back home. The rest of the night was spent playing with the kids, including my 5-month-old niece, Sammy, who is at such a fun age of rolling over and smiling and just so alert to everything going on around her. It will be fun to have a baby in the house at Christmas again this year. The kids drew and drew and drew, played marbles, read books, and just loved hanging out at Grandpa and Grandma's house for the evening.



Saturday was a leisurely day. We basically slept in, ate, played, got packed up, and headed home. It was a great weekend away, but it is always so nice to get home and have some time to enjoy each other in our own home surroundings. We ordered pizza for dinner (no turkey!) and watched a movie before climbing into our own beds.

Sunday was a self-proclaimed PJ and movie day. We didn't get dressed and watched movies/football and worked on craft projects all day. We love those days. Days where there is no agenda. No schedule. No traveling. No expectations. Just rest and leisure and entertainment and being together. A perfect end to a long Thanksgiving weekend, if I do say so myself. Now, if I could just shake this nasty post-holiday bug.......

Happy (Pre) Thanksgiving!

I think that I like the days before Thanksgiving and Christmas just as much as I like the actual day. This morning, when I woke up and walked into the kitchen, it felt different than every other morning. It felt cozier. It felt special. I love lightning a candle on my stove, making a hot cup of chai tea, and starting holiday meal preparations. It makes me feel connected to past generations of my mother grandmother, great-grandmother, and before who engaged in the same types of domestic preparations to make sure the holiday was special for their families. Now, I am the first to admit that I am not an everyday domestic type; but around the holidays, I savor the cooking and decorating and domestic tasks that go along with the holiday. Usually, I make our traditional harvest candy swirl cheesecake, and it is a favorite of so many in our family. But this year, I just wasn't feeling it, and I wanted to try something different just for one year. So I decided to put my own twist on this "Pumpkin Dump Cake" recipe. It is basically a pumpkin cake topped with layers of brown sugar, butter......and then I threw on my own twist of toasted pecans, coconut and butterscotch chips. It smelled SO yummy as it was baking last night, and I hope it makes people forget about the harvest cheesecake just for this year!

Yesterday, we enjoyed a tasting feast at my daughter's first grade classroom. It was fun to gather with the other families to enjoy turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, and pumpkin pie.
















We are off to my in-laws' in a few minutes, so Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one near and far. I am thankful for creativity, and for my husband and children, and for our furry pets, and for a warm kitchen full of holiday preparations, and for my mother and mother-in-law who are busy today preparing the bulk of tomorrow's meals, and for safety in travel, and for the amazing teachers who work with my son and daughter every school day, and for Mary who provides excellent care to my son on the days I teach, and for the amazing Christ-centered community in which we live, and for wonderful neighbors, and for freedom to worship, and for music and for Jesus' saving blood and that He wants a relationship with us each and every moment.....and for so many wonderful things. Remember not only to thank your friends and family for what they bring to your life, but to also thank deeply the source of all things good and right and true, God and Jesus Christ. Peace to you all on this amazingly profound celebration. And don't forget the nap after the turkey!!

Pilgrims.

As we were growing up, I distinctly remember a set of ceramic pilgrims that my mom would display around Thanksgiving time. It seems that those little figures displayed on the shelf signified that the much-loved Thanksgiving gathering of our family was right around the corner. I also remember a set of ceramic carolers that she would display around Christmas time. Sometimes, I think that we (I) get so caught up in getting the latest and greatest holiday decorations, that we forget about the simple ones that, when used year after year, become so special and meaningful to our children and families. Until today, I didn't really have anything specifically for Thanksgiving; sure, I decorate our table with pumpkins and gourds, and I have a few "Give Thanks" signs that stay up year-around, but nothing specifically to decorate for Thanksgiving. Today, when I was at Hobby Lobby, I spotted this neglected set of pilgrims. They look old, and I love that. Better yet, they were 80% off so the set cost less than $4.00. I brought them home, set them on the table, and it is amazing how my kids keyed right into them and held them and talked about the pilgrim and Indian story. I hope that these will become beloved family heirlooms across the years, and that my kids will come to see these as a sign of the holiday, just as I did as a child. I also rescued a metal turkey for 80% off....he had a missing wing. I have looked at these at Hobby Lobby for three years now but could never quite bring myself to pay the 49.99 price; but this one-winged guy.....I got him for less than 10.00, and even found the random wing to boot. After a little Thanksgiving operation, he should be as good as new.

And, here is my little pilgrim this morning at his preschool tasting feast. This is a time when the kids get to sample traditional Thanksgiving foods and dress up like pilgrims. So adorable. My son's favorite tastes were the mashed potatoes, corn bread and whipped cream. The pumpkin pie? Not so much. But the heart-shaped corn muffins were a hit, and the kids even got to make their own butter. So much fun.

Tomorrow, I'm going to share our Tree of Thanks that we have been hanging tags on. It has been a fun holiday project and a great way to encourage kids to get into the habit of expressing what they are thankful for. Enjoy this crispy fall pre-Thanksgiving Monday, everyone.

Find What Doesn't Belong.....

Over breakfast this morning after church, I was reciting my grocery list to Kennedy, and she was writing the list for me. She is really into spelling these days, so she loves to make lists. After breakfast, I put the list into my purse and didn't look at it again until tonight, when I was at Meijer getting some groceries for Thanksgiving party preparations. So, I pull the list out of my purse and start reading.......corn muffin mix (for Hayden's preschool tasting feast tomorrow), pumpkin pie (for Kennedy's class' feast on Tuesday), corn, hamster.........HAMSTER? I had to laugh out loud, and I chuckled throughout my whole shopping trip. I tell you, you just have to give her credit! She has been obsessing over getting a pet hamster for Christmas, so we are in the position of deciding whether or not to make her dream come true and add one more species to our home.

I found some cute little heart-shaped muffin foil cups so decided to make my corn muffins into hearts. The 4-year-olds should love them tomorrow at the tasting feast.

My sister and I had a nice weekend scrapping, sharing meals, and just catching up. It has been a long time since we have spent 2 days together without kids or husbands, so it seemed really nice to reconnect. Today was pretty much church and resting and getting groceries and making sure everything is set for this week's cooking. See you tomorrow for the first day of Thanksgiving festivities.

Where Did Friday Go?

The days seem to be just flying by around here, and we're trying to slow them down. Do you ever have those days where you drop into bed and wonder where the past 24 hours went? Today consisted of meetings at work with Little Man Hayden in tow, driving the kids to grandpas' house, a few errands, and them some scrapbooking with my sister tonight. We are headed for all-day cropping tomorrow, and we are looking forward to some creative time together.

Oh, and yes......my husband shot a deer. A button buck. And he's getting the meat processed. And bringing it home. And expects us to eat it. Yikes. I was really praying that he wouldn't get one, but now.....well at least it wasn't a big rack, so I won't have to fight the whole "let's hang the deer head in the house" dilemma. To each his own, but a deer head on a plaque just doesn't fit into my idea of a cozy home. Great job, Honey.....I hope you plan on eating lots of venison in the coming months!

Celebrity Look-Alike.?

How interesting is this. A friend happened upon this software that will scan your facial photo and compare it to a celebrity database to identify those celebrities that are the most similar to you. My most similar match was with Kirsten Dunst, but I also came up highly matched with Tori Spelling and Courtney Thorne Smith. Just a little bit of fun for a chilly fall Wednesday. We're supposed to get snow tonight. My hubby is deer hunting so it feels kind of strange without him in the house. I'm praying that he has a great relaxing time communing with nature....but that he DOES NOT come home with a deer. I just don't like venison, nor do I want to deal with having it around the house. Run, Bambi and Feline and all those other deer up there in Mt. Pleasant....do not let that handsome man in the camo. coat get you!

Conferences.

Last night was Kennedy's first parent-teacher conference of the year. I always approach conferences with anticipation but also a little bit of anxiety; I think it is always somewhat hard for parents to listen to someone who is evaluating their child, and I am no different in that respect.

In a nutshell, Kennedy is having an exceptional year. She is already beyond first grade in all academic areas and especially excels in reading and writing. She is working in second and third grade levels and, in the words of her teacher, "thinks so maturely and beyond her young age" intellectually. Her artistic and creative skills are also strong for her age. Math is advanced, too, though Kennedy said that math centers are her least favorite thing about school. She is making good friends, showing good citizenship, and always want to make the right choices. The only area that she needs to improve is running in gym. She would rather walk, and doesn't like to get sweaty! We are so proud of how hard she works and how she always gives her best effort. Amazing work, my Girl. You have made us and Jesus very, very proud.

I love it when I get a stack of work that Kennedy has done at school. It is so fun to see what she chooses to journal about at school.....you always wonder what they are going to say about home and family when they are writing at school. On one journal entry, she was writing about how badly she wants a hamster for Christmas. She wrote "I wish I could have a hamster. I don't think it will be that hard. But my parents say it will. Now I believe them. But I still want a hamster." And she wrote an essay about career day: "When I grow up, I want to be a vechrunarein. I want to help heal animals. I want them to feel better, and I don't want them to be sick. So that's why I want to be a vechrunarein, to help animals and if my pets get sick, I can help them feel better." Don't you love how she spelled "veterinarian!"

And then there are the incomplete sentences. Some of her answers were I WORRY ABOUT "Hayden and Kaden chasing me when I get home from school." (This is my son and his little friend, who like to dress up as pirates and chase all the girls). And I HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT IN......now, you think that given her academic level, she might write reading or writing or something like that. But no. Our little girl wrote I HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT IN "singing the Conga!" Oh my, did we laugh at that one. She is referring to singing karaoke, and one of the songs that we sing is the Conga Beat......such a fun, energetic and upbeat song. Yes, little girl, you do an amazing job with singing the Conga, so keep on, Girl! You Go!

This and That.

1. We enjoyed a lovely dinner party on Friday night. Many notable people from Grand Rapids higher education and politics were present to honor Dr. Rogers as he moves on from our university. It was nice for my husband and I to dress up a bit and enjoy a dinner out. And the dessert was to die for! The kids had fun hanging out with some of my students at their "college pad."
2. A friend and I attended the first holiday craft show of the season. It was pretty mediocre, though I did buy a cute stitched Christmas sampler and some hand-carved walking sticks for the kids.
3. We can now park one car in the garage! Now this may not seem like a big deal, but ever since we moved 2 years ago, our garage has been stacked with boxes. And truly, after 2 years, do we really need whatever it is that is out there? We are obviously getting along fine without it! The kids did find lots of treasures, and I am happy not to have to scrape my windows every morning!
4. We introduced the Christmas program to the kids at Compass. I wrote the play entitled "The Christmas Rainbow" and it is the final thing that I will do in my work with kids' ministry before we change to a different church. Bittersweet, but I think this will be a fun and meaningful way to make the transition.
5. A restful Sunday, including breakfast out and an afternoon nap.
6. The kids made these amazing masterpieces Sunday afternoon. I have them paint at least one canvas a year to display on our walls, and it so so fun to see how their skills and insights change from year to year. Great Creative Work, my little Picassos!
7. Happy Veteran's Day, especially to those who have served our country. My grandfather, Hank M., and Matt's father, Ed. M., have both served bravely, and we are especially grateful for their influence. A special thanks and prayers for those who are currently serving overseas, as well as those families who have sacrificed immensely so their loved one can defend our freedom.
8. I am looking forward to scrapping with my sister, Kendra, this weekend. We will be working on some Christmas books that I have started for each of my siblings' families. The time together will be wonderful!
9. This is post #300 in my blogging.....still loving the journey.
10. Have a very blessed Monday, and take advantage of the opportunities that God places in your path today, wherever it leads.

Thoughts on Change.

Fall always puts me in a very reflective, nostalgic mood. Change is all around, from the green plants drying up and turning to all shades of brown and gray, to the leaves bursting into magnificent color, falling from the trees, and littering every yard and sidewalk. As the weather turns gray and cold outside, I always find myself turning inward. Today, I find my mind wandering to the topic of change.

As a psychologist, I am very interested in the process of how humans change. Often, they don't. People resist change. We become comfortable in our routines and the prospect of change scares us. We like security and predictability. That is one of the things that I believe draws people to Jesus Christ and Father God; He is the same, unchanging, yesterday, today and forever the same. As humans who are constantly faced with change and uncertainty in this world, God is a rock and an anchor on which we can always rest and depend. Amazing.

In more ways than one, this is a season of change for me. Tonight, my husband and I are attending a going away dinner for the president of the Christian university where I teach; Dr. R. has been our leader for more than 15 years, and he is moving on. Change can be very good for a university as fresh ideas and directions are introduced, but with it also comes some uncertainty.

Our family is also facing change. Over the past few months, and through a very painful and prayerful process, we have come to the conclusion that the church we are currently involved in just isn't where we are called to be. We were involved in this church plant from its birth. We have many friends in our church. Our children are connected in the children's program. I am involved in children's leadership and in vocal worship teams, so this change hurts to the core. Even when we know change is right and good for our growth, it often nonetheless comes with pain and grieving.

I, too, am facing changes personally. Over the past 2 years, I have settled into some habits that, quite frankly, I don't like. These habits have resulted in extra weight, I no longer work out, and I just don't prioritize staying physically healthy. That needs to change. I have started the process over the past 2 months, but it is time to get serious. For most of my life, I worked out religiously including both cardio and weight training; but parenthood and 2 moves in 3 years has left me complacent about this area of my life. And so, these changes need to be made. And its exciting and scary and just plain hard.

What changes are you facing as a person? A family? A community? Remember that although change is scary, there is also an element of hope and excitement. And always keep in mind that no matter what changes come, God is the unchanging Rock who we can always look to for strength when we think we don't have it, hope when all looks like gloom, and inspiration when we just can't see past the immediate.

Happy 57th Birthday, Dad.

My dad is one of those fathers who is very involved with his kids, and he always has been. He is, without a doubt, the hardest worker I know. My dad was raised in a family that didn't have a lot of money or resources, but there was a lot of love and emphasis on working hard and serving God. And he has passed those values on to us. Not only does my dad give of his time to his family and his profession, but he also serves at church and nonprofit agencies serving people with developmental disabilities and economically disadvantaged individuals and families. My dad has served on the area school board with great commitment, and he treats my mom like a queen. Often, after family meals, while the rest of the family is resting and having conversation, my dad will sneak back to the kitchen to clean everything up. He never looks for praise or recognition. It is from my dad that I gained my love for photography and my value for documenting family life with photos. So, today, I am honoring and thanking my dad for his amazing testimony, his unyielding commitment to God and his family, and how he modeled a Godly marriage to us kids. We love you, Dad, and thank God for you. Have a great day.....we celebrate you!

Hang On, Sloopy....

Did you know that this song was about "Sloopy" rather than "Snoopy" (as in the dog)? And did you know that the song "Louie-Louie" is all about a Jamaican man trying to be reunited with his love? Neither did I, until tonight, that is.....what started out as an innocent sing-along turned into a full-blown karaoke night and the M household tonight! So much fun. Laughter. Dancing. A little bit of a temper melt-down because there are only 2 microphones, but all in all, we had a great time. It made me sit back and remember that these are the times that we will treasure. The family nights where the TV is off and we are all singing and laughing together. This is what family is all about! We got this karaoke machine for the kids a couple of years ago for Christmas, but it has been used only periodically. We all love to sing, and our kids are showing some musical aptitude, so it is fun to see them perform and just love the music. We did "The Conga" and "The Limbo" and sand "My Girl" and a little bit of Lionel Richie. Such a good time together.

Today, I want to express my thanks and appreciation to my neighbor, Sherri. Sherri amazes me. She has 6 children ranging in age from almost-2 to 13, so she is dealing with a range of different developmental needs every single day. Her husband is a family physician so works long hours, but she just has this ability to take everything in stride. And nothing seems to ruffle her feathers. She is always sharing something that she learned in devotions or sending a good book my way. She talks openly about her struggles and is just SO REAL in how she lives her daily life. I am thankful for Sherri's friendship, for what I have learned about mothering through her example, and for her testimony of God's strength. I cherish our talks and soul-sharing about everything from children to husband's to counseling to being a woman searching after God. I thank God for your friendship, Sherri, and for planting us in the same neighborhood for this season of life.

Looks Like....S....N.....O.......W.

That look is in the sky today. That smell is all about. That dark steely gray color. That fresh crispness. That smell that says snow is near. Do you know what I'm talking about? OK, we interrupt this blog for a special announcement.....IT'S OFFICIALLY SNOWING! Ahhhhh, the first snowfall of the year. It conjures up so many memories........squealing and running to find our coats to we could run out and try to pack the snow into snowballs. To get our first cold yummy taste of fresh snow. And so I see my own kids doing the same thing.....except they didn't even wait to put their shoes and coats on.....hence, the bare little toesies against the fresh-fallen November snow. Get in here, you two, and at least get some shoes on!!


But isn't there something magical and pure about the first snow? Something cozy, that tells us that it is OK to stay inside and nurture our families and rest and just be at home. That's what winter has come to mean to me. Yes, I love to go out sledding with the kids and building snowmen is one of my very favorite winter activities. But most of all, I like to cozy inside on winter days and nights and just reflect on being safe, protected, and blessed by God. And so thankful that I decided to throw a big pot of Ditalini Vegetable soup on the stove and a pan of corn bread into the oven tonight!

So today, on the 5th day of November, I am thankful for the seasons. I love all of the seasons in its own right, but I mostly love the transitions between the seasons. I love it when winter starts to break and the first hints of spring become apparent, from the breaking through the ground of the first tulips to the first melody of the birds heard from my window. And when spring inches its way toward the hot days of summer, as the flower are in full bloom and the waters warm enough for swimming and boating and just enjoying the shore. And when that touch of chill starts to signal the fall is on the horizon...when the shades of green turn to a rainbow of oranges and reds and yellows. And finally, when fall gives way to the cold and snow of winter. It tells me so much about God's creativity.....how amazing a being He is to have spoken this thing we call "the seasons" into existence. And how powerful He is to control each and every part of nature. Standing in amaz=ement today....have a blessed one.

The Big "O".

Don't worry....this is still a very family-friendly blog. No, I'm not talking about THAT Big "O" :) I'm talking about my first experience at an IKEA store......The big "O" stands for totally OVERWHELMED, OVERSTIMULATED, and OVERSPENT! Whew. What a place. It takes a long time to even get over the brightness and loud colors and huge crowds, and once you figure out how to even begin making your way through the store.....wow, what an experience. I was planning a short "run in and check it out" type of trip, but I ended up being in there for nearly 2 hours. There are so many room displays and little gadgets and so much stuff to look at, that it is totally visual candy scattered over something like 20 acres.

I could have done some serious damage in that store. Some of it is poorer quality, but a lot of it is just plain fun and colorful and design-savvy. So what did I end up with in my cart?

• 8 Colored storage bins for Kennedy to sort her little toys and collectibles into.
• New curtains for Kennedy's room.
• New curtains for my newly painted laundry room (so cute).
• 4 sets of magnets for our chalk board.
• a metal tree that I am going to use for a Tree of Thanks to hang tags on throughout the month of November (a separate post will be coming on this.)
• a few random stocking stuffers for the kids.
• A new striped rug for the laundry room.

So, I got out with a grand total of $130.62. Not bad. And the look on the old guy's face as he watched me taking a photo of myself in the IKEA parking lot. Priceless. I chuckled about it all the way home.

What a great weekend, but I'm so happy to be home and cuddling with my kids. I even got to come home to a clean house....what an amazing husband I have. Thanks, Honey. You know how to make me feel like the most blessed woman in the world. Love you.

Headed Home.

What a great day of scrapping we had yesterday! The day was filled with creativity, some periods of creative block, laughter, sharing of life stories, meeting new friends, sharing meals, and just celebrating this amazing art.

Then back to the hotel to read and drift off to sleep.....I was eagerly anticipating "fall back" and an extra hour of sleep; however, I was wide awake at 6 am so got up and printed photos, got packed up, etc.

Today, my plan is to check out IKEA and scrap a bit at Scrapbook Zone. Then, the 2-hour trip back home to my amazing family.....this has been a good time to breathe, but boy, do I miss them!

Today's question: How will you invest your extra hour today? Remember that time is the most lasting investment you can make.

Wayward Traveling Mommy.

I am a strong believer in women needing time away from their families to nurture themselves and pursue their creative soul, whatever that may look like. I try to have 4-6 weekends per year to myself, and for me, that usually involves scrapping time.

This weekend is one of those weekends. My husband is manning the kids this weekend--they have lots of fun things planned like cleaning rooms, working on Monday's spelling words, and going to see "Bee Movie." And I am planning lots of my favorite things here from my hotel room in the Detroit area.

I arrived last night after the 2 hour trip, which included a stop at a very fun and well-stocked scrap store in Brighton. I ordered to-go from Romano's Macaroni Grill--some kind of rolled pasta with chicken and spinach (YUM!)--and enjoyed a good dinner followed by a cup of hot tea and some much-needed relaxation time.

Today, we are scrapping all day at Archiver's, but I hope to squeeze in a trip to IKEA--I have never been to one, can't wait! as well as scrapping until midnight. Tomorrow, I'm planning for a pretty low-key day of sleeping in a bit, scrapping some more, and making my way back home.

Weekends like this are good to help me get back in touch with me as a WOMAN rather than just me as a MOMMY. It's not that the 2 are totally separate, because once you are a wife and a mom, I believe that that changes the fabric of who you are as a woman to the core; but it just gives me as a human being a chance to breathe deeply without having to fulfill the needs of my husband and children. And I always return much more ready to meet their needs and be fully present for them. Off to the shower to prepare for my day! Even if you don't have this full weekend to nurture yourself, I hope you all take time to do something that feeds your spirit. Happy Saturday!

All is Calm.....

No, I am not starting to blog about Christmas quite yet, though I did see a house last night that had a huge Christmas tree in their window while they had illuminated jack-o-lanterns and were handing out candy on their porch to trick-or-treaters. Crazy.

November is here, and I have this welcomed sense of calm today. The hubbub of Halloween is over. Football season is done for us. The "newness" of the school year is gone and the kids are settled in to their new school routines. Mid-term exams are taken and graded, and my courses are smoothly sailing toward conclusion. November, to me, is this four weeks tucked into the fall that often gets glossed over on the way to December.

But, let's stop. Let's not get caught up in racing toward Christmas, in buying into retailers' desire to have us frantically shop and spend money over the next 8 weeks in preparation for Christmas. I have been really convicted about this during the past couple of years........we have this amazing holiday celebrating the bravery and fortitude of our forefathers. Celebrating their willingness to do whatever it took to secure religious freedom. Embracing a new land. Reaching out is kinship to people who were very different from them. Thankful for God's faithfulness in bringing safety and pouring forth a bountiful harvest. Now if that isn't something to reflect upon and celebrate, I don't know what is.

Last year, I started a tradition here on my blog of taking one thing or one person that I am thankful for, and writing about them here, a different one for each day of November. And I want to continue that this year. For one, I think that an attitude of gratitude needs to be intentionally cultivated, especially in the me-focused society in which we live today. For another, it just forces me to stop and take inventory of the many, many ways that God blesses me......that I often overlook and take advantage of and just don't actively appreciate.

For today, this first day of November, I am thankful for Barb. Barb is the principal at my kids' school. She is a wonderful principal, the kind of woman who meets every child at the front door every morning, greets them and their parents by name, and exudes this warmth and caring about her in every interaction. Not only is she a skilled and exceptional leader for our school, but she is an outstanding personal role model for the children. And I count her as a personal friend whom I admire. Today, Barb is culminating years of hard work and is defending her doctoral dissertation. She has already raised her own children, but she continues to learn and challenge herself and set new goals. And she is willing and always searching for ways to use her experiences to challenge and model for those children in her care. Barb, thank you for your tireless optimism and the energy you devote to loving and nurturing Kennedy and Hayden, as well as all of the children at Brown. I am praying that all is going well for you today--that God is granting you quiet confidence and clarity of thought and word--and that we will soon be able to say "Congratulations, Dr. Barb." And it takes a special woman to dress up as a life-size red crayon one day and stand before a committee to defend her doctoral research the next.....you go, Lady!