One Thousand Gifts (part 16)

This week the beauty of Fall has been all around. From gorgeous sunshiny afternoons outside to apple-baked goodness, we have been soaking up every bit of this golden season while it lasts. And so I continue to count the many ways the Lord blesses me each day:



365. Thrill of finding a bird's nest!

366. Halloween craft fun

367. a good night of sleep

368. sunshine after several days of rain

369. gorgeous afternoon outside with the kids gathering up the beauty of God's creation





370. getting "filled up" by good friends


371. looking through old artwork with the kids--Laughing at toddler projects and enjoying the wonder of development



372. husband's help with housework

373. getting help from others where it was needed!

374. homemade macaroni and cheese--so gooey and delicious




375. the smell of Fall in the air

376-386. birthday celebration: Gorgeous weather, Fall fun at the farm, corn maze, apple cider, pumpkin latte, hayride, pumpkin patch, presents, and popcorn. Such an amazing day of gifts!

...more to come

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Happy Birthday to...me {a.k.a. in which I wax nostalgic}

Today is my birthday. I am officially 34 years old. I suppose 34 still feels a bit "safe" as far as that looming much hyped and oft-dreaded big 4-0 on the horizon (and yeah, I know it's not really a long way off.). But still, I have this feeling that I'm getting older. I'm not sure if it's a feeling of physical aging per se (though I'm aware that that is happening), or even acquired wisdom (though I believe I've gotten some of that, too) but more a feeling that I'm entering a different stage of life. I guess I just don't feel "young" anymore, although I don't feel "old" either. I suppose that leaves me somewhere in between, like stage-of-life limbo. I mean, I feel "settled in" as far as my role as wife, mom, stay-at-home mom and homeschooler. And I'm beginning to enter into a new stage of parenting as my oldest (now 6) matures. So, whatever this current stage of life that's hard to put into words actually is (I know this post is a bit of a stumbling bumbling mess...but hey, sometimes that's just me!) , I'm happy with it. This "stagewithoutaname" is a season of growth. A time to grow in knowledge, in experience and into the person the Lord has made me to be.

(my birthday last year)

33 has had it's trials. It was my first "official" year as a homeschooler which was a bit stressful as I experimented and found my footing (because I'm an old pro now ha!). I lost a baby (you can read more about that here). It was my third year since my mom died which brought its own set of emotions (you can read more about that here ) I gained some weight from aforementioned pregnancy which I now need to lose. (You can't read more about that anywhere because it's all just here accumulated in my mid-section and that's not talkin' ha!). But overall I feel I've learned a lot this past year. I believe I'm truly learning more about where I'm headed as a woman, a Christian, a wife, a mom and all of the other hats that I wear.


In short (which is a blessed change from the rest of this rambling post in which I heavily over-use parentheses. Sorry 'bout that by-the-way. It's a bad habit I have no intention of breaking. And now that I'm all wise at the ripe old age of 34 I feel fully justified in standing up for my grammatical bad habits ha-ha. That includes split infinitives and invented punctuation. So there.) I am happy. I'm happy for this life I live, though small it may be. I'm happy for the people who love me and help me grow. I'm happy for this little house I get to call home and for the talents God's given me which I get to use in all kinds of fun ways. I'm happy for this blog where I get to write about whatever's stored up in my brain and I'm happy for all of you who care to read it. Heck, I'm even happy for this body of mine--though heavier it currently is. But that's just life. And that life is mine, and God made it and saw that it was good. And so I celebrate today. I celebrate life. My life. And all of the blessings therein, which are many. So, happy birthday to... me. Oh, and woo-hoo for birthday cake. Best. Invention. Ever.

10 Ways to Have Fun Outside With Your Kids!

I have this great little deck of cards full of fun things to do outside. (I think I bought this way back when I was in high school!) It's called 52 Nature Activities. Well, now that Fall is here I thought it was high time I pull it out and enjoy the crisp air and bright colors with the kids! I just thought I'd share some of my personal favorites that we enjoy, and maybe you will, too. (By-the-way, these are totally fun to do with adults! Kevin and I used to do some of these back when we were dating.) I paraphrased the descriptions of each activity and added in some ideas of my own. I highly recommend the whole deck--for about $6.00 it's a bargain for such a comprehensive set of ideas! They are great to do over and over again and in different seasons. Especially great for homeschoolers!
(Disclaimer: I haven't been compensated to say any of this. I'm just sharing them because I *heart* them!)

1. Soft to Hard
Go outside and gather a bunch of things around you of varying textures (e.g. moss, rocks). Line them up from the softest to the roughest/hardest. You can also line them up by other attributes like coldest to warmest or longest to shortest.

2. Shapes of Things
See how many different shapes can you find outside in nature. Can you find a square? A circle? How about an oval? Can you find any obscure shapes like a parallelogram?

3. Seed by Seed
How many different seeds can you find outside? Can you identify what plants they come from? Do you know how they're transported and how they grow? Find out! Take a picture of each seed and find pictures at home of the plants they will grow into. Make a chart of the seeds and their adult equivalents.

4. Postcard Designer
Cut a rectangle out of a piece of paper to make a "frame. " Go outside and find your own "postcard" scenes by framing your surroundings. Bring a camera and take pics of your favorites! Print them out and send them as postcards friends and relatives wishing them a happy Fall!

5. Nature Crown
Round up a bunch of items outside. Attach them with pipe cleaners to create your own crown! What are you the king or queen of? Rake some fallen leaves into the shape or pile of your choice and rule your kingdom!

6. Nature Alphabet
Gather a bunch of items from outside (e.g. rocks, twigs, leaves) and arrange them to create your own alphabet! Take a camera with you and photograph each letter. Print them out and put them together to make word art!

7. Leaf to Leaf
(The perfect time of year for this one!) How many different types of leaves can you find outside? Can you identify what type of tree they come from? Find out! Make rubbings of them in the appropriate colors and label each one.

8. Designs in Nature
Head outside with a magnifying glass and look for beautiful patterns in nature. Look closely at the intricate spirals of a pine cone or the scattered array of pine needles on the ground. Examine a splotchy patch of moss on a rock. Get lost in the natural beauty of patterns. Take a nature journal with you and sketch your favorite patterns. Or bring your camera and create "pattern art" by putting together a photo collage of your favorites!

9. Blind Walk
Head outside with a blindfold and let a partner lead you around. What do you smell? What do you hear? Have your partner put objects in your hands. Can you guess what they are by feeling? Record your "blind observations" in a nature journal. Try this in the same location in different seasons to observe the changes.

10. Colors of the Rainbow
(Another great one for fall with the changing colors of the leaves!)Round up as many objects outside as you can. Try to make your own rainbow of colors using the items you find. You can also turn it into a race to see who can find each particular color first. Take a picture of your own special rainbow!

I hope this list helped inspire you to get outside and enjoy to beauty of Fall with your littles! :)

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One Thousand Gifts (part 15)

The seasons are definitely changing. With Fall's arrival there's a shift in the air. While flowers in the garden wilt and fade, hints of autumn's splendor come creeping in-- cool crisp nights, the smell of wood stoves burning. With this season of change, of shifting, I continue to count the ways the Lord is always present, always giving:

332. New year of MOPS beginning--new friendships, connections and growth


333. tear-talk with sister


334. Adam's self-portrait



335. the smell of scotch tape


336. sunny September play date of baked apples and new friends. Seeing the Lord working His miracle of connecting new lives.


337. a tidy house at the end of a full day. Ready for another dawn.


338. Gorgeous sunlight on a day that called for rain


339. the fun of trying new recipes


340. discovering new blogs that encourage and inspire-kindred spirits across the expanse


341. finding a rhythm for the new school year, settling into new routines


342. homemade French Onion soup to chase away the sniffles



343. sweet precious daughter turning 2



344. 3 year old son's sudden and unexpected interest in learning to read!


345. daughter's pronunciation of "mohhh-key" (monkey) and "puuuhhh-kin" (pumpkin)-so hilarious and adorable


346. husband's second interview for new job!


347. tomato plants continuing to give ripe juicy tomatoes though vines yellow and wilt



348. cricket song


349. old photos and the reminiscing that comes from them


350. foot rub from husband-feeling so loved


351. ice cream cake for daughter's birthday. Orange everywhere!



352. tiny new nephew brought safely into the world


353. cold medicine that makes the symptoms better


...more to come

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Remembering: A Way to Give Thanks

"Remembering is an act of Thanksgiving, a way of thanksgiving, this turn of the heart over time's shoulder to see all the long way His arms have carried."
--excerpt from One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp


Have you ever thought that looking back on the past--on all the ways God has helped you in good times and in bad--is a way of giving thanks? When we pause to remember how God has carried us through the seasons of our lives, our hearts naturally swell with gratitude for His grace. Thinking of past pains and about the healing that has since occurred is a way to keep God close to our hearts. In remembering, we are made aware of how much we need Him and how He is always in control.


And we can also give thanks by remembering the good times--the times of laughter and joy. Since all good things come from God, then our most cherished memories--the ones we hold closest to our hearts--are like little gifts from heaven. Gifts given out of pure love from above. Calling these things to mind helps us learn more about the heart of God.


So take some time to remember this weekend. Think of the ways the Lord has helped you weather life's storms. And think of the happy times, too. Remember long the days gone by of sunshine, family and good times with friends. And in the remembering you are giving thanks to the Creator of all things, The One who teaches us how to love, by sharing His grace with us day by day.

The Special Knowing of Moms...

"What are you doing?" Mom asks.

"Writing." I mutter with that monotone teenage tone of annoyance that only 15 year olds can perfect.

"Writing about what?"

"Just writing."

I wish she would just go away and leave me be.

"You look sad. What's on your mind? Want to talk about it?" Mom gently continues. She sits tentatively on the edge of my bed, ready to leave if I send her off, hoping I won't.

"Not really," I sigh.

Simon and Garfunkel plays softly in the background and frantically I scribble my teenage angst into a journal. Wanting to be me, not wanting to conform, not wanting to not-conform for the sake of non-conformity. Wanting to be free of social pressures of high school, the work of trying to fit in, to look cool, to say the "right" things:

I just want to be me and sing and play guitar and wear what I want to wear and know who I am and love that. And I want others to love that, too. I want to weave colored thread into my hair and put patches on my jeans and part my hair down the middle. I want to grow sunflowers, plant them from seed right outside my window, their cheerful heads greeting me each morning. I long to breathe in the heady perfume of summer rains, of wet dewy nights with damp covers and sticky legs. To wrestle free of insecurity, of drama, of second-guessing and just. be. me. I want someone to really know me, to cherish me, to hold me, to treasure me...


I pause. I can't tell Mom all of this. She'll never understand me in a thousand years.

Deep sigh.

"Mom, do you feel like you know who you are? I mean, like, who you really are?"


"Oh Erin, you remind me so much of myself when I was your age. So full of questions and ponderings, the sadness in your eyes and tenderness in your heart. I love the way you write about what matters to you, the way to draw and listen to music and think about the things that matter in life. You're so special, there aren't many people like you in the world. You're so uniquely touched by God and stirred by nature. I love your heart and the way your mind works. I love the way you think deeply about song lyrics and their hidden meanings, read Walt Whitman and scribble thoughts in a journal. I just wish I could make you less sad."

I take all of this in, stunned by the ways mom truly knows me, the things she sees that I thought I kept hidden from the world. What is it about Moms that makes them able to see into their children's hearts like that?

Maybe I'm not so alone afterall. Maybe I am loved. Really loved. Treasured. Maybe somebody, just somebody really does pay attention. I am comforted by this moment between mother and daughter but can't say how much this has all meant to me...my teenage coolness just won't allow for it.

"I'm not sad. Mom. I just get a little sick of it all sometimes. But I feel better now. Wanna watch a movie with me?"

We pop in Amadeus, make microwave popcorn and eat it by the handful, dropping greasy kernels on covers and chasing away the loneliness together with unspoken souls uniting, shared DNA joining mother and daughter in melancholy harmony for all eternity.

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10 Fall Fun Crafts for Kids!

Fall is one of my all-time favorite times of year. And being the crafty kinda gal that I am, I love me some Fall kids crafts! So, I've been doing a bit of online hunting to complie some projects (10 to be exact) that I'm pretty psyched about. Thanks to the wonders of Pinterest and Google, finding awesome projects out there is pretty easy to do! And, so, I just thought I'd share them with you and save your fingers to extra clicking of finding them for yourself. :) Here goes:

1. The Leaf Person.
It's a classic leaf-meets-contact-paper-collage but with a fun little twist. Simple, fun and bonus--it's not even messy!! (and, besides my kids ADORE any crafts incorporating googly eyes!)

Source: 4herreras.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

2. The Cutest Looking Produce You've Ever Seen.
Ok, so I made up that title but, seriously, have you ever seen something cuter than this?! (And if you have, I NEED to know about it!) We are SO making these--Pronto!

Source: crafts.slides.kaboose.com via Erin on Pinterest

3.Tissue Paper Candy Corn
I have always had a little soft spot for candy corn--it's just so darn cheerful! So this craft is just as much for me as it is for the kids. :)

Source: crafts.slides.kaboose.com via Erin on Pinterest

4. Hand Print Tree
Is Fall complete without some version of a hand print tree? I think not. So we're doing this one because it's just purty.

Source: alittletipsy.com via Erin on Pinterest

5. Button Corn
Another craft that's just as much for me as it is for kids! How fun is this?! And, besides, it ties in perfectly with our Agricultural homeschool unit we'll be doing which is just a cool bonus.

Source: allkidsnetwork.com via Erin on Pinterest

6. Large Leaf Print
Ok, so this one is so gorgeous that it looks like it needs to be put immediately into a frame and hung on a wall (well, after it dries that is. Sorry, corny joke. I'm full of 'em!). I just hope we'll be able to find some ginormous leaves out there somewhere!

Source: kleas.typepad.com via Erin on Pinterest

7. Pasta Skeleton
Here's another one that's arguably educational as well as adorable. It's an anatomy lesson and a Halloween decoration all rolled into one! I call that a win-win!

Source: marthastewart.com via Erin on Pinterest

8. Felt Stitched Leaf Garland
And here we have yet another educational and while fun craft! Adorable garland for mom and sewing skills for the kids! SO (or sew? See, I warned you!) AWESOME.

Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com via Erin on Pinterest

9. Rock Bugs
Ok, so this one could really be done any time of year, but it just so happens that I discovered it recently and my boys luuuuuurve all things bugs, so a Fall craft for us it shall be. (So don't BUG me about it not being seasonal. Get it? Get it?? Sorry, once I get started there's really no stopping the bad puns. It's like a disease I tell you.)

Source: familyfun.go.com via Erin on Pinterest

10.Doughnut Hole Acorns
Ok, I just had to save the sweetest thing for last! How adorable and YUMMY do these look?! Yes, please!

Source: graciousrain.com via Erin on Pinterest

So, that just about wraps up my list of fun Fall crafts. I hope you like some of these as much as I do, and if you decide to do any of them, I'd LOVE to know about it! Please link or mention your projects below in the comments so I can delight in your crafty goodness! :)

Happy Fall!

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