To every thing there is a season....

Ecclesiastes 3:1
      To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. 

I love all the seasons, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Autumn! The changing of leaves, the relief of the hot summer days, the smells of crisp leaves and apples and cinnamon. Like the changing of leaves, there's been a recent change in my heart: A desire to bring more color and interest into the lives of my children and husband. I have noticed the effects of too little *quality* time spent with each of them. Feeling as though my days were too full to even think about adding anything *extra* to my already full plate. God has been working in my heart...I always love it when He does that because I know something great is about to happen! He has pointed out areas where my time is spent staring at a computer screen, completely detached from those around me. While the computer plays an important part in my daily life: email, my online business, research for home schooling, keeping up with friends and family via Facebook, etc., it has become a time hog. So I created a personal Mon-Fri daily schedule to set specific times to be on the computer and created some special times for my family through out the day!

Here's the new schedule:

6-6:30 Personal Devotions w/a cup of coffee or tea :)
6:30-7 Exercise
7-7:30 Spend time with Randy before he leaves for work
7:30-7:45 Computer
7:45-8 wake kids, breakfast
8-8:30 Morning chores
8:30-12 SCHOOL TIME
12-12:30 Lunch and clean-up, *10/10 pick-up, quick check email
12:30-1:00 Story time/Play time
1:00-3:00 Nap/Quiet time (crochet, sew, afternoon chores)
3-3:30 *10/10 pick-up & snack
3:30-4:30 Dinner preparation
4:30-5:30 Randy home, Dinner served, Clean-up, *10/10 pick-up
5:30-7 Free time (family time...help kids with memorization)
7:00-8:00 Family Devotions
8:00-11:00 Children's bedtime, Randy and I alone time :)
11-11:30 Computer time/blog/journal update
11:30 BED!!! :)

*10/10 pick-ups ~ this is a pick-up all the kids take part in 3 times a day. They pick up 10 items through-out the house, then 10 more....so 20 items in all per kid!! These clean-up times are the key to a tidy home!

Live in the Sunshine!!

Autumn Inspiration

I was talking to a friend about the different types of people in our lives...those who inspire, those who teach, those who support, and those that we watch with saddened hearts as they take paths in life that simply teach us how *not* to be. Each are important...the latter we generally do not like, but it's still vital for each of us as a person to grow in our lives.

Yesterday I was *Inspired* by a mom I know through a message board for those who have large families. She shared a picture of a meal she had made for her family on Facebook and as soon as I saw it, I was inspired to create something just as lovely for my family. It screamed of Autumn and warmth! I could already smell the pumpkin bread throughout the house just thinking of what a wonderful meal this would be! And oh was it WONDERFUL!! Thank you to the mama who Inspired me to better for my family today!!

Apple and Pecan Pork Chops, Loaded Baked Scalloped Potatoes, Candied carrots

Pumpkin Bread Muffins!! YUM!

Enjoying *every* bite!!

Our stuffed turkeys :)

 
                                  Living in the Sunshine!

Sophia's Petti-Tutu & Crochet Lamb Hat

I was so anxious to get this finished for Sophia! She wasn't sure how to move around in it though...so funny!

The Petti-Tutus with a crochet hat is my new love! I finished this one up for my site today...I just love it!!

I named the hat Sadie Hippo :) I think I'm gonna make one for one of the girls!



             Live in the Sunshine!!

Loving the Laughter

Nothing is better than the sound of my children laughing! It is so contagious! My kids were my sunshine today!! Live, Laugh, Love!!

            Live in the Sunshine!!

JoJo's new hat!

When I saw the pattern for this hat on etsy I just had to make it for JoJo!! He's my little old man and I just think it fits him perfectly! Jo Jo is my Sunshine! Our special moment each day is when I sing "You Are My Sunshine" to him. I live for that!

Finding Sunshine in the Valley

Life is a journey that can lead us through some very difficult times, aka: valleys. Everyone we know and those we have yet to meet face their own unique valleys. The way we deal with our valleys is just as unique and different as we are. It took me a while to see that even while in the valley, there are still beautiful things surrounding us. The valley isn't always a bad place, but a place of growth. There's nothing more comforting and warming than rays of sunshine. The sunshine can move us, when we would otherwise not  move. God created the sun for so many things and lately it's been a reminder of His goodness! I challenge you to find the sunshine no matter what life is throwing at you!