Treats to share with dear friends

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~Author Unknown

 The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend. ~Henry David Thoreau

Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer. ~Author Unknown

A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably. ~William Penn

How to enjoy a Monday morning...

A cup of coffee.

Watching the sunrise making the colorful trees glow.

Devotions.

Children who are being studious.

A good book.

A Daddy who is coming home for lunch.

A non-Halloween party with special friends.

Fresh-baked sugar cookies.

An afternoon of constant noise...

Sundays are supposed to be made up of parts...having the idea of worship and rest.  This one contained worship and partial rest.  The part being the parents tried to rest...the partial being that rest was disturbed...and now that worship part...should probably be re-done!  I didn't mind the droan of the game.  I was thankful for the rattle of dishes at someone else's hand.  I didn't appreciate the loud exclamations and all-out chaos that woke me from a too short nap.  I very rarely end up falling asleep on Sunday afternoons...today...I did.  The figures on the fridge are cute.  The creation of them brought much glee...I guess.  Where's my cup...I need some coffee!

There are times when I should just quit while I am ahead!

I realize some days...usually right in the middle of a mess...that things just don't go the way I want them to go.  I had another idea of what I wanted.  A decision is made and I have to make the best of it...with a joyful spirit.  It is what I do on a regular basis as a wife and mother...other's needs come first.  I have gotten pretty good at just rolling with whatever is thrown my way...

and I always think of a way to make it better or special. 

THAT'S CONTENTMENT! 

 That whole make lemonade with lemons idea came to mind...blah, blah, blah.

But then...in the middle of making the lemonade...

I drop the freshly filled container of flour and it slides down the counter to the floor and lands upright (thankfully) with a thump and a poof of white (all over my denim and black outfit).  I snatched up Chevy and then stood and looked at the mess...and took a picture.  Part of my family was outside working diligently on a big project and part was running an errand...I prayed that no one would walk in just then and see the mess.  I didn't want to explain what had just happened.

Supper was ready and raising nicely.  The oven pre-heating as I went the extra mile for dessert.

It was at that moment I heard myself say, "I should have just quit while I was ahead!"  This time I just shook my head and got to the clean-up...with no tears!  I realized at that point...contentment was the choice I was making...sad, frustrated, or angry tears are not part of contentment! 

Have you ever thought of that?  I didn't...until then.

A faithful commitment to the job that God has given me while working with joyful endurance and a heart of thankfulness for what God has blessed me with at this time. 

That is my Kari definition of contentment...the different jobs that God gives me may vary...the situations and time periods may vary...my commitment, joy, and faithfulness to God should not!  And my feelings about any of it...should not change my actions...because my feelings change constantly.

My responsibility is first to the needs of my family...and I need to go the extra mile to make things special...no matter what happens in the process!  I am to be a help-meet to my husband...in the little ways and big ways. It is easy to run here and there and make things special for everyone else. 

But there are times...seasons in life...as women...we need to stay put and be a keeper in

our own home making things special for the family that God has given us...no matter how strong the pull or desire is to go running here and there...ignoring the people who need your help the most!

Last night's supper was shared with our family in gratefulness for those who go the extra mile to help us...

and I was glad that I was there to serve a hot meal...with dessert...to the delight of my family...

even when I was dusted lightly with flour!

Dear Lord, please help me to find the contentment I seek...first at home!

We're not crazy about Halloween...

we are counting down to a more exciting time!  Thanksgiving weekend...when our cousins will come!

The kiddos wanted a way to keep track of how many days.  We have done the chain thing.  We have done a number countdown.  This time...I got hit with a bright idea...fall leaves...when all the leaves are off the schoolroom ceiling...our cousins will be here!  We are piling the leaves around our happy scarecrow.

They seemed to like the idea!

I'll listen to Christmas music anytime she wants to play!

 What a blessing to see what Ashlynn has learned since February!  We are amazed at her progress.  She has surpassed any ability we have to help her.  She knows how to breathe, where her fingers should be for the notes, what to do with her lips to get a high and low sound...and she doesn't fuss about practicing and playing for us!  Grammy and Grampy came through last night on their way to Michigan.  This morning, Grammy asked Ashlynn to play for her...and then Grammy played with her.

The possibilities are endless!

There is some planning going on again...and it is always fun to see what I can find.

Birds

Nests

Feathers

Oh my!

"Home is the one place in all this world where hearts are sure of each other..."

 "It is the place of confidence. It is the place where we tear off that mask of guarded and suspicious coldness which the world forces us to wear in self-defense, and where we pour out the unreserved communications of full and confiding hearts. It is the spot where expressions of tenderness gush out without any sensation of awkwardness and without any dread of ridicule."

 ~Frederick W. Robertson

The informality of family life is a blessed condition that allows us to become our best while looking our worst. ~Marge Kennedy

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family. ~Anthony Brandt

Thankful for the family that God has given us.  What a blessing to see our children grow!  The hard work and answered prayers are demonstrated daily in many different ways.

Powered by coffee

Some days...it tastes soooo good!  Mondays and Thursdays seem to be those days for me.  After this morning, I am thinking of serving it to our children.  I just have to figure out how to get them out of bed first.  All those years of whining about how early they would get up...have now changed to whining about how hard it is to get them up...on school days!  I have the same issues with morning as always...but the smell of that coffee...helps...a lot!

A Happy Wednesday Treat!

Pretzels, candy corn, M & Ms, and white chocolate...

Yum!  I had seen this online several times and raided the pantry.

Playing in ink

The other night at our stamping night, my stamping queen friend told us to us a paint brush to touch the edges of the paper with ink...instead of using a sponge.  I like the soft look...and depending on the color...aged.

I bought a stamp to go with my bird...a nest...at Hobby Lobby...for 40% off.  I really ought not to go to that store!  I wandered through the fall aisles...the Christmas aisles...

it doesn't help to go to those stores when you don't need more stuff!

Today's Mom breakfast

A serving of the carrots that I forgot to serve at last night's supper!  Thanks, Dad and Mom, for the yummy carrots out of your garden.   

It all balances out...you know...the food pyramid thing...eventually.

Yikes!

Boys will be boys!

Young or old...it doesn't matter!  The size, speed, and the cost of the toys just change!

And little boys have to learn to share with big boys!

It has been so fun to watch them enjoy this toy together!

All work and no play...is not good...no matter how old or how young you are!  So they are working hard on building the shed...so they can go out and play again...soon!

I really like one pot meals!

Mashed potatoes to top...

a hamburger, corn, cream of mushroom soup, tomato sauce, salt and pepper mixture...

The first shepherd's pie made at our house...made with ingredients we had on hand.

This is a "do again" supper!  Enough leftovers for a hot lunch.

The family dinner table...is a must!

For my momma!

from the fall collection

from the simply said collection

from the children's and punch something collections

a little bit of Christmas collection

from the all clear and Cheery friend's collection

And in my true fashion...I made no cards...just stamped a bunch of stuff to bring home.  You can browse through it when you come again!!

Happy Stamping!

Sunday sights

Fresh from Wisconsin soil...carrots and potatoes for Sunday dinner.

My breakfast...and my children saw my bad example!

TURKEYS! in the neighbor's backyard! Sitting on our fence!  Walking through our backyard and neighborhood!  Teddy was all about finding his gun..."Thanksgiving is coming, don't you know!"

It's been on his wish list...for his son!

Ted and Teddy went for a little ride on Saturday afternoon.

A scouting expedition turned shopping expenditure! 

I have never seen two guys smiling from ear to ear as they exited a vehicle...they found a toy that has been on their wish list.

Go, Teddy, Go!

A Hayride...but with straw

Farmer Jon fired up the tractor and took us on a ride through the fields.

The country bumpkins!

The city slickers!

It was a beautiful afternoon!

We really forget how peaceful and quiet the countryside is! 

The boys started watching for full corncobs left behind by the combine, "Hey, there's one!  Go get it!"  The big boys aimed to please!

Shelling corn to throw at each other.

Our version of children of the corn..."Run, guys, run!" We laughed about the time and energy put into organizing this hay (straw) ride for all of us to enjoy the beauty of the countryside...we all spent the time with our heads down looking at the harvested field for "another one"!

The fresh air...galloping through the rows of cornstalks...time with friends...laughter...good food...

a very productive afternoon for all of us...even the chickens!

They enjoyed the corn from the corncobs!

We enjoyed bringing home a dozen of farm fresh eggs! 

Thanks, Farmer Jon and family!