52 First Dates: Week Seventeen

*Taken in Aug

Week Seventeen... Seventeen!  Wow!  Seventeen weeks of getting to know your spouse better?  Isn't that amazing?

Can you imagine if we always took this time to invest in the most important relationship of our lives?  So important to invest that time.  Can't believe the results we're already seeing in our home.

So how was your art date?  Did you have fun?  Neither Dave nor I have an artistic bone in our bodies.  It was an experience.  But it was fun.  It's just fun to get out art stuff and doodle.  Plus it's super relaxing and gets the mind going.  We had some of the best conversation.  It wasn't forced and things just came up that we wouldn't have thought of otherwise.  It was a great date!

Ready for this week's challenge:

Let's go stargazing before the weather gets too cold.  It's cooling off here, but this is a date that I so want to do.  Whether you're gazing in the backyard or taking a drive, it's a great way to get away from the TV and really start talking.  You'll have to hire a sitter for this one, but it's your only expense.  And if you wait for the kids to go to bed, the sitter's even cheaper.  Take a drive out of town where it's really dark.  Don't forget to pack snacks: Hershey's kisses, dessert, strawberries... anything in that area.  Pack a blanket too.  Find a quiet place to just sit and look at the stars.  I'm sure that's not all you'll be doing, but it's a good place to start.

Have fun on your date night!

*Linked to these Parties

Appreciation...

Appreciation is such an important thing.  Showing your appreciation is huge.  How often do we go about life assuming that the other person knows we appreciate all they do?  As if somehow, they can just sense how important they are in our lives.  Think about how many people your life touches on a day to day basis... your neighbor, the cashier at the grocery store, your kids or your husband....

Earlier this summer, our family traveled down to visit my brother in law and his wife for the weekend.  While we were there, we also attended their church for a Sunday service.  It's a huge church, multiple services on a Sunday morning, ... HUGE!

My Lydia is a very shy little girl.  Warming up to other people is not her specialty, although she's getting better.  I wasn't sure how she would do attending a Sunday School class with no one she knows or no little friends she's seen before.  I just didn't have a good feeling about it.  All through out the service, I kept watching for our number to flash across the screen or for our screaming toddler to come running through the doors into my arms.

I was amazed when we went back to pick her up and she was just as happy as could be.  She was excited to see us and ready to go home, but she had definately had a great time.  Part of their lesson that day had been how we are children of God.  They made and decorated crowns.  And when I went to pick her up, she just kept saying over and over again, "I'm a princess.  I'm a princess of God."  It was the cutest thing in the world.  And truth be told, I couldn't thank that nursery worker enough.  It was such a load off my mind to know that my daughter had been safe, taught something, and really joyful when we picked her up.

All this to say, I've come to think about how important it is to show our appreciation for others.  This month is Pastor Appreciation Month.  So start there.  Or show your appreciation to your nursery worker.  They've probably had a very long hour to two hours, poured their hearts into your kids, and have given you a much needed break.

Maybe you need to show your appreciation to your husband.  Maybe you've taken for granted all the things he's been doing for you lately... the garbage, feeding the dog, or just playing with the kids so you can have a few minutes to yourself.  I know, I know.  They're his kids too.  But still it wouldn't hurt any of us to just show our appreciation once in awhile.

Maybe you need to show your appreciation to your kids.  (Wow, that one hurts doesn't it)  Maybe they let you sleep in an extra half hour or just let you get the dishes done without fighting.  Remember our kids learn from us... what are we modeling?

Anyways... just something to think about.  Ramblings and musings from a stay at home mom.

Fall To Do List

Can you believe it's Oct 4th and I haven't posted a seasonal to do list yet?  I don't know where I've been.  The 21st was weeks ago.  I've been entrenched in retreat and birthday planning.

So to keep me on track here's our TO DO LIST for the fall:

*attend the women's retreat
*volunteer at Turtle Bay's WALK THIS WAY
*throw Noah's 5th birthday party
*go to the pumpkin patch
*can some applesauce and apple butter?
*start Christmas presents
*host an open house
*volunteer at MOPS craft fair
*bake, bake, and bake
*attend Thanksgiving at my mom's
*go Christmas tree hunting
*go to the Christmas parade
*attend my sister-in-law's wedding
*trick or treating

What do you have planned in the coming months

Made by Me Monday

Hey y'all,

How was your weekend?  How are things going in your house?

We had an eventful weekend.  My mom was passing through on Sunday.  We went to church, to lunch, and then decided to take the kids bowling.  Noah and Lydia were so excited.  We bowled one frame and then... Lydia cracked her chin open on a bowling ball.  A bowling ball you ask?  Yes, a bowling ball.  Still not sure how she really did it, but it needed stitches nonetheless.  

What was the strangest thing?  The whole time I was in the ER, I was thinking, "This isn't right.  I should be here with Noah."  I've been expecting to take Noah in for stitches with all the craziness he's into, but Lydia? I wasn't expecting that one at all.  WOW!  So 2 1/2 hrs and 4 stitches later, we have a grown up girl who did an awesome job.  She's a rockstar.

So what do you think of this cute little bag?  I know the photos aren't great quality, but I think they're cute.

They're about the size of a pencil bag, very frugal, and super quick.  I've thought of several ideas for them and think they would make a fun gift.  I'll be sharing them further with you later in the week.

how us those projects.  Write a blog post highlighting your project with a link back so that others can join in on the fun.  Then link up below to the blog post itself.  You can post more than one project; just add more than one link.  I'll be picking one of your projects to highlight next week.  So start linking up!

*Linked to these Parties

Lee's To Do List

I love this Charming Party (@ Executive Homemaker).  Great idea for a bunch of girlfriends!

What little boy wouldn't love a Knights and Dragons Birthday Party (@ Creative Party Place).  I'm going to have to bookmark this one for next year.

This Ladybug Baby Sprinkle (@ Between Cottage and Cabin) would make any soon-to-be Mommy very excited.  What a wonderful way to welcome baby!