Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: Oh is such a beautiful day! The heat is off, the windows are open and I drove with my sunroof open today! The sun is shining and it's in the 60's I'm sure! Sure wish it would stay like this all winter!

One of my simple pleasures: Phone conversations with my mom and sister. It's hard to be away from those that I love...but I'm thankful for cell phones that allow us to be able to talk everyday!
On my bedside table: "Just for Men" and "Just for Women"

On my TV: off again...

On the menu for tonight: Loaded Baked Potato Soup

On my to-do list:
-wash windows (I'm ashamed to admit, but I never did get to them in the spring..thanking God for a beautiful day and the chance to catch up)
-plant bulbs outside

New recipe I tried last week: Makeover Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta, Oven Chicken Fingers, and Quick Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

In the craft basket: OSU scarf for hubby

Looking forward to: being an aunt! Which will for sure happen this week! YEAH!!

Homemaking tip for this week: to clean garbage disposal:
1. pour in baking soda (to coat)
2. pour vinegar over until it bubbles and let sit for 10 minutes
3. rinse with hot water
4. chop 2-3 icecubes


Favorite blog posts this week (mine or other): Too many good posts this week to just choose one!

• I sure have enjoyed reading my friend Mandi's blog. I love how she shares her heart about being a christian wife and mother. Here are some great thoughts she shared from her heart this week: answered prayers & "Hannah's vow" and parenting today.
  
• I also love reading Women Living Well. It's neat how I can be so encouraged and challenged by someone that I've never even personally met. I was so excited for Courtney when she shared that she was going to get to be on the Rachel Ray show to talk about being a wife and mom. You can read about the whole adventure on her blog but here is the clip from the actual show. It was so neat to see her on TV. I was bummed that she didn't get to mention anything about her walk with the Lord (she wasn't allowed) or her blog...but was still glad that she was able to talk about being a wife and mom. It's hard to believe that being a stay at home mom is totally out of the norm now! What a privilege and a blessing it is to be home taking care of my husband and baby girl!


• and..."Uncovering the Beauty-Marriage and the Curse" My friend Kristi did a guest post at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee. Sit back and read a great post about Gods intention for us as wives, what is our role in the marriage?
  

Favorite photo from last week: Hannah at the cider mill..perfect fall pic!

Lessons I've learned the past few days: This is a lesson I seem to have to learn over and over again...but this week along with my sister, I'm learning and being reminded that my plans are not God's plans. His timing and plans are perfect!

On my prayer list: My sister (and her hubby) as she will be delivering this week and adjusting to life as a mommy, brother Tim with finals this week, our small group, continued protection from illness

Devotional, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: I'm so glad that Kristi wrote this book review about the Bible Study "Before the Throne". I've sure enjoyed reading it and have really been challenged in the area of fearing God and have seen the lack of fear and trust in my own life. If you are looking for a great Bible study...I highly recommend this one! Here are some thoughts from Kathy Howard that spoke to me this week:

2 Cor. 10:4,5

• Pride blocks us from knowing God. When we do not view ourselves properly, we cannot have the proper perspective of God.


• Not understanding the enormous greatness of God is the main reason for lack of godly fear.


• We often puff up with spiritual pride when we compare our lives with someone elses (ouch) (Phil. 3:3-6)

Sunday afternoon at the Cider Mill

Mommy has been wanting to go to the apple orchard for weeks now. Daddy's day off is on Friday, which we usually love...but do you know that it has rained every Friday in October?! So...it just wasn't in God's plans for us to go to the apple orchard this year. Mommy finally broke down and bought a bag of Granny Smith apples today to do some pie baking with this weekend. However, we were very glad to be able to go to the Cider Mill last Sunday. It was a beautiful fall afternoon and we didn't have anything else going on, so we were able to enjoy some family time. We just love these kind of days!

I was mesmerized by the big water wheel

and I loved apple cider!

and hangin' out with Daddy

and Mommy

fun with different kinds of pumpkins...

Mommy and Daddy say I'm the cutest pumpkin of them all

20 Months

Where has the time gone? My precious baby girl is 20 months old.

Learning to Play Catch

This is a video is from a few weeks ago that I forgot to post. I thought of it today when Hannah was playing catch like a pro with us. She has always loved to play ball...and now she's catching!

Wordless Wednesday: The Leaves are Falling Down

for more wordless wednesday posts go to Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House

My first Trick-or-Treat

We had a very fun Halloween. I got to go to my friend Joshua's house for dinner and a party. Then we hopped in the wagon and headed out to do some trick-or-treating. By the end of the night...I was saying "trick-or-treat" at every door and "thank you" after getting some candy. I met a lot of nice people and had so much fun with my friend Joshua.

When I got to Joshua's house, he was watching a movie...I joined right in..we were much more interested in the movie than smiling for the camera

all ready to go!

I love being a butterfly!

me & Joshua

Mommy and Daddy say I'm the cutest butterfly ever!

I'm so excited for my first wagon ride. We had so much fun!

Daddy pulled us!

we found a pile of leaves and just had to jump in!

this video is totally dark, but if you can get past that, and mommy and daddy begging me to say trick or treat when I just want to get more candy...this is super cute of me saying trick or treat!

by the end of the night...we were tired...Joshua is sad here...probably because I was pulling on his hat. We were still glad to get a pic of all our friends together! Love them!

you can read more about the party and trickor treating here

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: Sunnyfall day

One of my simple pleasures:chocolate

On my bedside table: haven't been too good about reading these days

On my TV: The World Series

On the menu for tonight: What's on the menu or what we really ate? Menu said Parmesan chicken and potatoes...I guess we'll have that tomorrow. I had a surprise in my evening so we ended up eating hot dogs that Rachel sent home with us on Saturday I topped them off with some chili..thanks Rachel!

On my to do list: sweep and mop, thank you notes, pampered chef stuff

New Recipe I tried last week: pumpkin cookies (delish!) and weeknight cheese quiche...also delish...Hannah loved it too!

In the craft basket: knitting and maybe a scrapbook page or two..excited to use the new scrapbook paper I got with my bday money today :)

Looking forward to: still so looking forward to being an aunt...any day now!

Homemaking Tip for this week: Do the yucky jobs first and reward yourself with the ones you enjoy later

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): The High Calling of Homemaking: A great reminder of why I do what I do...my home is a blessing from the Lord!

Favorite photo from last week: love, love, love this fall pic of my favorite baby girl

Lesson learned the past few days: the importance of looking at the positive side

On my Prayer List: my sister, brother Tim with finals coming up, praying that I will use the time that God has given me for his glory.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil." Prov. 3:7

To read about other happy homemakers head over to Diary of a Stay at Home Mom