Our Fall Photo Review

Since I mostly write over at Deep Breaths, I thought I should pause and post some more recent family pictures here.

The fall of 2012 has been good and challenging too.  This fall kicked off a busy season in our lives; I miss the days that were more simple and less scheduled.  We are involved in two homeschool groups (which are wonderful, but keep us hopping).  This fall both Darling Daughter and Sunshine Head played soccer.  And all of us go to Awana each week too.  Thankfully we have a break from soccer for awhile (until Spring).

Here is our fall review in photos:

The beginning of the school year!

Our friend Kristin showed us this great small orchard that sells apples at reasonable prices, we enjoyed homemade applesauce from here.

Hubby joined in on the grape picking fun and helped juice them; yum!

We traveled down to South Carolina from my cousin Sarah's wedding; so good to see the southern relatives!

The kids all dolled up in their wedding clothes

I love this guy!

The kids had so much sweating fun at the reception.  Darling daughter, singing "Call Me Maybe" with the band.

Cold soccer Saturdays.

The cooperative posing that I am so thankful for!

The horse crazy one enjoying her monthly lesson with Spring Willow.

I took a photography class online this fall and started a photography business, Imprints Photography.  Took this photo to document our wait for baby #4. It has been quite the journey of ups and downs; in the Lord we keep hoping and waiting.

Hubby is growing out his beard!

Merry Christmas!  We hope you have had a great 2012.  We have so much to be thankful for.

Summer Mantel

 

When I looked up the word mantle, instead of mantel, one of the definitions was "a part of a bird's anatomy".  I found this interesting since I kind of went with a bird theme for our summer "mantel" (which is really not a mantle, but the top of our piano). 

The reason I went with the bird theme was because I have been intrigued with them lately.  My parents got the kids two bird feeders and a bird identifying book and it has been fun to see our new little friends in the backyard.

But, more than that birds have been a trigger of hope  The girl name we have picked out (for Baby #4) is a bird name, Larkin (Lark for short).  We liked the name, and then Hubby looked up the definition and it said larks are known for their melodious songs.  We were sold on the name then for sure; this time of waiting for Baby #4 (to adopt) has been marked by song.

I also love to get fresh bouquets from our yard; to bring the outside in.  For the two bouquets on the "mantel" I added some surprises; a flowering chive, a sprig of rosemary from the garden, and a few cuts of black raspberries.

I also redid the entertainment center "mantel" too.  I focused more on colors here; the bright yellow and turquoise.  "Give Thanks" is our family theme for this year, so I kept those pieces highlighted as well.  The piece of fabric wrapped around the plant also has birds on it.  As I mentioned in a previous post, one of my sis-in-laws gave me this cut of fabric to remind us to keep hoping and waiting for baby.

The best thing about the "mantels" is that I didn't spend any money, I used what I had or had been given to me (at one time I spent a few dollars between the two white containers and one of the birds).  It felt good to freshen things up without going shopping; just rearranging.

I have been drawn to these colors lately too, salmon, turquoise, red, chocolate brown, and bright yellow.  Reminds me of the bright colors of summer.

Hope you have a great one!

I am linking up with the The Lettered Cottage (see button below), for some reason I am having some trouble displaying the link, so just scroll below and click on their link.

Creating, Saving, and Cheering

I found this frame the other day.  I removed the broken glass and added scrapbook paper and embellishments, that I had on hand, to create this art piece for our bedroom.  It was fun to spruce things up for free!

Here is a closer view of each panel (Project supplies: various scrapbook papers, brads, tape runner to secure paper panels to the frame mat, black Creative Memories pen, flower embellishments).

Also a shout out to the gals at Savings Addiction (check out their blog if you haven't, LOTS of great deals and savings ideas, www.savingsaddiction.com) for this great deal tip from The Canvas People www.canvaspeople.com.  I only had to pay shipping to turn one of my photographs into a canvas art piece.  Shipping was around $15, and the canvas was free. Normally the canvas alone would have been $49.99  There is still time to get this great deal, check it out!

And a big thanks to Jen Wood, facebook friend, who tipped me off to a great deal on baby slings from www.sevenslings.com

I got 2 slings, a matching bracelet and baby leg warmers (they are too cute) for $5 plus the cost of shipping, around $23 (and saved $120 retail).  Banner exceeds the weight limit, so Brooke lent me her baby doll Natalie to use to test out the slings. Can't wait till we can try it out with our baby!  Please pray, the wait continues (we are growing a lot during this season of waiting but ready for it to come to an end soon)...

I am also having a little too much fun with couponing.  I only shop at Meijer for most everything and Walgreens (when they have free or discounted photo offers).  I use Savings Addiction and Money Saving Mom (check out their blogs) primarily for deals ideas and use coupon.com, smartsource.com and Meijer's mperks are my coupon sources.  The other day I saved $74.74 at Meijer!  It is quite a thrill to save this much, especially when Meijer already has items on sale and then you can combine your mperks coupons and your manufacturer's coupons- a triple savings!  My favorite things about this recent order was the deal Meijer ran on some of their organic products.  If you purchased 10 items you received $5 off instantly.  We did this deal twice and filled our cupboards with some of our favorite, yummy and healthy items.

I have some more deals coming in the mail (a free shutterfly 8x8 scrapbook, 50 free prints, and a carseat cover- only paid shipping on all of them)!  Again thanks to the above mentioned for this tips.  Friends can be a great resource for deals too.  My friend Jennifer just bought 4 tank tops at Target last week (with a sale that ended last Saturday and with online coupons).  She only paid $12 plus tax! 

It does take time to coupon, but it doesn't have to be all consuming.  Do what works for you.  For me limiting my stores to 2 (unless there is an incredible deal of something I really need or want) has helped greatly, and trying to just buy items that we can use now or in the near future.  I am not stockpiling things, but sometimes have a few extras on hand to use or give to others.  I love seeing how much I save and doing a little dance about it.:)  I know there are tons of others who do a much better job with all this, but I am having fun!

I will end with some soccer shots of Kale.  He is so enjoying soccer as much as we are enjoying watching him and cheering him on.  I am glad that he gets this special time to do something by himself; good job buddy!

Yes, their jerseys are really this bright- easy to spot on the fields though!

Adam and is having fun working with Kale on his skills.

Every good player needs a memorable celebration move:)

Nice throw in son!

 

 

Hope you are all having a lovely spring.  So thankful for friends and family.  Looking forward to visitors in the next two weeks.

Balm

One of our friends, who has adopted, sent me the following message.  What a healing balm to my soul as we wait, and ache, and try to thrive and make the most of the days, and grow, and dare to hope.

"I'm sure you have heard this 1,000 too many times but God has a plan for your family and the next child he brings into your family, you just have to wait on him. That's coming from the spiritual side of things, coming from an adoptive mother who has suffered disappointment and wanted nothing more than to have my baby home, I know the ache that is inside you everyday while you wait and I can tell you that it makes you stronger and brings you into total reliance on God, but sometimes you just need to ache without feeling like you are not being faithful enough, without everyone around you telling you to have more faith and trust and trying to fix your hurts. So, We love you and we are praying for you and I'm sorry for the aches I know you feel, and it's okay to feel that way sometimes!!!"

Thank you my friend; yes that sums it up well- how we feel as we wait.  "Though there's pain in the offering, we will bless the name of the Lord."  Sacrifice-- it costs something indeed.

I was reminded the other day at bible study, that Jesus' love is unconditional.  So glad!  He is faithful always, a secure foundation in an ever-changing world and amidst uncertain circumstances.  "I am loved by the King and it makes my heart want to sing".

We went to Meijer Gardens today (we had never been); it was so beautiful, a wonderful outing with one of our homeschool groups.  I love how God transforms us...like these butterflies.

So thankful my parents were able to meet us there; it was great to see them and they were a big help with the exuberance kiddos!