The Olive Branch...

The Olive Branch is known as a symbol of peace & goodwill. In the book of Genesis, following the great flood, Noah sent out a dove to find dry land. On the third flight the dove returned with an olive branch which meant that the waters had receded and there was dry land. It would be a new beginning for Noah and his family. Ironically, the Olive Branch will become a symbol of a new beginning for my family.

image credit

My husband has been offered a position in Olive Branch, Mississippi. We will be moving there soon after Christmas. It is exciting and scary. We will be closer to family. Still a 6 hour drive, but it sure beats a 22 hour drive ! The kids will be changing schools and that's never easy to do. It's not easy to leave a place you've called home for nearly six years. A place where my daughter was born and my boys have lived more of their lives here than their birthplace of Alabama. A place that holds so many memories we have strived to make as a family. A wonderful suburban little town. This is much harder to do than I thought it would be. If I allow myself to think about it , (lately) I just fall apart. So, I try not to . There have been so many treasures I have discovered here in beautiful PA. The treasure of watching four seasons turn. I'll start with Summer...my first memory after arriving here in July of 2005, was it being in the wee hours of the morning, getting to the apartment we were in temporarily, and there were so many fire flies flittering all around us ! It was just beautiful and the boys were chasing them all around. Summers... catching fireflies and playing at the creek. Fall... the most beautiful, vibrant pallet of colors I have ever seen. Collecting & crunching leaves with my kids. Pumpkin patches and all things Fall. It is my favorite season here. Winter... while I do not love the freezing cold... my kids do not seem to mind it. They love the snow. Snow IS beautiful when it is fresh and falling ! I love watching my kids playing in the snow , making snow angels, snowmen, sledding & snowboarding. Spring blooms here are so pretty. Buttercups and tulips are plentiful. The purple crocus peaking up through the snow covered ground. And my favorite is the return of the robins. Something I never paid attention to , ever. Robins everywhere, collecting items to build their nests, then collecting worms to feed the baby birds.

And these are the four seasons I have known for the past 5 and a half years here. I will never forget our days here. I will never forget our friends who have become like a family to us. I really hope that we will return to visit friends & this beautiful place one day.

A New Beginning. It is exciting and overwhelming. It is fearing the unknown. It will be challenging to put a new home back together after being off loaded from a moving truck . It will be ambitious...meeting new people... getting involved in schools and community and church. It will be crazy at first... but it WILL BE OK .
I pray and I pray and I pray... that it will be okay and it is the place we are meant to be at this time in our lives... Olive Branch , Mississippi.

My trust lies completely in my God and he tells me..

For I know the plans I have for you , declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you , plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29 : 11

Posting "catch up"

October was Maddy's Birthday ... we took a trip over to NY and her big birthday gift and memory was getting her American Girl Doll. It was a perfect day. We got to show the boys some things there. Went to Central Park. Wish we could've done more, but I am grateful that we went over, even for a quick trip.

Central Park

Here are my kids in Central Park. I really cannot believe that we took them all to NYC ! It was a quick day trip, on My girl Maddy's Birthday ! We were making a memory on this day ! ( I can explain later ). It was a beautiful October day and not crazy crowded in the city ! After the drive to Jersey, train ride to NYC and alot of walking.. I'm glad we did it !

Getting crafty...

I love these apothecary jars ! sooo many ways to use them all year long !
I cannot remember what blog I took the " Boo " idea from. sorry. If I find it I will edit to credit!

I found this awesome idea HERE and it was so super easy. I have loved these fancy pumpkins! I hope they store well for next year !

Beautiful Mums

Pennsylvania Fall ~

My favorite time of year is Fall ! Especially here in PA . I have such an appreciation for all the beauty found in Fall.

First Day of School

NEW SHOES .... Check



BACKPACKS... Check



HAIRCUTS .... check



My 5th grader and 2nd grader... first day of school !


I'm so happy they had a great first day !

Cookie Dough !

I love love love cookie dough ! I love eating the cookie dough better than eating the cookies after being baked ! NOT such a great idea, since there is a recall on eggs right now.

I am so excited about finding a recipe for egg~less cookie dough. I never knew ! I found it HERE on My Computer is My Canvas blog.


What could be better than SAFE for you to eat cookie dough... chocolate covered cookie dough ! I can't wait to mix these up & share with my kids ! they love cookie dough too. I always discourage them eating it while I bake... they will be excited about this too !

Results...

Trying to make a few home improvements around here. Nothing major, mostly aesthetic. So, back in June I posted THIS IDEA and today I completed THIS :

The lighting is terrible, it's a bathroom with no window... and energy efficient light bulbs ! But I am happy with the finished look. I may have spent $10 in all.
The wooden plaques are very inexpensive. Scrapbook paper... very inexpensive also.
Movin' on ... ready to conquer the next home project ! Have a great weekend !

In our Backyard.... ( sort of)

We have the pleasure of seeing this quiet a bit. The Hot Air balloons over Spring Mount. Usually they are drifting on the other side of the mountain and farther away. Yesterday this balloon cought Grant's eye, from a distance it looked
(to him) like it was going to land in our back yard ! By the way, would not even be possible, since we practically have no back yard. This balloon was on the side of Spring Mount closer to our house. It was so close that we could actually see the people in the basket. Yes, we waved to them !

Where is Home ?

My family and myself have returned home from our visit "home" to Alabama. Yes, Sweet Home Alabama. This visit was extended to over 2 weeks which is the longest we have stayed since we moved away 5 years ago. Since it was a longer stay, I have pondered the question where is home? Is home where your Heart is? Is home where you are planted. Is home closer to family? It is a difficult question for me with a most uncertain answer. I must say upfront that I refrain from offering too much personal ( probably boring ) information on this blog of mine. If you didn't know this about my family... We relocated to PA 5 years ago. I do love most things here. It is a beautiful place to live. I am so aware of God's creation with appreciation for watching four very distinct seasons morph before my eyes. ( something the South does not get to see ). The snow is beautiful & fun (for a while) . While my heart has always longed to return closer to "home" one day, I have come to terms with the fact Billy's job is here and that my children have close friends here and are involved with community sports and they love their school and they love the snow. It is really difficult living so far away from family. We have had 4 or more medical emergencies involving family members that require a quick travel " home" . Holidays are quiet but sometimes I appreciate not hustling to visit everyone. This visit back to Alabama, my kids surprised me by not wanting to leave. Asking questions like " why can't we live here again? " I did not expect this.

I feel like we have lived in "limbo" since we moved here. We are a family of 5 in very tight living quarters ( a town home). I feel like the more I purge it seems like more new and must have stuff finds it's way into the house & garage, and truthfully, that is very exhausting. Limbo , I say because we want to be in a single family home again and we want to reside in a place within a reasonable driving distance from our families in Alabama. ( 6-8 hours or less is reasonable to me). Where a family emergency does not require a plane ticket "home" . We always have our eyes and ears open to opportunities. I do believe in Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart ; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
I believe in "You are here, exactly where you are suppose to be." or something to that affect. So, until an opportunity presents itself and we can trust in God that it is part of HIS plan for us... I will stay in limbo.

You never know where life will take you. I never dreamed that I would be watching my kids snowboard down Spring Mount and make snow angels instead of sand castles. I am such a warm weather girl ! You begin to love what your kids love ( what makes them happy makes you happy ). And this is my heart today spilled onto this computer monitor. Any and all insightful comments are welcome. Enjoy your weekend.

4th of July project with kids

I love it when I can recycle / re purpose something in my little craft world. How many kids crafts are there using toilet paper rolls ! Dozens or more ! I collect these rolls for church , VBS , and pre school.

I saw this really neat idea, but more of a grown up decor version over on
Rhonna's blog

And this is what I did with my kids on Monday...



And if you like this idea, check this image out:
toilet paper roll wall art

Have a safe & Happy 4th !

project on my mind

I am becoming such a slacker with blogging ! Could it be I am bored with blogging? More likely~ I am boring you, the reader. I think I just want a change and trying to figure that all out. In the meantime I found this fabulous craft to share with you. I am going to give this one a try ! These plaques are so inexpensive in craft stores ( remember to use that 40% coupon ! ) This is a fabulous way to fill the space on a wall ! This idea found HERE
Paper and Plaques

Use those pretty bits and pieces of paper you can't bear to part with for this wall-art project. Local crafts stores carry inexpensive wood plaques in tons of shapes and sizes. Paint the plaques, cut the paper accordingly, and adhere. Finish with a coat of polyurethane if desired.

Last Day of School

Friday is the last day of school ! It's going to be a long Summer ! This is a teacher gift for Grant's teacher... Mrs. Sturman. Jackson's teacher is a Mr. and he was given an itunes gift card.
( craftiness is probably not the way to go for him! )
The kids had a great school year ! Now, the task at hand is to fill these calendar days with activities. Library, Summer reading, Bible schools a few weeks, and some day trips and play dates> I am also hoping to provide opportunities for community service... helping at the local food pantry, cleaning up at the local library, visiting a senior center, helping others. I will try to update more regularly !
This is a link crediting the crayon monogram project Here is a link for some great ideas for Summer.
I am making a " Boredom Busters " jar that will hopefully
curb the whining on low key days.
Have a Great Summer !

Friends at the Zoo

How can you pass these Lemurs without singing... "I like to move it move it"
everyone did ! it was pretty funny !

Creatures of Habitat~ LEGO