seeing the graces...{thank you}

coming over a bridge, slowly creeping in traffic, that i normally try to avoid...

i see it first through the passenger side window...

then i feel its warmth and morning glow.

a grace experienced because i traveled by a different way,

a grace given in the midst of waiting in traffic.

 a grace received, as always, that i did not deserve nor expect.

it is a good day.

what's for dinner...{per request}

jacob requested meatballs and spaghetti for dinner.  and this recipe was in the sunday paper. 

easy and yummy!  best part?  cook them all day in your slow cooker and dinner is DONE.

photo via dashrecipes.com

girls night...{while the guys went to a movie}

the day after...{looking back}

 

did you and yours have a merry little christmas?

easy-to-do gift tags...{all you need is a photo}

i have made these for several years now, and it's an easy and creative way to label your gifts...

 choose a family photo...print them in wallet size on your computer...

cut and label with the name of your recepient!

just wanted to share...merry christmas!

100 in 100...{complete!}

and so, it is finished!  at least for the last 100 days of 2011.

we have officially rid ourselves of {over} 100 items.  and it was actually easy and liberating.  the last 17 items consisted of...

corkscrew, christmas wreath, 7 items of clothing, 2 pillows, television, bag of clothing, doll crib, computer monitor and keyboard, and dressing table...

ta-da!

what i have learned from 100 in 100...
* i am now more conscientious of what i bring into our home...i find myself replacing item for item and really thinking about whether or not i need something.
* i don't need half the stuff i think i do...
* there is a sense of relief when you toss items and have less to worry about, less to clean, and space to breathe...
* i find real worth in the things i DO have, because they serve a purpose (or two or three, now that i am living with less)...
* i realize the capacity i have to bless people with things that i have, or with the time/money that i have now that i live with less...

so, what's next?
i've been thinking about doing the 30 day clothing fast again, to see if i can weed more out of my closet.  i've also thought about going on a spending fast, trying to only buy what we absolutely have to have.  that would be a challenge, since we *really* need mcdonald's french fries about once a week it seems.  one thing for sure, i will continue to rid my home of items in 2012!

any thoughts on what i could do next?

twelve dates...{five and six and seven}

date five of twelve was a family date to sesame burgers on half-price burger night.  we all love that place.  it's hard to go and not take the kids with us.  {they'd be sad.}  then coach sal and i sent them home via david, the-child-who-can-drive, and we did a wee bit of christmas shopping.  alone.  aaahhh.

date six of twelve was to hash-out the rest of our christmas giving list without ears to hear us...so we retreated to t-bonz {and used a gift certificate...bonus!} to talk and eat.  after some thinking and adding, we realized that we had enough b&n gift cards {given to use by generous students} to purchase a nook!  so off to b&n we went.  grand total we spent = $1.68.  awesomeness!  now we own a kindle and a nook.  summer and beach reading can not get here soon enough.

date seven was to adona and bill's card game christmas party.  we've been invited for many years but have never been able to attend until this year.  we played crazy poker with friends from our church and ate yummy food and did a white elephant gift exchange.  it was a nice way to end the school week and start our christmas vacation- hanging out with *big people*!