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friday

May 24, 2013

this is probably my favorite picture of the year so far.

i can't stop looking at it.

we now have a hedgehog living at our house.
it is from the pet store.

it is pokey.
it is also very cute.
it's name is Percy.

while we were all admiring Percy suddenly annie shouted "HEY IS THAT A TURTLE IN THE YARD?!"

it was.

we brought it to the patio and enjoyed it for awhile.

we took lots of pictures of it.

we introduced the turtle to Percy.
they both were completely uninterested in each other.

and then nature time was over.

the turtle went on his merry way and percy went back to his home in laurens room.

later there was pie making by lauren.
which is always nice surprise.

this shirt is from Moxie Clothing Co. and i love it!
my family got quite a laugh out of it.

(they are working out their shop details… you can find it sometime over here at houseofbelonging on IG)

we were discussing freckles at the track meet and annie asked "do I have any freckles?"

ummm….yes!

just a few.

lauren made it all the way to State in Track!
she competed today in Javelin.

we were so proud!
it's pretty impressive to watch those girls throw!

pretty flowers when i stopped by the craft house today.

i took my little girls to see Epic this afternoon.
it was very pretty.
the graphics were stunning…. i can't believe they can make animated movies look so real!

your kids will like it.
and you will enjoy it enough just looking at all the details.

i had to pull over again tonight because LOOK AT THAT beautiful sky!!
i am crazy for a farm sky all of may and june in kansas.

we ate little caesares pizza on the patio.
the kids jumped on the trampoline while i started working on th is blog.
it was a very nice day.

the summer list is not done yet.
we are working on the rough draft still.

what i am most excited about tonight?

nothing on the calendar for this weekend.

N O T H I N G

i like that.

*******************************************

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Deb Meyers - Lauren has such pretty and capable-looking hands.
deb meyers

Kristin S - I keep going back to this post. Love it.

Kate - We loved epic! Very cute!

Melissa - The slug in Epic was HIlarious. Love the freckles. My daughter was convinced for the longest time that she got hers from drinking too much strawberry milk.

Michelle - Did you paint the little bit of blue on the turtle shell? We do that, too (but we use red nail polish) so we can tell if the same turtle visits us again.

Seriously Sassy Mama - I could use that beer.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - So much Lauren! I love it.
And that hedgehog. Please don’t show Calvin.

Lisa Biedebach - Meg:
How do your flowers do in the galvanized buckets once it gets hot? I love how it looks.

Stephanie - You make me miss Kansas with every post.
Lauren has gorgeous hair. I’m in love with the pic of dad and daughter.
Annie is a cutie.
Your blog is cheerful and lovely.

Mindy - Such a cute little hedgehog (but not as cute as that girl attached to the freckles)! I had no idea people kept them as pets. And I love that the turtle just showed up to visit.

danielle - Now I want a hedgehog…

Lisa M. - This weekend we are working in our yard. Good stuff. We’re ready for some color after this dreary winter.
Your flowers are so beautiful! I have been admiring them these past couple of posts. I also do mostly containers and I have been taking some cues off of you this year 🙂 I have a question maybe you can answer since you seem to paint alot of things 🙂 I have and old galvanized tub that I think used to be used for canning. Do you think I could paint it? I was going to poke holes in the bottom and use it as a planter, but I’m concerned I will ruin the inside of it if I put soil in it (some might say I’m going to ruin it if I paint it!:). If you have time, I’d love to hear your opinion! Thanks!

Mac - The hedgehog and turtle are too cute ! Thanks for sharing all the beautiful photos and Happy Summer !

Lachalle - You can tell Annie I once heard that freckles are kisses from angels. My daughter has quite a few too! Super cute hedgehog, although I don’t think I would be a brave mama to allow one in our house . So brave and open to let your kids have all those opportunities to them , awesome shirt as well.
~L~

Tracy - We have nothing on the calendar this weekend either. AHHHH! I’ve been looking forward to this w/e for months! Schools out. Graduations over. Quiet. 3 day weekend 🙂
It’s nice to see Lauren on the blog 🙂 Beautiful pie!

Melissa Hillier - So much Lauren in one post!! I love it! She’s grown up so much!
Love the pie. Can I borrow her?

Lisa - I love turtles and Percy is adorable! Curious what the blue mark is on the turtles shell? Enjoy your weekend. We have nothing this weekend too!!! So glad. 🙂

SmithShack71 - Awesome day!
🙂
Angie

Jill - Nothing better than a weekend with nothing planned. Enjoy! I noticed how lovely Lauren’s hands are…. I have a thing for hands. She is beautiful! And… farm skies are gorgeous… up here in Nebraska as well!

Annette - Lauren has the most beautiful hands! Strong and graceful at the same time.

Southern Gal - That is the cutest hedgehog. He looks like a stuffed animal. My daughter is getting goats;the boy’s name is Percy Cedric. 😉
I notice you have LightRoom to edit photos. I have a question. Do you use the same size/pixels, etc for blog photos that you do for those you print? I have blogger and have to use 800×800 and I use less pixels. Then I find I have to redo them to print. Am I missing something?

Lori H - I am in love with Percy! When my son was in elementary school, his friend brought a hedgehog to school when his mother read a couple of books to the class that featured one. Adorable.

angela - I love a post like this! Highlights of your week with pictures…gorgeous pictures!!! I know you are so proud of Lauren! She is a beautiful girl and so talented! What a blessing!

Sara Torbett - Lauren’s pie looks delicious and fancy. Percy makes me eeeeeek 🙂 Daisies and farm skies are heaven on earth. I never knew how much I would fall head over heels in love with the farm/country life. Yet here I am. 🙂 I picked up a turtle once on our farm and tried to drive it to my classroom, back when I used to teach. The crazy turtle escaped in my car and was about to crawl under my feet! He was hissing at me and everything. YIKES. No more turtle catching for me…
Enjoy your lovely weekend….I worked on my blog the same way you did tonight. So I’d say we’re both off to a great start to the weekend! 🙂

laura @ luckypennylove.com - I didn’t even know you could have a hedgehog as a pet. So cute. And that sunset….gorgeous. You make me want to sell it all and move to the wide open land. With grass and sky. We’re working on our summer bucket list too! Yeah summer!
laura @ luckypennylove.com

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kind of a big deal.

April 18, 2013

last saturday scott had basketball games all day.
but like all of those tournaments, the games are hours apart.
inbetween the games we ended up at the craft house to relax.
i was working on my pillow front….

which was just me layering things on this piece of quilt and sewing it down.
the girls thought it was so fun and i said "you can make one"
apparently i say no too often because they both GASPED and shouted "WE CAN??!!"

(parent fail)

i said "yes… you can. and i will show you how to sew it all together"

"REALLY?!!! You will teach us how to SEW!?? TODAY?!!"

(hanging my head)

"Yes. I will teach you today."

i gave them each a piece of fabric as their base and told them to use the scraps and layer on anything they wanted to and it will be fun and pretty and you will love it.
and they did.
Sean was not interested and that is no surprise.
he did sit in the room with us and drew pictures of dead cartoon characters… maybe feeling a little out numbered by the women around him so he was making up for it by overcompensating in the boy department?
ha.

annie chose to make a pillow like we made at the first craft weekend. (i miss you first CW girls!!)

talby came up with her own pattern of stripes.

and suddenly…. they were sewing.

it was pretty amazing.

i don't think i was scared to teach them before… just didn't know if i had the patience.
but after a year of craft weekends and seeing that i can help women take away that fear of the machine,
teaching my girls was practically easy.
the craft weekend women are always awesome so there was no reason to feel anxious about my own girls.

that is her face of concentration. :)

beautiful pillows to be proud of for sure!!
they chose the fabrics from scraps and did all the sewing.
i helped annie cut circles. she cut the first 8 & then was the fabric chooser while i became the fabric cutter

i was so proud of my crafty girls.

—————————————

by the way…

i use two of each these machines for craft weekend and what i use myself for all my sewing.

SINGER Heavy Duty Model 4411 SINGER Heavy Duty Model 4423

i just ordered them straight from Amazon and it's free shipping!
as far as i can tell after having used them for two years now, the only difference is the Model 4423has an automatic threader and the Model 4411 does not.

i am not working for Singer.
i just like their machines.
🙂

they are very basic, non-threatening, easy to use machines.

maybe you should ask for one for mother's day???

go big or go home baby.

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Shannon - I sew(so…LOL)want to learn how. That’s a great idea a Mother’s Day gift request it is! I love their pillows!

Whitney - They turned out great- wonderful job girls! I remember when my grandmother taught me to sew basic things on her very old Singer (the old black iron kind in the built in box.) Then my mom took it a step further and has shown me how to do more advanced things on her new machine- they will always remember that day! Now I want to go make a pillow 🙂

megan - Thank you for this. My 5.5 year old id begging for sewing lessons & I keep denying her. I am now motivated to say yes next time she asks!

Linda - Thanks for the sewing machine suggestions. My daughter goes over to her elder sister’s for her quilting project. Between their 2 schedules it is hard ot get them together to finish. Now I know just what is for her next gift!

Leslie - My daughter would LOVE Talby’s pillow case design. Maybe she could do some for your shop – hint * hint * 🙂

Heidi Jo the Artist - That’s awesome they are learning to sew. That is a day they will remember always I’m sure. 🙂 Pretty, pretty, pillows! I just started teaching my daughter, almost age 6, how to hand sew a couple of weeks ago. She loves it! Now, I need to get a sewing machine hooked up and get going on that myself, so I can teach my daughter too. I love handmade stuff!!!

Andrea - Both pillows are lovely. They get their creativity honestly!
That is what I want to do – set up all my machines at a table and teach all three of mine to sew at once. (My boy is only 8 and so still wants to be like his big sisters. Well, to a point!) I have my mom’s old machine that I learned to sew on, my grandma’s old machine that I just got tuned up, and my machine. All Singers!

Kate - Those first craft weekend girls were cute, huh?! 🙂

Valerie @ Chateau a la mode - Your girlies are adorable and looked like they loved sewing and you are an amazing mom!

Juli - I’m curious…when they go back to the Craft House, do they miss living there?

Lori Austin - They did great! Those pillows are super cute.
I really need to learn how to sew. Thanks for the info
on what machines you use. I need to bookmark that for the hubby. 😉

Katie - I was so surprised when I saw on IG that your girls had never sewed! You are so awesome about crafting with them, that I was certain they certainly would have sewed before. Their pillows are gorgeous! My 5 year old loves to see when I am working on a project. I will have to let her try one of these, something real she can make from all my scraps, usually she is just coming up with her own designs–I think she would live something real she could do in her own. Happy sewing!!

Rachel B. - Very cool!

Tiffany - Good for your girls, and good for you! I’m sure this lit a fire under them to learn even more! I’m so glad you showed pics here. After seeing you doing that on ig I was curious to see the finished products. So cute!

Kimberlee Jost - So proud of those girlies!
And you, too, brave mama.
🙂

Seriously Sassy Mama - I need to get my sewing machine out of the closet. It is time to sew.

Nicole - I miss my sewing machine SO much. I messed up the bobbin and have not been able to get it working since. A lady at my local craft store said the tensions could be messed up, but I have no idea how to remedy that. Le sigh 🙁

Laura H - What a fun day!! I am determined to learn how to sew! I love pretty things like this…so MAGICAL. Love what you’re doin!

Gina - So fun!! I was the same as you, not sure if I had the patience to teach my girls sewing but I did and it was fun!! Nothing is more fun than crafting alongside my kids and having them take an interest in something I love!! I sew with a Singer too! 🙂

Marthajd@msn.com - Is there anything sweeter than a child concentrating? My sons both do this tongue thing and it’s so sweet! Thank you for sharing!

Terrie G - I was so excited for you & them when I saw that pic roll across my instagram feed! What a wonderful new world you have opened for them! Just one more way for them to create! You rocked it MOM!!

Jenny B. - That’s awesome! I would proudly display both of those pillows on my couch! Great job, girls!! I got a sewing machine for Christmas two years ago… it’s still in the box. I am so intimidated by that thing (even though came with an instructional DVD). Sigh… fear is so crippling!

Nina Newswanger - Hello-just had to stop by and say I LOVE YOUR BLOG, I am not particularly creative or crafty, but I happened upon your blog a couple weeks ago and have been hooked-like digging through your archives!:) I love your large family, your honesty and your christian spirit. I have 4 boys under 7 so it’s interesting to me to see what life looks life as kids get older, I hope we can do as great as job as you and your husband, (my husband is Craig too:) doing things as a family. Thanks for being real and honest-love it!!! Also, I’ve been making tons of your recipe’s-you have SO many great ones!

JulianneB - An automatic threader…be still heart…. the most frustrating part of sewing to me is threading the machine

Wendy - My girls love to sew and I love to watch them create without all of the perfectionism that resides in my head. They are always so proud too of their creations. My big problem is letting them use my fabric. I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to my stash of pretty fabrics. Why do I do that? Love this and thanks for the tips on the machines!

Jen - Love the pictures of Annie and Talby sewing. I wish I knew how to sew at times because my two girls have shown an interest. In fact my 5-year-old has been designing clothes on paper recently and wants her grandmas to help her. Good on ya, Meg!

Lindsey - Love this! I’ll bet it won’t be the last time your daughters will want to sew! You win the cool mom award for the day!

Claire - Love it! What a joy to see the little ones on the machines! Those look like great sewing machines too. I just got my first machine and love it. It is the Brother XL2610 and it is awesome!
http://www.amazon.com/Brother-XL2610-Free-Arm-Built-In-Functions/dp/B000A5CKHG/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1366298313&sr=8-11&keywords=sewing+machine+brother

angela - That’s a REALLY big deal! Good for YOU and good for your GIRLS!!!!!! Dead animals…lol!

beth - very cool!
: )

Lisa - Love <3

Melissa - Love those pillows! Great job girls. I remember my grandma teaching me how to sew years ago – priceless

jill - I love in life when doing one thing (hosting craft weekend) by accident makes something else much easier to do (teaching your girls to sew). This is why I think trying new things/taking risks is so important, you never know how it will impact your life in unexpected ways.
Feeling philosophical today…

Dawn Gross - That’s pretty cool! They did a great job!
I sewed that awesome ruffle apron at craft weekend and now I’m scared to try something else. Just do it, right?
Dawn

Allison - My 5 (almost 6) year old wants to learn how to sew. I’m afraid of her sewing her fingers on my machine so we might start out with hand-stitching this year. I taught myself how to sew so being able to teach my girls how to do one of my favorite hobbies is exciting for me.

Lynette - So fun! I am determined to teach my girls to sew this summer. This looks like a great beginner project. I think we will start with pillows too. Your girls did a great job, their pillows are great.

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snowed in.

February 23, 2013

we had a wonderful day yesterday.
so laid back and fun.
i am sure if we had a snow WEEK that it wouldn't go so well but this surprise two days has been fabulous.
we found plenty of things to keep us busy.

memory and oatmeal.

more drawing.
she is almost through this whole How-To drawing book she found on our book shelf.
i got it at a thrift store years ago.
on wednesday night she drew for over two hours straight!
i told her we would soon have an art show in in the stairway. :)

i did some online fabric ordering from Hawthorne Threads.

someone was playing Barbies.

i made chocolate chip cookies… a double batch.
i have made this recipe since i got married.
we use it so much that it is taped inside of the cabinet door so we don't have to search for it.
you can click here for the recipe.

icing his ankle.
scott sprained his ankle on tuesday in the beginning of his basketball game.
he is almost back to normal now already, thank goodness.
i was so sad for him right away worrying if it was going to be worse than a sprain.
this snow day stuff was a good rest for him too.

some of them bundled up and headed outside.

talby help bury sean in the snow.
it was creepy to hear him singing from under the snow….
he was singing "Home on the Range"
what a weird choice?

while they played outside i made pigs in a blanket…because they asked for a "cool lunch".
see how cool i am!
wow.
pretty amazing isn't it?
ha.

there was plenty of wrestling.

lots of cookies were eaten.

then i took the youngest three to the sled in town.

having big kids is pretty great.
it used to be such an ordeal to go sledding… there was crying and it didn't last long.
but that is no longer the case.

they sled on their own for an hour and a half!
they only quit becuase it was time to go for me!
big kids rock!

i ran out for a coffee and watched them from the car after i took those pictures.
i forgot my book which was a bummer but still loved watching them sled.
i cracked the window a half inch just so i could hear all the squeeling screams of joy as all those kids went down.
it's a pretty fun sound.

talby made a snowlady.

the creek we drive over everyday is very frozen and beautiful.
everything around us right now is very frozen and beautiful.

🙂

************************************************

ok…

the WINNER of the 31Bits $50 gift card is:

Andrea said…

hands down…..the Everly necklace….. I( love it!

Reply February 20, 2013 at 07:15 PM

send me an email Andrea and i will HOOK YOU UP!

i hope the rest of you did some shopping with 31Bits this week.
what a fabulous company they are.
i would LOVE to visit their center in Uganda someday!

my kids all had sleep overs with friends last night (four of the five) so they are CRANKY today.
one is already asleep on the couch.
it's going to be a long day around here possibly.
but i have BIG goals….

i think today is the day that we take down the christmas decorations.
it just feels like maybe it's time?

maybe.

ha.

and no… i am not joking.
the tree and lights and all are still up.
but not by tonight.

i hope.

happy weekend to you!

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Etsetara - meg!
we STILL have our tree up, too!
i do love christmas + especially the lights…but i am nearly on the verge of being sick of them! ha!

Victoria - I heard about snow in Kansas this morning on the news here in Ga and thought of you. So fun to see the pictures of the kids enjoying themselves sledding!
Oh and those choc chip cookies look amazing. Maybe 9:15pm isn’t too late to bake me some. 😉

Krista - Thanks for sharing your chocolate chip cookie recipe. My daughter and i just finished making some! Yumm! I have a great tasting recipe but the cookies never bake down so I have to flatten them before baking—these are so good, and no preflattening necessary!

Alice H - What?!?! You didn’t sled with them? I used to be too scared to sled with mine…because things (like falling, etc) hurt worse when you are older. LOL! But I did it a few years ago and it was so much fun!!!!
Also, I have a love/hate relationship with sleepovers…love having the time to myself, hate having grumpy butts who stayed up too late!!

katie - Always love your car pics of yourself, you look so adorable!

Lori Austin - Congrats to Andrea. Such fun sledding pics. Love how you
documented your snow day fun with pics. That TALL stack of cookies
looks quite yummy.

Barbara - I just drove through beautiful Kansas on our way home from Colorado to Missouri yesterday. All the fields were so pristine and the snow drifts were amazing. I’m sure the farmers were doing a happy dance with all the moisture.
On our way out to Colorado last wee, we detoured off of highway 70 and went to Marion, KS. We loved our short visit only wishing that The Barn had been open. Before heading back to the highway to go west, we went to Lake Marion and to our amazement, we spotted a bald eagle. We got a picture of him and he was just one of our trip’s highlights.
Blessings to you and your sweet family.

Julie S - Are you ready for more snow? I sure am. I love it! I love that it’s helping to fill our ponds and helping our crops.
My husband’s cousin goes to Hesston. I think he is a 3rd or 4th grader, I always forget! I wonder if he went sledding.
I just took my tree down this week. I think maybe I did it Monday, but the days are a blur. I have heard a lot of people were late taking their decorations down this year.

Karen Gerstenberger - Thanks for sharing your snow-joy with us. I loved seeing the kids lined up to take their turns going down that hill. The simple things really do make happy memories.
One question: the Barbie house now has “stainless steel” appliances? That is news to me! We still have Katie’s Barbie house (pronounced “the Bahbie” house), and it wasn’t quite so modern back then.

Kimberly Dial - I love the snow pics! You’re right, happy screams from kids is quite possibly the best sound ever, second only to giggling babies. I’m not sure. That’s one’s too close to call! 😉 I actually think “Home On The Range” was an incredibly appropriate song to sing while one is buried in the snow LOL Thanks for sharing Meg 🙂

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - The snowlady with strawberry eyes is the best.ever! Happy weekend!

mary beth - That hill cracked me up….we live in Kansas too and in our town we have one hill that everyone goes to for a sled day! glad you had such a great day, and yes it’s so much better with big kids! They can undress themselves and hang up the wet clothes!

dee - i love the photos.i am so envious of the snow where i live in Australia we dont get snow but you can dream-love dee x

Tere - You have a new screen on your Mac. Yeah! Thanks for sharing your snow day, we have rain, lots of rain.

Jamie - I’m so glad to hear that times with big kids are fun! I have a 3 and 1 year old and all the things I’ve dreamt about doing with my kids just end in disaster! My 3 year old doesn’t even want to walk in snow, let alone sled. Good to know it will pass. For now we’ll just enjoy hot chocolate and snuggles and all those things that little kids love (and mommas) love.

Kelly - Oh I am SO glad we weren’t the last to take down our tree! 🙂 Kelly

emma kate - it is so neat seeing all that snow while we are in the tailend of a hot summer here in New Zealand.
i have a question for you…i brought that barbie campervan from a thrift store for my girls…i put batteries in it but for the life of me cannot figure out what they are supposed to make work??
can you enlighten me? ha!

Laura H - I love snow, I do love snow! If I say it enough it will be true, right? I bow down to you for making this sun lover(ME) start to think she actually loves snow just by enjoying your AWESOME pictures!
Love your blog!
Love chocolate chip cookies…no convincing necessary!

angela - I cannot IMAGINE having a hill of snow like that. Here where I live in N.C. if we get 1 inch we do the happy dance! Great pics!

Tiffany - I have loved these last few posts. They just make me smile, and I enjoy seeing you having relaxing quality family time. 🙂 I should get my hands on a drawing book like that one. Olivia draws for hours at a time. She’s just now branching out to draw things other than princesses! 🙂

mum of all trades - Our tree is still in the back yard, I thought I was laid back but you are one level up! I would love a good heavy snowfall here, we never get snow like that unfortunately

Susan - I just bought chocolate chips a few minutes ago to make toll house cookies, but I’m going to try this recipe!

Trisha - I really really just love your cute fam! My most favorite part of this post was that Sean was buried in snow…. SINGING “Home on the range” Made me laugh so so hard! Thanks for your real hones family. I like it alot:)

Heather Simnitt - Looks like fun – I always find snow days hilarious! Too cold and dangerous to go to school, but somehow we manage to get to the cool hill in town to sled! 🙂 LOL
There was Monopoly, Wits and Wagers, no-bake cookies, snowball fights, and a 3hr 44 min movie at our house (when else do you have enough time to watch Gone With the Wind from start to finish????). Oh – and WAFFLES for dinner! So cozy and warm….

laura b - You crack me up! Still have Christmas decorations up? Sometimes you just have to live life and let the other stuff go! Looks beautiful there with all the snow. Good luck making it through the cranky post-sleepover day!

Kathy - oops…my first time commenting on a blog…didn’t know you weren’t supposed to use last names…..sshhh…don’t share….um, it’s not really my name…hahah

Kathy Leach - Can I just say that reading your blog is a joy….the kid, the colors, the joy, the DOG! I’ve tried color in my home and it always seems so contrived. For you it seems absolutely perfect and together!! Will you please tell me how…..I could just swap with you 😉 You could take my blah, dull and I could take your bright, happy! Have a great time in with your family! Kathy Leach, Greensboro, NC

Tracy - Looks like lots of snow fun! However…..one huge snowfall is enough for this mom in Kansas City. Have you seen the forecast for Monday/Tuesday?!?!?! No more snow please!

jamie - i am laughing outloud that you still have christmas stuff up. i adore your family! pigs in a blanket are yummy. my daughter makes them so perfect you don’t want to eat them. breadstick wrapped perfectly end to end and she squishes the seems together. i might need to try your chocolate chip cookies. after years i found a perfect recipe, but eighteen years and going strong must mean you have a winner! enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Terrie - I love the snow we are having! So many photo ops! I do miss having kids at home to play with and take their pics playing.Downloading the more than 500 pics I took today at a nature center near me.
I think I’ll have to make some chocolate chip cookies!
Your creek pic makes me miss our farm…now would be a good time to be there!
And thank you for letting me not be the last person to take down their Christmas decorations!
Although, my Christmas dishes are getting stored away today!
Happy Saturday!

flowerpowermomma - seems to have been a very productive snow day, crafts, games, cookies! Cool mom for sure. And memories were revived for me, too. I ALWAYS made a double batch of cookies, otherwise it nearly wasn’t worth it. Hope the christmas tree and such cooperates today and finds it’s home.

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wowza!

January 21, 2013

well…. how awesome are you?

i was not sure i could meet my goal of 50 stoves…$1000.

and as of NOW we have raised $4230 and sponsored 211 stoves.

THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!

let's keep this momentum going!

🙂

we have five more days…. let's hit $5000!!!!! i bet we can!!

thank you to everyone who gave so far!
the adventure project thinks you are so cool.

—————————————————————————————————————-

this fake commercial was on Saturday Night Live last week.
i thought it was very funny….

also The Lumineers were on!!!!
they were so so SO goooooooood!
did you see it?
you should go over here and watch and then watch this one too!
they are pretty dreamy to listen to.

i meant to have my craft weekend post up and ready today.
but it's not gonna happen.
i have been so busy….very happily busy… all good stuff.

how about some instagrams from the past week-ish?

annie loves to go to the thrift store with me.
i told her she could pick one thing only….. i wish she would have chosen that couch!
instead we came home with that valentines bear from 2006.
i know it's 2006 because that is what is on the bear's foot.

my favorite mug.

kimberlee's coffee cake….it was totally delicious.

many monrings look like this over here.

i went back to the mall last week and the gold shoes
that were completely covered in gold glitter were 70% off!
score.

annie shouted "MOM pleeeeeease can i get one of these?! They are only $39.99!!"

only???

ran five miles by myself…. well, me and the avett brothers and mumford & sons.

tulips.
they are so nice on the eyes.

talby found these in the bathroom and wanted to know WHY?
Why do we have them? Whose are they? What are they for? Where did they come from?

(they are a mold of craig's teeth…fascinating right?)

a vase of dr.seussy flowers were sunny and nice during this FREEZING week we have had.

so cold.
going running in this cold weather is quite something.
frozen thighs no matter how far we go.
but the reward will be endurance when the weather improves…. right?
i hope so.

i love this breakfast.
cutie…greek yogurt… granola… coffee with LOTS of half & half.

cleaning at the craft house is always pretty decent because it's all so pretty to see.

i steal my husband's socks for cold running…. they are just better.

on friday we did our run and then gathered at my friend's house and helped her prepare 25 meals for her freezer as a birthday gift to her. :)
the gift was helping it get accomplished.
she is super organized so we did what we were told and it all worked out great!
that is my favorite way to cook… "just tell me what to do"

i chopped and chopped and chopped.

then i put together calzones.
it was a lot of work but so worth it! it's a GENIUS way to cook meals.

saturday morning i snuck in some time under a blanket with coffee and my book.
the sun came up and became too much for me sit there anymore.
but i will take that sunshine anytime!

i took sean to his basketball tournament for the day… just the two of us.
he had three games and i really enjoyed it all.
it has been SO MUCH fun to watch my kids improve in their sports this year.

after sean's three games we went to scott's game at our old high school gym!
it was very surreal to be there as a grown up… as a parent… of a HIGH SCHOOLER?!
so weird.
and lots of the same people sitting or standing in the same place they did when i was in high school?!!

i am reading The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out.

it's wordy but so far it's reeeeeally good.

"for grace proclaims the awesome truth that all is gift"

sunday night swimming…. yes please.
craig and sean spent almost the whole time wrestling.
why do boys do that so much?

talby organized all annie's babies for her so annie had to feed them all before going to bed herself.

and this morning…. we ran 6.17 miles in 17 degrees.
it was HARD.
but it's done. THANK GOODNESS!

then we met AGAIN but this time at the craft house and we made freezer to crock pot meals!
we made 6 recipes all together and bagged them in freezer ziploc bags!
awesome.

touching all that raw meat all day was kinda gross but i think we will all happily eat it.

i will definitely blog the recipes we tried and show more pics of that soon!
i honestly can't wait to do it again!

and now i am stinkin' tired.

i am going to bed.

thanks again for the stove sponsors!!!

you are RAD!

if you haven't given yet and you want to… CLICK HERE and it will tell you how.
it couldn't be easier.

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Jaime Melcher - Will you share the 25 meals for the freezer with us? I would love to do something like this… just tell me what to do! 🙂 Smiles!

tinaehb3 - the commercial is hysterical!!!!!!

jennibell - Your Annie and my Margaret would get along so well!!! She always picks out stuffed animals or some other gross thing like that at thrift stores but I say “no”. . .it has to be something that can be washed without falling apart — ha! And she would completely want to help Annie feed all those babies too 🙂 Yea on the stoves and double-yea on the running in 17 degrees. . .I.could.never.
And we’ll have our first high-schooler next year. . .wow.

Angie - How in the world do you manage to accomplish so much? There are so many awesome things in this post I don’t even know what to comment on. What I do know is that Freezer Cooking is awesome. I wish I could find the time & dedication to do it!!!

Lennie Jackson - Love the couch also! I bought a stove :). Hope you surpass your goal!!! Way to carry out God’s work a little at a time.

katie - When I saw this I thought of you.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/united-colors-of-benetton-kids-stripe-sweater-dress-little-girls-big-girls/3323704?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=6655

denise@victory rd. - snl clip is hilarious.
want your polka dotted.
it’s too cold to run (and i live in cali. wimp).
ragmauffin words, so so good. i don’t deserve Him and His love either.

Tracy - Congrats on the stove donations!!
Can’t wait to hear about the crockpot meals!!!

amanda - Woot! It’s amazing what people with a purpose can accomplish!

Lisa - Freezer to crockpot meals sound awesome – totally what this working-outside-the-home mama needs. Can’t wait to hear more about it! 🙂

Erika - I LOVE your blog and look forward to reading it every day!!!! This is my first time posting. I am amazed and so proud of you for running in the cold…brrr!!! I also would love to know the freezer to crockpot meals and what the other meals your friend organized for you guys to make for her birthday. What a fantastic idea!!!!
Erika
essvedy@aol.com

susan - Love all the pictures, Meg! I have to tell you that I went to Ikea this weekend and saw that tray and thought of you! I almost bought it, but got the long rectangle with rainbow dots instead.

Lisa M. - That’s awesome about the stoves! Great job!
And you ran in 17 degree weather?? I’ve stopped running outside at the moment cuz it’s reeeeaaallly cold (1 degree today) and I don’t know if I’d make it. My problem is clothing. I always start out really cold then half way through I’m taking off gloves, my hat and wishing I could shed some clothes! I think I might have just been inspired to go out (no, not in 1 degree). Maybe when it gets above 20 🙂

Lisa - Wowza is right!!! So awesome how many stoves were bought!

Jenny B. - So fun! One random question… Do you like your new rainbow knives? 🙂

Janna - CONGRATS!! AWESOME!!! On the stoves AND the running;) Had to comment and say hey! that’s my fav mug too;) Is it a RE mug from Target? I just got one at Goodwill a few weeks ago, same color, and it’s my new fav! Your flowers look so yum. Makes me wanna go buy some. And I just printed off 19 recipes to double and a groc list from pinterest to do freezer to crockpot meals. Can’t wait. I LOVE your idea of doing it with friends for their bday.Genius! Also I am so in love with the Craft House and CW I can hardly stand it. I am 34 now and told my best friend that is what we are gonna be doin in ten years. Sounds like the BEYOND DREAM JOB!! I hope her and I can come to a CW before ten years tho. YOU ROCK!!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - I am blown straight away that you ran 6.something miles in 17 degrees. I mean…Superwoman. I ran 1.1 mile in the warmth of my basement and thought I might die. And I walked half of it.
Also: The stoves!!!!!!!!!!!!! woop woop!

Tiffany - I’m so happy for you with the success of the stoves! See the difference you make?! Amazing! YOU rock!

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twenty nine.

January 18, 2013

i kind of threw everyone for a loop when i just casually mentioned i would be traveling to Haiti next week.
as in… everyone.
my own mother texted me within minutes "WHAT!? WHY don't you tell me these things?"

all day my friends were texting me asking "how did i miss this?"
they didn't.

i think i had mentioned it to three people.

total.

it was a coping mechanism.
i knew it was coming but i also knew i had a very busy month and needed to get through it one thing at a time.
so craft weekend january is done and now it is time to think about going to Haiti.

i am nervous deep down. for my heart to break. for my world to be rocked again.
but i am not scared.
i am aching in my heart already because once you SEE and KNOW… you see and know.
it doesn't go away.
you can't UNSEE it…. and that is major.

so here we go.

i am going with Becky Straw and Jody Landers. (they are the two women in the video)

i have not met Becky yet but i am stoked about finally getting to meet face to face.

Jody was the team leader from the trip to Sierra Leone, Africa a few years back (so sad that it's been years)

there are a few others going along that i will meet there too.

we will be documenting stories and photos of the stove vendors that are part of The Adventure Project.
i am SO excited!!
i don't have any idea even where to begin with the emotions in my heart about it all.
i feel like i cried my way through africa…. it was a lot of crying.
and i hope i can be a little more composed on this trip.

hmmmmm.

pray for me ok?
that i will have a servant's heart and mind.
that i will see what God wants me to see… not necessarily with my eyes.
that i would listen when i need to listen and keep quiet when i should.

and that there will be no speed boats. (just kidding)

i would LOVE to reach my goal of 50 stoves sponsored in the next 7 days.

i would actually truly love to exceed my goal and i would really like your help.

i need 29 more stoves sponsored to reach my goal.

each stove is a $20 donation.

twenty dollars.
that is…. a disney dvd. a new cardi from target. ONE earring at anthro.

twenty dollars can provide so much good!

{{{sigh}}}

Give a Stove this Holiday – The Adventure Project Campaign on Vimeo from The Adventure Project on Vimeo.

twenty nine more stoves.

i am fully aware that a stove won't change the world.

(but... will your cardi?)

i am not trying to "save the world."
i am trying to help where i can and when i can.

the leading cause of death is from breathing smoke while their mothers cook their meal?!
oy.

lets help to change this.

thank you for helping reach my goal of 50 stoves.

if you sponsor THREE stoves your name is put in with all the others who sponsored 3 stoves and we will draw one name to win a trip to Haiti!
seriously?!
you would get to see it all with your own eyes.
i get to help pick the winner!
wouldn't it be so rad to see that YOU won?!
life changing.

but one stove is awesome.
it's super amazing.

and so much better than a cardi.

(that says a lot coming from a cardi collector….)

SPONSOR A STOVE TODAY. 🙂

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lola - sounds like an incredible trip. wow.
when you said “unseeing” is not an option, that’s powerful.
be safe.

Shara - Will for sure be praying for you and the team going. Thank you so much for your obedience to the Lord and your call to action for His followers!

ira lee - i just went to haiti in august of 2012 and it was the best experience EVA! i went with a group of friends from church. we flew into port au prince and stayed the whole week in leogone at life waters compound. we worked at an orphanage there and completely fell in love with it all! we had sketchy power, no working bathrooms after day 2, no showers (we did bucket baths just like the locals), drank warm water all day and we so hot sweaty and smelly! but i went with some of my dearest friends, the chemistry between us was so unique and that is exactly why i think the trip was so magical. we were there spreading the word of god, loving on orphans, playing with them, letting them know that they are loved. i wanted to scoop them up and take them home with me. in fact my fiance at the time told me to not sneak a baby into the luggage on the way home! i met a darling couple from here in arkansas, he was a kidney doctor and she a stay at home/home school mom. they were lead to move their family to haiti and open an orphanage there to help with the burden. hope rising childrens home was born and you can check them out at http://www.hrch.org. its amazing!!! i was moved by so much! i am certain that i gained more from the experience than what i gave. my friends are going back, some even twice this year and i cannot join them and that makes me want to cry!!! i will never ever forget it and even to this day, i am moved by how little they have yet how happy they were. that trip has taught me to be thankful, appreciate what i have, love deeply, and want little.

Monique U. (A Half-Baked Notion) - Congrats on your project, Meg, and prayers for you and everyone whose lives you will be privileged to touch!

Laura - Our Compassion child that we’ve sponsored for the last 5 years lives in Haiti and I hope some day to meet him!!!! His name is Frantz, if you see him tell him I said hello 😉

Tonya - So excited for your trip and project. Looks like you’ll meet that goal!

Tesi - So excited to meet you, Meg! (I’ll be heading there too in 2 days.) I feel much the same way you do. Amazing work rallying your blog readers! Love to you.

the.mrs - 171 Stoves so far!!! A-ma-zing!!

Sarah - Prayers for you.
I can’t imagine…. as you said, seeing it can’t be undone, and that is scary.
Glad you are going, and I know so much good will be done because of that.

Kim - My 21 year old daughter & he boyfriend traveled to Haiti last summer to build block houses. They stayed for a week in missionary home in Carrefour. She said that it was the most life changing experience & helped her with her journey to become closer to God. They will be traveling there this summer again to build. She cries every time she talks about her trip there & the sweet children she met. Once you go there you will want to return. I made my donation at Christmas for a stove. Many prayers Meg <3

Angie G. - Hi, Meg! Miss you guys already. How awesome that you´re going to Haiti. You know it´s our neighbor country and we know how tough life is overthere. Here in the Dominican Republic things are hard, but in Haiti is sooo much worst. It so sad. My church goes to Haiti a few times each year to help too. I´ve never gone…. maybe someday I will. I´ll be praying for you… hope you a have a great time getting in touch with God´s heart through this expirience. A big hug from the Dominican Republic!

Kerstie Pederson - Was going to go to Target this am and spent some extra Christmas money……. I just bought a stove instead. Much better use of some “fun money”. Can’t wait to see what you show us.

Routhie - Have fun and good luck with your overflowing emotions. Thanks for posting about this opportunity to help. Much love and safe travels to you and the others.

Ashley - Can I hide in your bag? So excited for you. Seriously, SO STINKIN’ excited for you.

Jamie - Glad I could help… You rock!

Angela A - Oh my! My eyes completely missed you posting you were going to Haiti. I need to read better, quit skimming so much. How wonderful! Praying for you now and for the weeks ahead, even after you get back. My son and I hope to go in a few years.

Kait - I went to Haiti for the first time as a teenager. It changed my entire life. How could I complain about my parents being unfair with my curfew when at least my parents were there, and they had fed me, and given me a roof, and we were a family and things were safe? I went back twice more as a teen, giving up my summer vacations to live and work in orphanages.
That’s why when I met my husband, on our very first date, I told him I wanted to adopt. We have four kids now, none from Haiti because of their rules, but my time spent there has shaped me and my life in ways I can’t even begin to explain.
It will rock your world. It has been eight years since the last time I was there and it still rocks mine. I am so excited to see how God shapes your heart through your visit.

denise@victory rd. - 3 stoves.
the line, “that i will see what God wants me to see… not necessarily with my eyes” … yes!
i thank God that His Spirit WILL cause you to see all he has in mind for you. i pray for His continued glory in you and through you- here on the blog, there in Haiti, and in “whatever” you do in the name of the LORD (Col 3:17).

Denise Kessler - Oh, Meg…you are so right about preparing your heart. Our family has sort of adopted some young Haitian men that I met on a mission trip 2 years ago. I fell in love with the Haitian people, but on my first trip, I could barely eat and I cried for all 9 days. I just could not understand how God would allow me to be born to “this” and them be born to what they have.
I am thankful to say, it changed my life…and I am sure it will change yours as well. I love your heart and especially how you share it with the world!

Sonja - THANK YOU for telling us about the Adventure Project! I just gave my husband a stove for Haiti for his birthday. 🙂
He’s the kind of guy who’ll get excited about this… and I’m still making him a cake.
I’ll remember you in my prayers. Go bring hope and happiness to Haiti!

Monique - My neighbor is an amazing girl. She co-founded the organization Little Footprints Big Steps and has been living in Haiti for the last 2 years since she graduated high school. She runs a safe house for children and she is only 20 years old! I am so overwhelmed when I think of her and I thought you might be interested in checking out the organization.

Regina - Just donated a stove and am glad you gave us this opportunity to do so. Praying for safe travels, great health, and many blessings for the trip ahead!

Heidi Jo the Artist - Praying for you, Becky, Jody, and the others that travel there as well. God’s many blessings to you guys and all those that are doing the work of the Lord. 🙂

Kirsten J - I don’t know if I told you this before….my brother worked at the US Embassy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast for 4 years. And the stories he told absolutely broke my heart. Every time he came home, I loaded him up with stuff for his housekeeper and the street urchins he had taken under his wing, and his armed guards. I’m an empath and I would get so depressed just thinking of it all. And the thing he kept telling me was, there wasn’t enough I could do to change their reality. I needed to take care of my house first, then give to my local charity of choice, and still it was ok to give him stuff for his African friends. But I could only do so much. I still give to various charities but try to distance myself just a little. You are golden. To actually walk the walk is amazing to me. Hugs and prayers for a trip where you may feel uplifted. You will make a difference.

nicole i - just sponsored 3 stoves…wow isn’t God good…your goal has been met and you have 7 more days!

Angela Storm - Check out the song “Albertine” by Brooke Fraser! I immediately thought of it when you wrote, “…you see and know.” A line in the song says, “Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.” I will definitely be praying for you and your team members and your family, in your absence. God bless, Meg.
And one earring at Anthro…. YES. Very yes.

gina mitchell - I love your writing and your heart.

Jessica H. - I just bought the 90th stove! So excited to see how far beyond the original goal you will reach. Trips like this are life-changing, eye opening, and pull on your heart strings like no other. So do newborn babies…I have one of those :)….but I’m glad I can donate in lieu of getting to experience a trip like yours firsthand. I pray for safe travels and for you to embrace the moments that are molding you as well as those you are helping!

Taryn - So proud of you, friend, for allowing yourself to continue to live in the tension of this broken world! I have no doubt you will not only be a blessing but be blessed as you walk among some of those closest to Jesus’ heart. Will be praying and look forward to hearing about it when you’re back. Love ya!

Jen - What part of Haiti will you be going to? My husband is with a group in Pignon right now. They are helping out at a school and working on buses and vans while they are there. The ladies that went will be putting on a ladies seminar. I can’t wait to hear how his trip went. I wish I could have gone with him. He will be back home on the 27th.

Gina - “you can’t UNSEE it.” Wow! So so true. Prayers for you. 🙂

Judy@Considering the Options - Meg thank you for the prompting! I just donated your 80th stove!!! Way to go! Our family was just dreaming in the car last night about what we would do if we won the $70 million jackpot (we’d have to play to win I guess). I love that everyone wanted to do something for someone else. Then I got to thinking, we can do that on a small scale right now. I don’t have a million dollars to give to a charity the way I would like. But, I do have $20 I can give to buy a stove. I bet it’s like a million dollars to the family that will receive it:)! That makes my heart happy.
Good luck on your adventure – can’t wait to be moved by your account of it all!

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - I had to laugh when you said $20 would buy ONE earring at Anthro. So true! 🙂 Praying for you as you prepare(emotionally and in the physical) to go down there. I can hardly wait to get down there in just a few months.

Lisa - So excited for your trip!! It’s been way to long since I’ve been on a mission trip. Love everything you wrote. Once you see and know, you see and know. So true!! Life changing! Praying you get all the stoves and more!

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new sign.

January 17, 2013

so…. before this post you should listen to this song… Home by Edward Sharp.

maybe open it in another window and litsen to it while you read.

ok.

songs is on… ready to go?

we moved to this little farm house rental in march.
it's cozy and we love it here.
in case you don't know our back story or forgot…. we moved to be in smaller community, closer to our kids' school and to use the other house for craft weekends. it was such a big decision but has been nothing less than awesome.

our bedroom at the (now) Craft House was a ridiculously LARGE room.
it made no sense to have a bedroom that big…it was GIANT.
but of course we also got very used to that size of room after 7.5 years.
and now our bedroom is more of normal to smallish size and has also taken some readjusting too.

and it's just fine.

we got our bed when we first moved to the craft house.
and craig has said several times "i can't believe you haven't painted it yet"

someday….
but who has time for that? not me right now.
and it's fine how it is.

we have my grandmother's night stands that she had in her bedroom my whole life.
she always had her rotary dial phone where i have my computer. :)
the bottom part pulls out to give more space or tucks in if you don't want it.
mine is always out and filled with junk… over flowing onto the floor and all around.
while's craig's is tucked in with nothing on or around it.

that is such a true picture of US.

🙂

we have room for one dresser in the corner and we each have a closet.
i decided to hang my jewelry on the wall because there is no other place and because it's pretty.

my jar of heart rocks…such a fun collection over the all the years of motherhood.
my "be intentional" art work was several years ago by Jeanne Oliver.

what got me determined to take care of our room and make it a priority after 9 months of not…
even though it's a rental…
was because of this sign from Between You & Me…. with the lyrics from a song that remind me of our decision to move and take crazy steps to do what we needed for our family.
as we tried to make those big decisions last spring that song was on the radio at all the right times.
and i would smile and know that we were doing the right thing.

all we needed was each other.
no matter where we lived… we were HOME.

so i hung the sign first and then worked around it with pictures of us over the last 21 years.

we have been married for 18 years but dated for three years before we got married.

this print from Studio Mela was the perfect touch.

the butterfly pillows are at target right now.
they needed to live at the farm too.

pictures from our first prom, our wedding, our favorite vacations, our 10 year anniversary trip and family pictures all hang here.
this is a special wall.

it's sacred ya know?

marriage is a really big deal.
you vow to stay together FOREVER.
until you die.
so… it really should be honored and cherished and nutured.
surrounding us with reminders of where we came from, who we are and are becoming is one way to do that.

between You & Me has a pretty shop filled with signs you will love!

if you go to her shop and use the code WHATEVER you will get 10% off your purchase in january.

that is awesome!!

tara YOU are awesome.

so… go look it over and find the sign that would spark some creativity in your home.

yay for discounts!

yay for rockin' hot marriages!

yay for teeny farm house bedrooms!

🙂

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lindsie - Can you please te me what the name is of the green paint in your room…I love it…lindsielou@charter.net

Su@TheIntentionalHome - can’t wait to check out the song. . .my hubby and my song. . the song we danced to at our wedding is You’re My Home by Billy Joel. . .same thought that wherever he is and we are together is home. . .I wrote a post titled 10 Quotes to Inspire You to Create a Home You Love. . reminds me of this post cause #10 is the Billy Joel song. # 9 is a Be Intentional piece of art I made. . .thought you might like to check out the other quotes: http://www.susoutter.com/2012/03/10-quotes-to-inspire-you-to-create-home.html

misty - Loved every word of this blog post. It made me teary eyed, in a good way. I love to hear about peoples love stories & love to hear about GOOD marriages and hear others talk about marriage being sacred. AMEN.
Your room is so pretty. I just loved every single picture. Thanks you for posting this.

Brooke - Love your cozy little room…and your fun wall!! Love that you cherish your marriage. Life is hard sometimes…you have to turn to your husband. Love your art. Super cute.

April R - /\ Ditto katy

Heidi Jo the Artist - Perfect song for this post and for every family! And congrats for staying strong in your marriage through 18+ years! I love to know couples that are still married and have stuck to their vows. Sadly, my husband and I have known so many that haven’t… Love all the pillows and pretty quilt on your bed too, and of course the jewelry displayed on the wall is the bomb. 🙂

Rach - I’m with Craig… I’m surprised you haven’t painted it either. Gorgeous wall. I have one like that too that I treasure and yes, marriage is sacred. I always try to put it first.

Tonya - Love the post….and the quilt on the bed 🙂

Jen - We just decided to take a leap of faith and move to be closer to my husband’s family. We have had a terribly difficult year due to some things that happened between the neighbor boys and our daughters. I have been back & forth on if this is the right decision…my husband built this house we live in and this is HOME. I so needed to read this post today. I will be purchasing that same sign you have in your bedroom. I think it’s a must have for our next HOME. Thank you for the inspiration, Meg!

Corey Bugni - I love this post and the ideas! thanks Meg! I am also crying because I love the butterfly pillows and Target doesn’t seem to carry the same ones anymore. If you have a link to where they are, I would love it!! Have a great weekend.
Corey

Alisha - I LOVE IT!!! You’ve just inspired me. We live in an OLD farmhouse rental as well and our room is just like yours. VERY small and quaint, but just enough. I haven’t done ANYTHING with it because, well, I just didn’t know WHAT to do with it, but I love your ideas of the pictures of the two of you. …and your jewelry knobs. It’s great!

Jenn - THAT SONG… One of my favorites. It played during our dear friend’s funeral slide show last year and every time I hear it I get this crazy mix of joy and sadness at the same time. But definitely more joy for a life well lived with the ones we love!! Very cool print. I love all the photos around it!

Michelle - LOVE. the song, the artwork, the story…everything.
I met my future husband when I was 11 (he was and still is my brother’s best friend), we started dating when I was 15, and we got married when I was 18. Here we are now 18+ years later, and I am still thankful that I get to spend everyday of my life with this man. Thanks for the reminder. It’s inspiring to read of others who have “rockin’ hot marriages.” And you’ve inspired me to finally print out and display some of our favorite pics together, create my own “love” wall.

Dani - I needed this today. My husband and I are making a huge decision about our marriage right now. I don’t want to give up 15 years of marriage and your post just showed me that!
Thank you, MEG!!!

Shelly - Love.Love.Love this post!!! It’s beautiful, inspirational, heart-warming, and sooooo full of love. Thank you! And, I couldn’t help but notice your “Not A Fan” book. Kyle is my preacher. That sermon series was AWESOME!!!! The book is AWESOME!! Kyle is a very special, God-filled human being!!

Tracy Fisher - you said exactly how i feel today. loved your words. and by the way, you and craig have the same side table characteristics and greg and i have… his has a clock and a remote… mine has my life on a bedside table. made me giggle. have a great day. -tracy

katie - what a great idea…i’m inspired to do the same!

Mickie Lara - LOVE everything about this post. The emphasis on family, marriage (and you are always good to remind me about that… we are 21 years too) and home. I tend to get a little too hung up on the house part of the home but you are so right. It is really just wherever we are. Love it!

Jen - Yea for rockin’ hot marriages is right!

Penny - Whenever I refer to something on this blog, I will say to my family, “You know Meg, who has Waffle…” Ha!

Lori Austin - Your bedroom is perfectly perfect.
Love your grandmother’s side table.
This space just seems so happy. 🙂

Amanda Brown - This post is inspirational because I just started working on an art collage for our bedroom! Being married is the BEST, even in difficult times…

Kim Barlow - I know this blog is not about curse words but..girl…you kick a**. XO

Penny - We have been married 29 years and we have lived in small apartments, a mobile home, a very tiny house with three children and then a bigger house. Every single place we lived I made it our home. No matter if we were renting, buying or what. It was our home. And I will tell you I have been happy at every single place we have lived. Now of course I dreamed of our own home when we were renting. I dreamed of a house when we were in that moblie home. But I was happy every place we lived. Now that we have a larger home with lots of space our girls are growing up and moving on. Isn’t that the way life is! Some of the happiest memories I have are the days with our three little girls in our tiny little rental!

Angela A - Oh Meg, the room is beautiful. The decor is so you, the colors are awesome together,and it is such an awesome tribute to your marriage. Thank you for inspiring us to celebrate our own marriages! This year is our 15th anniversary, and we dated for 7 years before that. Our room is sort of us–but you’ve given me some ideas on something to do to honor this special anniversary.

Tiffany - “yay for rockin’ hot marriages!”… You’re too cute! I’m so glad you are both blessed with eachother. Thanks for the reminder about putting marriage first. With two little ones and full time jobs I need reminders often since there are so many other things to do. My hubby and I need to go on more dates.
It was fun seeing a snapshot of your home now. Darling. 🙂

happygirl - I always wondered how the Craft House came to be. I love your wall of memories. I’ve been married 30 years. I agree with the forever of marriage. 🙂

Angie - I totally now want my jewelry displayed on the wall!

lauren - i already knew you were a woman after my own heart…then i saw the ragamuffin gospel on your book pile…amen. i was about to tell my daughter something i read or saw on your blog the other day and i started to say, “my friend….i mean…on this blog i read…” you have a gift for drawing people in and then you give good, real stuff for them see. i may never meet you but i’m sure you’re a great friend.

stephany @ home is what you make it - I listen to this song over and over on repeat. Did it today while running errands with my little girl.
My cousin and his new wife had this song playing as the song after their wedding ceremony on the shores of a lake in Northern Idaho. My favorite uncle, who owns the house and officiated the ceremony, danced up the stairs with my aunt and had tears in his eyes.
Anyway, great song, great memories, great post.
Thanks for sharing!

melodee - wow! your room is great! love all of the details and your always so nice and crisp photos….and your necklace collection…to die for!

Carol S. - Super sweet post. We hit 25 in April. And made a major move this year (from Chicago of all places!) This hits home. Thanks Meg.

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - Hmmmm…I sort of love this post… ALOT:) I’m a big fan of investing in marriage. So often the kids come along and we focus solely on them, kind of neglecting our spouse. But when the kids grow and leave its back to just the two of you. I want to cherish my hubby more then than I did on our wedding day. Marriage is so hard and yet one of the best gifts God ever created. Your room is a tribute to that. Thanks for reminding us all:)

katy - favorite. post. ever.
love the music as a background.
love. love. love.

Jacci in Ohio - YYYAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
🙂
I am SO thrilled you posted photos of the farmhouse! It is PERFECT. So perfectly you! Different… in such a different home… but so you. And that is why I *love* it. And I love your sign. And your voice for marriage.
God has made you rad, rad, rad.

Charly - I smiled throughout the entire song! I now want my hubby to come home so we can dance to it in the living room with a three year old and two dogs running Around us! AND, your bedroom looks great!

Mary - i love how you went with what you had and just made it so, so, so special.
sometimes i just feel like i have to wait until the walls are painted…or the bedding is just right, but NOW is the time to cherish.
now is the time to celebrate.
you’re so good at celebrating the NOW, meg.
i adore that about you.
and i LOVE taras work.
on my list. for sure.
now i want to spruce up our room!
xo

Kerstie Pederson - Yay for you too! 😉 I love your blog!!!!

Aimee - I love, love, love this post. And it’s all so do-able and accessible. Very inspiring.

Mary Jo - I love the butterfly pillows!

Shara - Thanks so much for sharing Meg!! You’ve totally inspired me(along with countless others~) to do something like this. The walls in my bedroom are begging me!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - i love that you have reminders of how precious marriage is. the butterflies had me at hello and that artwork is awesome! love tara. very sweet. wondering about the rest of the room. a past christmas present comes to mind;)

tonya - love this post…and the song! i keep our bedroom free of pictures of the kids…just pictures of me and my man!

tara - marriage is a REALLY big deal.
It is sacred. It if FOREVER.
I love the wall of you and your man, and I love that the sign is a reminder of something God has done in the life of your family with the move to the farm house.
you’re awesome. thanks for hanging one of our signs in your home!

Marsha Kern - I love your room and your style, it is perfect! We live in the country too and we love it!

Kristin S - I absolutely love your room! The wall is perfect. I love that you have that prom photo on there. Good reminders of God’s faithfulness.
And now I’m considering simple row of hooks for my necklaces! I forget what I have and end up wearing the same things over and over.
Beautiful, Meg.

Kristina Abel - So funny that you have that sign. My girlfriend and I made wood signs and that’s what I’m putting on mine and hanging in my living room. Thanks for sharing you colorful and cozy room. 🙂

shelby - I need a chenille bedspread like that! My grandma always had them on the twin beds I slept in at her house!

Bopha - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L64c5vT3NBw Please tell me you have watched this! This is where I first heard the song and fell in love. This rendition melts my heart. Love your “love” inspired room-that’s the way a bedroom should look!

Lisa - Hi Meg
I usually don’t comment on your blog because you get SOO many, and I’m not always sure you even see them all, but today I want to.
This post has inspired me. Why is it that once you have kids all the photos are just about kids and family (please understand I adore my kids!!!). My husband and I have bee married for almost 28 years and I still feel sometimes like we are the 17 year olds when we first started dating. I WANT A SPECIAL LOVE WALL like you, and so I shall now have one ;). Thank you!!

Kerry - oh meg…… i’ve read the post 3 times with the song playing in the background. feeling really emotional right now – what a beautiful post. this is JUST what I needed right now. Thank you so much xxx

ann - Meg your room is so adorable, cozy, and full of your personality! Love it all. You are right, marriage is a sacred thing to be honored and treasured. Great post! Hugs from Chicagoland, Ann

Abbie Swartzentruber - Ok Meg, you got me hooked on the butterfly pillows – but I can’t find them anywhere at target.com??? I am gonna have to go searching for them – your room turned out cozy and sweet:)!!

mary - your room is beautiful…you have that decorating gene, that can pull together any place and make it visually pleasing.

ali moll - I love this post Meg! And I love the room! The pics and sign are the perfect finishing touch. You have such a knack for decorating – I LOVE YOUR STYLE! Have a fabulous day! Hugs!

beki - you’re awesome 🙂

jennt - i LOVE you room! It is so vibrant and happy but also so cozy
I am always stumped with what to do with our bedroom…..

lisa - So sweet! Love it. And I love your rocks. I have a jar from my girls, too. I wrote about it here if you’re interested. 🙂 Funny how something as basic as a rock can be so special!
http://thebrighterside-lisa.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-rocks.html

Lennie Jackson - You make me want to redo our bedroom! Great post….I LOVE the prom pic!!!!

danielle - This made me want to stop what I am doing and go make an art wall in my bedroom of my husband and I! Totally doing this! I keep a big landscape above our bed taken on our first getaway from the boys but I would love this also! Beautiful room!

ranee - loved this post and that wall is beautiful! you have inspired me to start a “love wall” of my own!

Juli - Awesome. Yes, that bed begs to be deep teal. 😉

Angela - Thank you for choosing to declare the truth – marriage is precious and WORTH IT. I have only been married for 2.5 years, but I am thankful for the examples that God has surrounded me with – people I know (My parents and my in-laws have been married for 30 years, my grandparents for 54 this April.) and people I don’t (YOU!). 🙂 Have a beautiful Thursday, Meg!

Amber - Yay for rockin’ hot marriages indeed. I’m all inspired to put up pictures of me and my hubby all over the place.

sam - Love this post. We celebrated our 25th anniversary last year and have had seven different homes in that time. I recently repainted our bedroom and, for the first time in 25 years, am working on making it more of OUR room. I plan to make a similar sign with our marriage vows on it and have been scouring our photo boxes for pictures of us over the past 27 years to do something very similar. So fun!

tiffany gardner - once again… you never fail to encourage. i am so glad that i found your blog a couple of years ago. you truly are a part of my days. my friend who doesn’t know me.
i thank God for you.

Meredith - Seeing your collection of photos of you and your husband makes my heart happy. I should do this in my bedroom too. Also, those butterfly pillows are amazing. I NEED those in my life.

Regina - I love, love, LOVE this post! It speaks my life in every word. We have lived in a rental and in a city that I’m not too crazy about for the past two years. We still have our house in another state (where I would MUCH rather live), but because my husband had a wonderful career opportunity HERE, that is where we are…ALL of us. There was much discussion about only him moving here and commuting back and forth (so that the kiddos could stay in their schools and near friends), but that just felt like we would be “divorced”…NOT an option! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this timely post….a wonderful reminder of WHY we live here, it just wouldn’t be the same without the whole family under one roof…outdated rental or not. Hugs and success to you, Meg!

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - Such wonderful sentiments here Megan. A wonderful post.
Dana

Susan - Thank you for sharing! I have a heart rock collection too! Most of mine came from around the cabin where we stay each year in Colorado.

Shannon - Love those butterfly pillows! You made the perfect space for you and your hubby including family photos and fun signs. As always love all the fun colors you use in your decorating 🙂

Janet C - Love this post, made even better listening to your special song.

Gina - LOVE!! Such a special collection hanging on the wall but the sentiment even better. 🙂

wendi - I love how God uses unexpected things to nail the point he is making. Today He used you.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - I LOVE this! We have never really put much into our bedroom — even here in this new house. It’s always the last priority and I have grown sick of it!
I love that you have your history right there on the wall.
I wish we could double date. You remind me of us. If that makes sense. Marriage is ebb and flow, but HE is my home.
(Also? You’re reading Ragamuffin?????????????? Put it on the list. Or actually, start reading so we can put it on the list.)
🙂

elma - Love this post to!!!
I love her shop to and have the family rules sign and one Christmas one!!

Lisa M. - Loved this post. Thanks for sharing such a personal part of yourself.

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let’s do this.

January 15, 2013

it's been three years since the earthquake in Haiti.
and then this year 70% of the crops in the South of Haiti were ruined by Hurricane Sandy.
it has been extremely hard for Haiti.

through The Adventure Project we continue to be able to help.
we have been able to provide funds to make the charcoal efficient stoves afforable to the poor.

for just $20 you can help in Haiti!

you can help families cook food in a more afforable way (less charcoal) and improve the toxic smoke in the air and protect the environment all by buying a stove.

i love when there are EASY ways to help.

The Adventure Project is doing something pretty cool right now… sponsor 3 stoves and you can win a trip to Haiti.

so…. ready to enter the coolest contest you have ever seen?!

how amazing it will be to get to see the stoves first hand, meet the women, see the children… it's awesome?!

GO DONATE

purchase three stoves and you will be entered to win.

it's so cool!

what an eye opening, life changing, A M A Z I N G experience it will be!!

but also….you don't have to want to go to Haiti to help…. just providing a stove is super cool on it's own.

it's OKAY to be an awesome do-er of good with no intentions of world travel.

i just love that we get to give in a way that i know makes a difference!

and guess what….

i am going to be there in Haiti on January 26th to help draw the name of the winner.

i am traveling with The Adventure Project to Haiti!

i can't wait to share with you ALL that i can.
i am so thrilled to learn all that i can about the stoves, the people, the needs and ways to help.

i really REALLY hope we pick YOUR name.

let's do this!

show hide 12 comments

add a comment

mollie's mom - I am so excited for you…. I left my heart in Haiti after an amazing mission trip to Port-au-Prince ( actually I was there in April before the “big” earthquake – we experienced a “small” earthquake during our trip that we now know was a “warning quake”!!) It will be a life changing trip – the people of Haiti are incredible. I cannot wait to see your pictures and hear about your trip. I wish I were going with 🙂 You will be amazed by the faithfullness of the people and the beauty they create from nothing in the midst of poverty. I have friends living and working there, we have a school we help support there and their art hangs in my home and I think about them every day when I look at it. I am sooooo excited for you – there isn’t anywhere quite like Haiti!! I blogged about it here- http://madebymolliesmom.blogspot.com/2012/01/not-crafty-post-im-afraid.html- check out those precious faces and prepare to fall in love with the children of Haiti – it’s impossible not to!!! Marcie

Jamie - I am heading to Haiti Feb 26th! I’ve never been and I am so excited to go! Would love to hear more about what you are going to be doing there! 🙂

gretchen - Exciting! Great project. My husband just got back a week ago from Haiti thru our churches mission trip. It was awesome for him. Over 20 in the group went and helped at an orphanage. The biggest help they need is clothes for all the kids. And, adopting or supporting a child at an orphanage with monthly costs. There were 80 kids at the orphanage he visited and 20 plus babies were dropped off when he was there. It’s definitely an eye opener. Hope your trip is wonderful!

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - We just got our assignment for our next missions trip this summer(Dominican Republic) and Im so excited! Theres nothing like getting right into the midst of the people, seeing how they live, what they go through,etc… Its very humbling and makes you realize how blessed we are. Have a wonderful(& fruitful!) trip. 🙂

Lisa - I have gone to Haiti twice! So excited for you to go! Can’t wait to hear all about it. 🙂

Lorel - amazing! you put so much good in the world Megan!

Tiffany - WOW Meg! You are going to be there?! I’m so excited for you! This is just the kind of experience I’ve been wanting to have lately. Pat and I talk about taking a tropical trip somewhere, but when there are people in this world who need our help, all I can think about is traveling somewhere where we can help. I can’t wait to hear about your experience and see your pictures. What a wonderful opportunity for you!
PS- I love how you use your site to reach out to more people to help… God sure is using you in many wonderful ways! 🙂

Kate - Are you serious?! That is amazing! Happy dance for you!

Jacci in Ohio - Oh, Megan. Haiti? Haiti?! 🙂
Haiti has my heart in so many ways. Haiti is going to get under your skin in such a beautiful way… I know it. You know it’s the poorest country in the WORLD, right? That it has the most malnourished children in the Western Hemisphere? This is, beyond doubt, one of the neediest places on earth. And, yet, everyone who goes says there is such strength… such joy.
I am so thrilled for you to go. To hear your stories. To watch the Lord use you.
Amen & Amen!!!
(talking to hubby – then sponsoring some stoves!)

Tere - Such great news, I am so excited for you. You are such a brave and amazing woman, such an inspiration! Can’t wait to hear all about it. xoxo tere

chantelle - wow! only one comment so far?!?! I’m so inspired that you are going to haiti! i don’t know your family situation; but from what i can tell, you are an entrepreneurial momma who is really passionate about helping others and you use your creativity to fund your passions… thanks for inspiring me nearly each day for the past three years. kite a fe sa! (let’s do this!)

Melissa @jonahbonah - So very cool, Meg! I would LOVE to go to Haiti!!!!

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