30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 7

Day 7 - Favorite Movies
Let see if I can think of any!  I used to have lots of Favorite movies but we don't see very many anymore so I can't even remember!

1. Anne of Green Gables - the Whole Series

2. Everafter

3. The Land Before Time Series

4. Grease

5. Home Alone (Our Christmas Movie!)

6. Titanic

7. What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Make sure and check out Katies Journey to see her posts as well as all the other link ups!  I really looking forward to seeing the posts today just to see other movie ideas. 



Farm Matching Game

Here's another easy craft to do with your kids and it is also a great learning tool!  Ours is based on the book "The Big Red Barn" by Margaret Wise Brown.

You will need one (clean!) sock, a cup, and two copies of whatever pictures you want to use.  The cup is from Walmart - this summer they sold for 4 for $1.00!!

Slide the cup into the sock until it reaches the toe.

Than fold the top of the sock back over the cup.

So that it looks like this with an opening to stick a hand inside.

Laminate both copies of the pictures.  Leave one whole and cut the other one apart.  Drop the cut pictures into the cup.

Now what?
1) Have your child put the pictures from the cup an make the animal sounds
2) Work in threes; make the sounds and than ask your child to hand you a specific picture
3) Pull a picture from the cup and match it to the other grid

Kids enjoy the "unknown" of putting their hand into that cup and pulling something out and the sock helps keep it a mystery.

If you would like to use the farm animal pictures, click here and it should open up for you to print :-)

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 6

Day 6 - A Picture of Something that Makes you Happy

This is my screensaver too!  Two little boys playing together in leaves.  :-)

Of course, I could have picked a million pictures but this is the most recent one that just makes me happy - the memory of the day, the boys having fun, the fall weather.  Now, tomorrow, I might have a differant one :-)

Make sure and check out Katie's Journey to catch up on this blog challenge and just to read some of the other posts that are linked up.
Happy day!

Show Us Your Life Fridays- The Office

This week on Show us Where you Life - The Office :-)  You can check out Kelly's Korner here. 

In my home, I no longer have a room that is designated as the "office" - we gave that room to our son Nate, so he could have his own room.  Instead, I created an office space in my living room. 

I actually like my little corner - since the Living Room is where the kids play, this keeps me in the same room whether I'm paying bills, writing, or scrapbooking.  The biggest challenge is keeping it neat!!  I work hard to keep it from piling up too badly but every Thursday is "clean off my desk day".  I have to sort through piles, file everything, and make sure that nothing slips through the cracks.  I love my roll top desk - it was a "bet" with my dad when I was in high school.  I bet that I could save 1/2 the money to buy a desk we were going to build together.  He agreed thinking I wouldn't do it (I only needed $250.00!).  Well, I saved my money but he didn't want to build one LOL  So, I saw one on sale at a furniture store that equaled the $500.00 total . .. but when I got home from school, he had bought this one which was much nicer :-)  The thing is a bear to move but I love it so it is worth it!  That's all - my simple little "office" space :-)

Here is the list of all the rooms and dates.  I'm listing this here because I keep searching for it!
9/24 - Master Bedrooms

10/1 - Dining Room
10/8 - Kitchen
10/15 - Office
10/22 - Children's rooms
10/29 - Guest Room
11/5 - Bathrooms
11/12 - Playrooms/Bonus Rooms/Laundry Rooms
11/19 - Foyers/Entry ways
11/26 - Off for Thanksgiving

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 5

Day 5 - Your Siblings
I have three older brothers who are wonderful!!  They are all older than me (so yes, I'm the only girl and the baby) but I have to say, there is nothing better than having three protectors!!  I seriously don't think anyone has better siblings than I do!

My oldest brother, Kel, is a missionary in Brazil with his family.  He and his wife, Deb, have 4 kids.  The oldest two are in the states - Kaleb is married and graduated this past May from Cedarville University.  He and his wife now live in Colorado and we miss them!!  Alicia is a senior at Cedarville University majoring in nursing.  The other two (shown above) Marisa and Micah are currently in Brazil. Ten things about my brother Kel
1) He  is extremely organized and very much a planner. 
2) He is also very caring with a compassionate heart.
3) He is a lot of fun to be around.
4)  He is a great preacher and teacher - he was actually my 6th grade Sunday school teacher!!
5) He is a Godly man.
6) He is a great father who adores his children (and his children adore him too!)
7) He is sincere - if he says he is going to do something, he will.
8) He's honest - if you ask him his opinion, he will tell you.
9) He's got the best laugh - it's one of those "big" laughs that you can't miss . . well, I miss it because I don't get to hear it very often!
10) He's a hard worker - when something needs done, he does it - he's helped us move and never complained!
I miss him and the rest of his family very, very much and am looking forward to when they come home again!

The next brother is Jeff.  He and his wife, Nora, live in Indiana with their two children - Brittany and Brandon.  Jeff is a high school principal at a Christian School.  Ten Things about my brother Jeff:
1) He is fantastic at what he does - he is so good at working with people and running a program to its fullest potential.
2)  I have to say that Jeff is very intelligent - I would place him in the "genius" category.  When I was in grad school, I would call him and ask him to explain my statistic class notes, which he could do easily. 
3) He's a great teacher - whether speaking in church, teaching a class or seminar, or just talking one on one, he's very good at explaining things in an understandable way
4) He's fun - he's got that sly sense of humor; very subtle so no one knows it's him . ..
5) He's Godly and follows God's leading
6) He doesn't give up - even when life throws him lemons, he doesn't give up.
7) He's tough - I don't think he feels pain, seriously.
8) He's kindhearted.
9) He's a great father - he has two wonderful kids who I think agree!
10) He's level headed - he is not an over-reactor (is that a word?)

Last but not least is Ken.  Ken and his wife, Lynnette, live in Michigan and have three kids, Braedon, Seth and Kate.  Ken is the preacher. Ten things about my brother Ken:
1.  He is a great preacher - sometimes, when it is your sibling, it is hard to listen to them preach, but Ken has really become an awesome preacher.  I wish I could hear him more.
2. He's a caring person, wanting to make sure others are happy.
3. He's a lot of fun.  Seriously, he really is - he makes us all laugh.
4. He's a great dad - just look at his kids :-)
5. He's a Godly man - he really follows what God teaches. (I guess that would be practicing what he preaches!)
6. He's likable.  Because Ken and I have always lived fairly close to each other, I've had more opportunity to see this play out.  "Everyone" always seems to like him.
7. He is a worker - whether it be to help other people or to finish his own house, he isn't afraid of a little work.
8. He is outgoing - he isn't afraid to talk to people.
9. He has a ton of energy, even in his "old" age - I've seen him as a camp counselor, youth pastor and now as pastor - that energy always carries through.
10. He's kind - in the way he treats both friends and family.

I could say a lot more about all of my brothers but I don't want to bore you :-)  I will say that when we are all together, we laugh and laugh.  If you looked in the windows, you'd probably think we were crazy.  But isn't that what family is? Crazy fun!!!  I'm so thankful for my siblings - I know that no matter what happens in my life, they will always be there.  We may not talk often but we are always there for each other.

Worship Wednesday - Hallelujah

I heard this song on the radio coming home from church last week and just really enjoyed it so I thought I'd share!  It's call Hallelujah by Heather Williams. I had never heard of her before nor had I heard the song but it stuck with me all week!  I wish it would play on my player but this Link will allow you to see the video. 

Enjoy :-)

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 4

Day 4: Your Parents
My parents are some pretty special people!  My dad is a preacher and has been for about 38 years.  He is also an electrician, and electrical engineer.  For years, when my brothers and I were growing up, he always worked two jobs - one as a full time pastor and one doing electrical work of some kind.  Despite his busy schedule, he always had time for family.  He is excellent at explaining things (like geometry!) and always has a lesson to teach :-)  Beyond that though, he is also a great helper.  He is willing to help any of us kids when we need it!  My dad is caring, kind, and a lot of fun.

My mom is a pretty wonderful person too.  She was a stay at home mom for years but when two of my brothers were in college at the same time, she did work part time to help them out.  She also cleaned a neighbors house so she could send us each spending money.  She is willing to step in and help in anyway she can and her biggest pleasure, is helping her kids and grand kids.  Eventually she also became the church secretary for my dad and did that until she retired to stay home and care for my grandma who lived with them for several years.  Now, she loves to quilt, take care of her grand kids whenever she can, and take little trips with my dad.  My mom is fun, kind, and caring.