Finding My Time Niche for Fall | Meal Planning & Shopping List

Even though I love many things that come with the change of season, the back to school transition always means a change of schedule, and leaves me looking for ways to make the most of my time.  If you know me well you know that I love to organize.  Something about having everything in order just makes me feel at peace and way less stressed!  One helpful tool I found is this weekly shopping list idea from Becky Higgins (you can download a free template of it here).  While this template was just about perfect for me, I did a little tweaking and came up with this:

I like the idea of having the weeks meals and my shopping list all on one page, and when I need more room for my grocery list (like this week--and maybe every week) I just flip the sheet over and add to it.

A New School Year Begins

Summer is finally over!  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed spending my days with the kids, getting the chance to go on some great weekend outings and visit California on vacation, and our lazy summer routine.  But...there's just something I love about fall.  Getting settled back into our school routine and finding our niche timewise, enjoying warmer meals around the table, the changing colors of the trees, and knowing that the holidays are just around the corner.  I love it.  The kids started school this week...here are a few shots I got during the first few days back:

Project: Friends Album

I made this mini-album to highlight some of the close friendships that I've had, some since junior high, and some over the past few years.  Each page features a favorite photo and a few highlights about that friend. 

My Mind's Eye Blog Challenge #14 | Summertime

A few pics of the project I made for the My Mind's Eye blog challenge.  Entering these gives me a little creative fun in my spare time, and I thought this project would be cute to put in Katie's room when I'm done.

Sunday Evening in August

Sunday evening in August...we spent the evening at Stewart Park.  Picnic dinner, sand vollyball, the kids played in the sand while I relaxed and got the chance to catch up with some friends.  I love summer evenings like this and will miss the slow routine of summer when school starts back up.

A Few Thoughts on Friendship

Lately my heart has been very heavy about some close relationships that seem to just be left out in the desert. I've tried to understand it, I've tried to fix it...to no avail. Sometimes people close doors and you don't really understand why (even if you think you do). I think a lot of women can relate to how I feel at some point in their life. I am saddened because these relationships were precious to me.

Well I woke up this morning feeling such peace! I know that even though I feel alone, there is something that God wants to do in me during this time. I trust that God knows my desire to have friendships that are going to enrich my life...the kind of soul mate friends that will be there through all of the changes and seasons that I will inevitably encounter.  Perhaps He will bring new friendship into my life.  Or strengthen current relationships.  Or possibly even revive old friendships from the dead!  I know that anything is possible. 

God did not design us to be an island, to walk through life's journey alone.  He created us for relationship.  So I'm not going to lose heart....I know there is a purpose for why I feel like I am walking this part of my journey alone.  And I know that I am not alone!  I think there are secrets that God wants to reveal in my heart that maybe could not happen any other way, and that is something sweet to anticipate!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

On Turning Thirty...

Kind of hard to believe that I'm going to be thirty in about a week. It's amazing to me how quickly life passes by. Here's something I put together with a few thoughts on this transition and a current photo of me.

Journaling:  The countdown is on to the day I turn thirty years old.  Hmmm...I suppose I am "officially" a full-fledged adult now?  That's funny, because I still feel very young at heart, and young at life!  All proof to me that life really does pass by too quickly.  So let's take an assessment of where I "am" in life.  Twenty-nine.  Mother of two, with one on the way.  College grad.  Weathering life's storms.  Discovering what it means to learn and grow from my downfalls as well as my achievements.  Falling in love with my first love all over again and thanking God every day for the chance to start over!  Reaffirming who I am.  Anticipating the next step in this journey called life.  Some people dread their thirties.  I think mine are going to rock! ♥

Multnomah Falls

Some of the photos Matt took over this last week while he and the kids made a stop at Multnomah Falls...

Right Now

Right now...I am doing a little bit of a personal inventory, looking back at my journey over the last few years.  So incredibly thankful that somehow despite the roads I have traveled on, I find myself in the place I am today.  I'm just gonna throw this out there right away that it is purely by the grace of God.

I have learned a lot of very important lessons over the last few years...many of them the hard way.  Trust me, in no way do I think I've 'arrived' and am done learning...I know that life really is an ongoing process, and three or four years down the road I will look back and probably be amazed in that leg of my journey as well.  I hope so.  I only hope that by God's grace my future lessons will be written on a more willing heart, and with less pain. 

The saying goes that sometimes things have to be completely torn down before they can be rebuilt.  That is exactly what I have experienced, in many areas of my life.  The storms rolled in , and everything as I knew it was completely washed away.  My marriage.  Friendships. My reputation.  And there I was left sitting in the mud, with a dirty face, my arms full of broken pieces of what used to be my life. 

I am so thankful that out of all of the places I've been to over these last few years, none of them were my destination.  I'm thankful that God loves me enough not to leave me there, even if at some of those places I wanted to stay!  Have you ever looked back and asked yourself, "What was I thinking?" I have had more than one of those moments. 

Through my experience I've learned many things, but probably the most important lesson being this: God is faithful.  And good.  And full of mercy.  He loved me at my worst.  And knowing what He did for me, when He knew all along what I would do, is absolutely flooring.  That is grace!  And that is why I have to share my gratitude.  He has taken something that was just broken, and is making it into something beautiful, and completely new.

I can't describe completely what that is yet, because I'm still in the process.  But I can describe what it's not.  It's not based on condition or fear, or performance for other people or what they might think.  It is more intimate and pure that any relationship I've ever known.  It is based on unconditional love, and it is overwhelming me in the best way possible.

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."—Isaiah 61:3.

Hope

The completed page...this is one of my favorite photos of my daughter from ballet this season.  The journaling highlights just a few of my wishes for her.

Supplies: Paper- So Sophie "Never Enough" Daring Dots,

So Sophie "Brothers and Sisters" Gracious Greenery,

So Sophie "In Love" Petite Red Floral, Breaking Free Wild Ride "Summer" Rockstar;

Journaling Card- Charming "We Are Family"; Button Brads- Makind Memories "Flea Market"; Flowers- Prima

Create

Just a little sneak peak at something I'm working on right now for My Mind's Eye blog challenge #13...enjoying some quiet time and a chance to be creative in my evenings. 

Summer Camp 2010

The kids got back from camp last week and it was obvious by their enthusiasm that they had a great time.  This was Josiah's first year going to Salmon Falls, and he loved it!  Matt went as a counselor, and also acted as the unofficial camp photographer.  He took a bunch of great photos--way too many to post here, but here's a couple of my favorite shots.

San Francisco

For the Independence Day holiday we decided to stay over in San Francisco on our way home from California.  It was amazing!  We enjoyed checking out the architexture and culture of the city before braving the winds to see the Golden Gate Bridge.

California Adventures

On Day 3 in Anaheim we decided to head over to California Adventures.  It was surprisingly a different atmosphere than Disneyland, but just as much fun (actually more fun in my opinion)!  Some of my favorites included Paradise Pier and Soarin' Over California, and Matt and the kids had a blast getting soaked on the Grizzly River Run.

Disneyland Day 2

Our second day at Disneyland...just as fun, a little less overwhelming!  I had no idea Disneyland was so big.  The kids are having fun exploring and bravely riding all of the coasters.  Here are a few of my favorite photos from today.