Favorite photos of 2014

I am planning on going through all of my photos this year and getting some printed and turned into books. With all of the photos that I've taken, I have almost none up at my house. And there are so many that I love, I should have started this years ago. But, there is no time like the present-- I guess this is my traditional new years resolution. Print more photos. So here are a few of them that made me laugh or gave me warm fuzzies while I was going through them!

Lamby has shown up in almost all of our photos!

These two have grown up since the first time we were all toghether. 

And these two who have such a sweet friendship!

These cub scouts and their crazy antics!

A frozen lake with our beloved Bon-bon.

Exploring creativity from new angles.

Winter hikes on warmer days!

Summer road trips!

Lamby in a Yoda costume!

The weekend before we opened the coffee shop. 

Quiet mornings. 

For Today

the lumineers album. every. single. song. on. this. album.

lattes. we've been making them almost everyday. and when we don't make them ourselves. we visit Erin and she makes them for us. so spoiled.

the weather. negative temperatures makes all of us want to be home and in the big bed reading books. i love being home.

wool socks. mom got me these beauties for my stocking. loving my growing smartwool collection and my tootsies are toasty.

simple mittens. i am almost done with mitten no. 2. this video really helped with the thumb gore.

girl scout cookies. they are tasty and i do not have to coordinate the sale this year. this is a win win. carmel delites now come stress free. (on sale from today to march 17th... wink wink)

husband. he came home with teacher appreciation chocolate bars + an extra for me. truman wrapped it up along with my favorite-daily-used pen. "i knew you would love the pen. since i KNOW you love that pen." nice thought, Truman! even if he did have to borrow it from me-- to wrap it up and give it back.

this book. this documentary. this show (so dramatic!). this video.

What makes your week happy? What things are you loving?

40 Days of Diligence: What We've Been Up to

Phew.

Good Morning! It's been a while, hasn't it?

Well, I should tell you practicing diligence has not brought me here every Thursday as planned. I've been practicing being fully engaged, mindful and in the moment. I've practiced "seek peace and pursue it" (Ps. 34:14).  But I didn't realize that our life would take me so far from ths space, but it has. And I feel refreshed to come back and tell you the things I've been experiencing. And the grace that I've been given in these things. This is just a short list but an important one.

I was in New Mexico to visit my best and her new baby

Em, Autumn and I went to WHITE SANDS!

I watched the sunset in an airplane over salt lake city and took about 300 pictures

Tea Party with Trubey, Izzo and Lamby!

I introduced the kids to Lambchop (thank you youtube)

We tried new recipes

Made our own shampoo

I did a few projects (photography + graphic design) for a few friends

We milked some goats

We planned our garden

Parent Teacher Confrences

Kindergarten round up

Girl Scout cookies sale ended

Dinners with Friends, Book Study, Good Conversations

Muddy shoes!

Spring started Springing.... grass is getting green

Sweet Tea!

Acquired 6 chickens and a new coop

Read a few books

Purged the playroom and the kids book shelf

Started Daily Reading and Journaling
Eric and I went on a date

New magazine in the mail

What have you been doing while you've been practicing diligence?

Weekending:: in the quiet

This weekend was a real treat. We had no where to except dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday.  It was the quietness we need and togetherness that we love.

This weekend:
grocery shopping
journaling
crafting
lots of book reading
coffee at home, coffee at our favorite place
preserve eating
exploring herbal recipes
discussing lent
playing with friends
eating great food
learning to make Tennessee Tea (use lemonade instead of sweet and sour)
snuggling
laughing
soothing little ears (poor Truman)
a trip to the co-op 
a wintery road trip back home


How was your weekend?



Joining Amanda for Weekending.

Little Face...

I have a tiny friend who loves to get her picture taken. And since I love to take pictures, we've made a little friendship.

Her mama and I spent a Saturday morning chasing the light through the house moving this little lady from one sunny spot into another. And drinking coffee.

See, so many things I love. Friends. Pictures. Coffee. It's so good.

And then look at that face. Oh and toes... EEeeek. I love babies.

Sketchbook Sessions

This weekend I took sometime each day to delve into my sketchbook. I feel like it's been quite a while since I've done this, so I put some peramiters around what I was worked on. I wanted to make some look like stained glass windows. Or completely change my normal perspective/approach to sketching.

It felt so good to stretch my creative muscles. And to encourage my kids (and friends!) to join me. The kids played playdoh and painted during my sketchbook sessions. And it was beautiful.