August Fields

all you need is love. love is all you need.

almost two years ago i spotted some wooden signs that had this saying on it.

all you need is love.  love is all you need.

the quote is from a beatles song but i saw this through different lenses:
1 John 4:8  
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
all i need is GOD.  GOD is all i need.   (and i needed these signs!)

enter my dear friend, the super talented susie harris.  the signs i spied so long ago showed up
on susie’s blog, and i decided if susie will paint them i would buy them!  i am so pleased.

susie does amazing work….i’m sure you can find a sign that will work in your home 🙂

right behind these love signs, on the wood behind the drywall we wrote our wedding verses:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

i had to super-crop a photo from the construction phase.  you can see the black sharpie on the studs.

i long to show God’s love daily in the way i live.  do i mess up? fall down?  absolutely.
but i have a savior.  his name is Jesus.  the son of God who died for me.  and THAT is love.
the fact that God’s allowed His son to die for me?  for you?  for us?

when i start feeling froggy about something not-so-great in my life and maybe wonder “really? this situations stinks big time” i think about how God IS love.

He is pursuing little ‘ol me!

i can wallow and try to take charge on my own or i can surrender and love him more.

i can grasp and feel His love.  its a very good thing.

everyone has trials. some worse than others that’s for sure.  i have had trials.  and i STILL have trials.

grasping the truth and reality of the death of Jesus on the cross and the resurrection from the grave….
i just can. not. imagine.  my life with out my precious Lord and Savior.  He has moved mountains
in my life.

HE has LOVED me.  and that is all i need.

boys bunk room update

i finally put the new bedding on all the bunks. 
the striped duvets are from west elm and the pillow covers are from etsy.

i still wouldn’t change a thing about these bunks.  the boys love them.

they’re roomy and the individual light is so practical.

i still stand my ground that these beds are no more difficult to make than my girl’s twin beds.

the boys have a fitted sheet and a duvet cover.  no in between sheet.  its just easier this way.
if they need an extra blanket we keep a stack in the closet.

courageous. the movie.

we saw this movie last weekend.  it will turn a lot of emotions and definitely make you think.

i cried.

i laughed.

it challenged me to be a better mother and for my husband to be a better father.

and i think we ALL have room to improve.  whether you have your own children or not.

this movie will tug at your heart to ponder the way you raise your children.

have you seen it?  what did you think?

Courageous the movie trailer

its fall. and i love it.

we started out with a trip to chicago for our 12 year anniversary…..i love my husband!  cheers for many more years 🙂

fall brings fresh apples……and yummy candles.  i’ve been burning this hazelnut by swan creek candle and it is a. maz. ing.

fall decorations are out.  and i found white pumpkins and hobby lobby.  so cute.

the fall mantle.  so easy and simple.  here is last year’s mantle. you’ll see where i used these vases last year as well.

fall means extra hot salted carmel mochas and sunday paper after church.

fall means going to the pumpkin patch….

happy fall!

first day of homeschool 2011!

deanie is 10 1/2

dancy is 8 1/2

boone is almost 7

hank is almost 5

homeschoolers are so ummm….different.  *smile*

the night before i set the school table

each of the four big kids (the ones actually doing school) got a package of fun pull apart erasers and smarties.

of course dubs got a pack of smarties too 🙂  the kids had so much fun going into the schoolroom in the morning and finding the surprises.

english was the first subject we tackled for the day.

this is my area in the schoolroom.  i found this desk over the summer and painted it gray.  i love having my own spot.  and yes indeed, we had to pull out the teacher’s manual for math on the first day! 🙂

a couple other new things this year are the big white board and the stick on world map, both from the office supply store.

boone was so excited when he completed his first real english lesson!

one of the many joys of homeschooling right here people!  opa came over to bring lunch and stopped in the schoolroom to check out all the work that had been done. 🙂