September's Gifts

I love September.....for several reasons.....It's my BIRTHDAY.....and it's still a little bit summer but fall is quickly arriving.  The structure of school and some semblance of routine is returning....yet its not too routine yet. Sweet September!

September at my house is filled with gifts!  I love gifts....but don't really like stuff....so buying for me is probably not the easiest!  I rarely have any ideas when asked what I like.....I'm not trying to be difficult....I will tell Randy and my Mama when I really want something (a camera....or a fire pit!) but generally I have no clue.  I've been thinking about why a lot this month, because I've been asked a lot what I want....and this is what I came up with:

I want thoughtfulness.

I want words.

I want pictures.

I want memories.

These are the things that I value and they are not always easy to put in a box with a bow!  

Some gifts (stuff) really hit the jackpot though....here are a few of my all time favorite gifts.....

A simple bracelet that sorta sums up my life.....

This was a Christmas gift this past year.

A handmade 7 egg shadow box (I have 7 in my tribe!)......

This was a 40th birthday gift, a few years back!

Flowers from my Andrew with no prompting, flowers mean very little to me, but him remembering means everything....same when my Jackson buys me a Diet Coke with crunchy ice.....yeah he used Daddy's money but it was his idea!

Signs.....Randy knew I would like this one because he said it was sorta a rule or command.....

Evidently its a theme in our home decor...RULES....Randy and Andrew noticed and pointed this out this summer!  I do love me some rules!  Somebody's got keep this crew in line!

(There are more....I even have a "porch rules" sign....)

One gift I received from a friend this year was a pure white water bottle.  I do like practical.  For real.  If you are gonna give me stuff I want to use it!  The tear off label said, "Live Pure".  

I don't think the manufacturer meant to covey the message how I took it, but now each time I grab that bottle I'm reminded by the pure white....Live Pure.....YES!  

That is my kind of gift!

Meaningful and Useful

God's been so faithful to me and given me a few gifts this month too.....

One was the gift of Randy.  I'm so thankful for him.  He is wise and slow to act.  I need him!  Just this week I was ready to jump in and solve one of my kids relational problems and Randy firmly but gently said no.  This is a kid issue.  We can talk to the kids, pray with the kids, but we need to let the kids handle this.  Oh. my. word.  I'm so thankful for Randy's leadership.  When I want to jump in and be a helicopter parent I need him to remind me to lead and guide and pray....not to take over and solve.  God and the kids worked this situation out so much better then I ever could have!

There have been other gifts too....lessons in my pridefulness, lessons in my sinful tendency towards self-sufficiency and impatience.  That is a blog for another day though!

September also brought the gift of  expanding our community.  I have so enjoyed meeting the families of the kid's school friends at a school wide movie night

I've enjoyed meeting fellow teachers and student's and their families at the preschool.

I've enjoyed sweet time with Sophia who has been killing me at the gym.  She is hardcore!  So if you see me hobbling around its from trying to keep up with her!  UGH!

I have been reminded this month of the precious gift of friendships....Mine and my kiddos.

September Gifts Abound!

What's Cooking

So...ya'll....today I'm gonna share THE best salad you have ever had.  It is AmAzinG!  Oh. My. Word!

I have Kary to thank for this addiction.  Kary is my beloved hair dresser!


She not only takes care of all our hair and....and eyebrows...and color....she also recommends great salads.  She told me I HAD to try the Arugula Salad from Radius Pizza in Hillsborough....so I tried it....YUMMY!  However, I'm sorry to say it is also expensive....like $15 a pop if you add salmon.....so I decided I would have to make it at home.  I've eaten like 4 times this week.  I am totally addicted.

Arugula

Feta Cheese

Dried Cranberries

Walnuts (Radius uses peanuts....but the peanuts tasted a little weird to me)

Diced Roasted Sweet potatoes....YES!

Pan seared salmon....not included on salad, but Kary recommended adding it.

Vinaigrette Dressing

You are welcome.  I know I'm your new best friend.

And if you want your kids to think you are awesome....

Make these cookies

1 box cake mix (I used strawberry)

1 regular sized tub Cool Whip (I used reduced fat)

1 egg

Mix

Roll into balls and coat in Powdered Sugar

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes....

So quick I made them before school!

Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the finished product....

They were cute.

I didn't eat one but my kids LOVED them.

Happy Thursday!

Exploring Home

I've lived in Durham basically my whole entire life.  I say basically, because I did leave for college, but made a quick return home.....So I kinda thought I knew my town and the surrounding areas.  I'm realizing this last week, however, there is really so much I don't know about my hometown.  I think my new hobby is going to be uncovering Durm.  Take for instance Duke Gardens, I definitely knew it was there and had visited it many times.  Nonetheless, I did not know that it was so quiet during the weekday mornings.  A perfect spot for a walk, or quiet time, or writing.  I will definitely be incorporating this treasure into my life.

These weekday adventures are giving me lots of ideas for family adventures.

One of my favorite discoveries this week was King's Red and White.  Thank you Julia Curl!  Seriously, how can I have lived in Durham my whole life and been so unaware!  It is the cutest, quaintest grocery you can even imagine.  Mapleview Farms butter (and ice cream), homemade jam, 9th street bakery bread, local produce, a real butcher in back, hand drawn signs in the window.  Oh. my. word.   My new favorite!

Rubbing shoulders with strangers.  Strangers becoming acquaintances......maybe even new friends.  New friendships bring even more discoveries.  Randy found a new favorite drink from one of Lydia's new friends.  Mixing things up a bit, eyes open wide....

 
Slowing down.  Paying attention.  Breathing deep.  Discovering hidden treasures along the way.

Absorbing life.

Pouring out from His abundance.....Ahhhh

I Survived Summer and Starting School!

Mama's, summer is no joke!  It's fast, it's fun, it's full and at our house it's over.  It went out with a bang!  I spent several days at my parents beach house and let each of my kids bring a friend.  It was really fun.....

Lots of laughs

Lots of memories

Lots of food

Lots of sunshine

After our friends left we headed into a weeklong family vacation, that was exactly what the doctor ordered!

We came home, unpacked, and hit the ground running because 5 short days after vacation ended school began!


So on Thursday, I sent my four kiddos back to school.  The big one heads back in a couple weeks!

Sophia was headed to the brand new high school!  It's so pretty!!!!

She is absolutely in LOVE with high school.  She came home beaming.

Jackson and Lydia both started middle school.  That is crazy!  Lydia came home bubbling over with excitement about school and talking about all the friends she made.  Jackson made lots of friends and came home with a new nickname, "Jay"! There is another Jackson in his class.....so Jay it is!  They were a little bummed when they realized that they were twinning on the first day of school....it was accidental!

As I was talking to Jackson before bed last night, I asked him who the prettiest girl in his class was.  He rolled his eyes and reluctantly admitted, "Lydia".  So sweet!

Audrey is in the fifth grade, and she is crazy about her teachers and already making friends.  Sophia asked her if she had done any of her voices at school yet.  She hasn't.....yet.  They have no idea.....I'm sure she will come out of her shell in a few days :)

I did tear up a little on Thursday as I dropped off the last kiddo.  Just for a bit though.  This is a new chapter for me.  I've homeschooled most of my adult life....and the one year they did go to school before I taught school.  So I'm home alone....and it is weird....and I must admit....a bit wonderful!

I've been stopping at the Riverwalk on my way home from school and walking and listening to music and I love it!  It is quiet and beautiful.

I am hopeful that this will become a habit.

I've also enjoyed unrushed Quiet Times with Peach Tea and uninterrupted Phone Calls with sweet friends.

So far it has been a lot of the same....Laundry, Dishes, Cooking, Cleaning, Planning, Organizing.

It is easier and quieter.

Except not the paperwork.....there is a lot of paperwork!

It's also a little different.....Packing Lunches, Morning Rush, Afternoon Carlines.....

And different because my breakfast game has been on point....(I'll try to remember to blog when I throw Pop tarts at them too!)

But it's also different because life feels a bit more restful....a lot less stressed.....like I can breathe a little.

(a little inspiration found on my morning walk)

I love my crew and am so excited to see them each afternoon and hear their stories and about their days but the break has been nice....very, very nice.  Except when Mindy tears up the trash and I'm the only one to clean it!  Just keeping it real......