Fun: Halloween in Lawson 2013

Tonight we had our first Halloween in our new neighborhood. We live in such a big community with so many kids so we knew it would be fun! Ella went as Super Girl and Ryen went as Rainbow Dash from my little pony.



Our social committee holds a Halloween event every year at our Millhouse. There was a DJ there to greet everyone and get the party started while all the kids mingled and saw each other's costumes. The social committee passed out hot dogs and glow sticks to the kids. Then the kids hopped onto to trailers, trucks and golf carts that were decorated with hay for a parade up Lawson Dr. It was so cute! Here are some pics!



Then we headed back to our part of the neighborhood to trick or treat with our friends Cate, Connor and Faith and my friend Jonee. :)





We had such a great night and loved seeing all the kids out and about in the neighborhood. :) Happy Halloween

Fall: My neighborhood foliage is GORGEOUS

You would not believe the foliage here in North Carolina. I can't even believe it. It is so stunning! I take this road to my house every day and this is what I get to see. I just had to stop and take some pics to share with you. As someone who has not had fall in 10 years I can tell you I am giddy over it. Never really remember appreciating it when I had it. Funny huh? Enjoy the pics.



My house on the "hill"



My backyard at sunrise after our first frost of the season :)

Family: Enjoying the little things...

How lucky am I to have two nutcracker princesses perform me during Sunday football? Very...



Can you look at this face?



A ballerina wanted to go for a walk. I couldn't think of anything more fun. :) And we found side walk chalk on our stroll and ended up stopping to scribble for a bit.



I hope you take time to enjoy your little moments. xoxoxo

Food: Slow Cooker Beef Stew - Healthy Recipe

Burrrr... it feels cold lately. Perfect weather for some home made comfort food. Tonight we tried a Beef Stew Recipe that I made in the crock pot. I found it on All Recipes. That website can be so hit or miss sometimes. Mainly because I will find a recipe with like 2 million 5 star ratings but then I'll read the reviews and every single person writes this was wonderful "but only after I made the following 75 changes to the recipe!" I am like, you know what people, then go make your own new post. "Aint nobody got time" to read through all these reviews to see how everyone took a 3 star recipe and turned it into a 5 star recipe with all the changes they made. Sheesh! Drive me NUTS. But this one I tried JUST AS IS. Didn't change a THING. And it was...........

DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!! 5 Stars!! Go make this asap! Super easy. Hot and comforting. AND healthy. :)



Slow Cooker Beef Stew

"Stew meat is cooked with potatoes, celery, and carrots in a hearty broth. Garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and paprika add flair!"

Ingredients:

2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups beef broth
3 potatoes, diced
4 carrots, sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped

Directions:
Place meat in slow cooker. In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and pepper; pour over meat, and stir to coat meat with flour mixture. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, onion, beef broth, potatoes, carrots, and celery. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 8 hours, or on High setting for 4 to 6 hours.

Family: Out with the OLD in with the NEW

I just spent an hour on a conference call regarding an upcoming parenting class that I am WAY excited for. This sounds like everything I have been trying to implement and change about the way I am parenting. I hope I get chosen for this in depth class. I had to apply and they are only accepting a small number of applicants. Either way I got enough out of the one hour class today to make some changes already. I feel so hopeful that THIS time I will be successful. Doesn't this sound wonderful???



Wish me luck and stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Family Fun: 2013 Pumpkin Carving

Every year the girls get to pick what they want on their pumpkins and I carve them for them. Usually they pick whatever they are into at the moment. In the past we have done Hello Kitty, Ariel, Elmo, Justin Bieber etc. Here are some pics of past years.




This year the girls were actually able to HELP me get the pumpkins ready!




And we roasted seeds with Daddy!



This year Ryen chose a dolphin and Ella chose the head of a dead Zombie cheer leader! ha ha Here they are, our 2013 PUMPKINS!!



The girls love their pumpkins this year :)

Faith & Family: True love is UNCONDITIONAL

One thing I am grateful to have been reminded of in the past couple years is the true meaning of Love. We have gotten to a place in this Country where we think it is ok to treat people certain ways based on how they are acting, behaving, and/or treating us. Is that really how life is supposed to be lived? Someone is mean to you, so you are mean back? Someone hurts you, so you hurt them back? Someone lies about you so spread lies back? Is that how we want to live? Constantly letting other people drag us down to behavior we are not proud of, don't want, but suddenly feel justified doing? This is not the way it supposed to be. We are called to love no matter what. Love those that don't deserve it. Love those who are not loving us properly. Heck even the Golden Rule says it clearly "Treat others the way you want to be treated". Notice, that rule does not say "Treat others the way THEY ARE TREATING you." 

There are many examples in the Bible that reinforce the principal above. Love your enemy for instance. Love your spouse ALWAYS. It does not say love them only when they are behaving the way they should be, or only when they are loving you and treating you kindly. It says LOVE your spouse. Period. It says honor and respect your parents. It does NOT say, but only if your parents are acting loving and respectful towards you. In fact the Bible in many sections takes it a step further and specifically advises that we are to love and honor and respect IN SPITE of people. In spite of how they are acting or treating us. Imagine if we all started living this way day in and day out. The person that bites your head off in the store, or makes a snarky comment, or cuts you off in traffic. Imagine if we didn't feel the need to get so hostile in return and feel the need to justify or vindicate ourselves. And we just simply forgave and kept on loving. In SPITE of our anger. In SPITE of them. 

At the end of the day I look back over my day and ask myself who did I wrong today? Do I need to say sorry to anyone for my behavior today? Do I need to work on something inside of me? Did I allow myself to behave in ways I am not proud of and what can I do to fix it, make it right, say sorry, or prevent it from happening again? I am not perfect which is why daily reflection and prayer and mediation are necessary to stay on track.

Love is the answer. 

Faith: Don't Worry!

Just about an hour ago I was starting to worry about something. Getting all upset, over reacting, full of anxiety and worry over the future. Then I sat down to check my email and came across a new post from Loving My Lot. I loved her post "7 Reasons There's No Reason to Worry" that I decided to share the list of 7 Reasons here. Find her blog here and subscribe to her posts :) Here is a little quote from Loving My Lot to help you understand what she is about:

"I think these two things–my faith in Christ and my love for my family–are what have stirred my passion for biblical womanhood. With my whole heart, I want to embrace the role and calling God has for my life so that when I do finally see Him face to face, it will be with no regrets."

From Matthew 6:25-34

1. Because if God has given me big, substantial gifts (such as my life & body), I can trust Him to provide for smaller, less substantial needs. (v25)

2. Because God is so sovereign He cares about even the insignificant details of nature. (v26, 28-29)

3. Because I am of great value to God. (v26b, 30)

4. Because anxiety does zippo to fix my problems or extend my life. (v27)

5. Because God knows what I need. (v32)

6. Because God’s kingdom and righteousness are more important than anything I could ever need or want. (v33)

7. Because tomorrow will bring new troubles I didn’t even see coming, so I might as well live one day at a time. (v34)

Reference: http://lovingmylot.com/2013/10/25/7-reasons-theres-no-reason-to-worry/

Family Fun: Eric Carle Show at Batte Auditorium

The girls and I have always loved Eric Carle books. Obviously our favorite is The Very Hungry Caterpillar but there are others that we like just as much. The mixed up Chameleon and Little Cloud are more favorites. So I was thrilled and intrigued to find there was a live show that was going to bring his books to life. I didn't understand how, but I bought tickets and the girls and I were off for a date day :)

We had to drive to Wingate University to the Batte Auditorium. Which was beautiful by the way.




We had front row center seats!!



The show was incredible. It was a blacklight show where the colors were so vibrant and bright!



After the show they had a Q&A with the puppeteers and creators of the show.




Afterwards the girls and I went outside and I LOVE these photos I got of my girls in front of the beautiful fountain.



Fun with shadow shapes!



Next we made wishes and threw pennies in the fountain. One for each girl. And I made two! One for me and Jimmy.



Then it was cartwheels and handstands on the lawn before we headed off for some dinner.