Hello, 2013!

For 2012, I set out to do the following:

• grow our own food again (see examples...here, here)
• eat locally more (examples...here, here, here, here)
• learn how to can (examples...here, here)
• simplify more (we’ve Craigs listed, donated, and given away lots of stuff this year)
• act the way I want to feel (I believe this helped especially during my last MS flair-up.)
• and take a photo every day (see all of the 2012 photos here)

I think I did a pretty good job at fulfilling those resolutions. 2012 will probably be the year that is known in history as revolutionary for our entire family. We made big changes to the way we eat and the way we live. We even started raising chickens! While I don’t know what 2013 holds, I do know a lot is going to have to happen to be able to top 2012.

For the coming year I am making the following resolutions:

• Read at least one book a month.
• Try to be more intentional about all of my purchases by buying used, local, fair trade, etc.
• Write to our Compassion sponsored kids at least once a month.
• Run in a Color Run.
• Be more hospitable by inviting people into our home more often.

In some ways the list seems too easy, especially compared to last year, but I think that’s what I need right now. We’ll see if I can be as successful this year as last!

A Frame A Day 2012

I almost can’t believe I did it! I decided last year about this time that I wanted to try taking one photo every day of the year. I already loved photography and knew this would be a perfect way to improve my amateur skills. To hold myself accountable, when I would nightly add the photos that Bryan and I had taken to our computer, I would also pick and post one as the frame of the day in the sidebar of this blog. (Bryan did take a few of these, because sometimes his photos are just downright better than mine. My brother also took the few family shots we have.)
After just a couple months in, I realized how this project was truly documenting our life and each and every photo brings back a memory. There were nights when I would just go back and look at what happened over the course of the year. You can see how the boys have grown, the changes we’ve made especially with food, the learning that took place in our home, and so much more. I think my photography did actually improve, too. Of course, there were some days when I would just snap a picture, but most days I would really try to take a photo that captured something from that day. I was the crazy person that carried the camera everywhere this year. There were days when I would forget to grab the camera as we were heading out the door and I would have to go back and get it. There were other days when I would intentionally leave the camera at home because it was big and bulky and at the end of the day I would wish that I had brought it. I could have never imagined how precious this project would end up being and how much I have enjoyed it. Now as we enter another year, I’m confident that the photos won’t stop. If I put the camera down now I know I will regret it, because this was one new year’s resolution that turned out to be just priceless.
Here’s a look at our year in a frame-a-day...

Statuses Never Posted

• We’re dehydrating apples and the house smells heavenly.
• Kale, swiss chard, and apples are really tasty as a juice.
• So stinkin’ excited to finally find the songs I want to use for our frame-a-day project!
• A few months ago I dreaded leaving the house with a three year old. Today we went to the grocery store and I don’t think I could have imagined a better experience. So thankful for this new stage and the difference a few months can make.
• Just tried carrots, oranges, and ginger in the new juicer. I loved it!
• I never want to forget how Seth says “hooray” for every fun and exciting thing.
• Just found out that Mariah’s now has a gluten-free menu. Praise the Lord!
• The tingling is almost gone. (Thank you, to all of you, for all the prayers!)

Christmas 2012

Here are a few small glimpses of our Christmas. 

 

 

(If you would like specific details about how we do our Happy Birthday, Jesus party, 

check out this post from last year.)

 

(Yes, the candles were melting into the extra warm, straight out-of-the-oven Paleo birthday brownie.)

 

Merry Christmas to all and Happy Birthday, Jesus!

First Day of Winter 2012

Winter. The season of quiet, rest, and reflection. The season of hats, mittens, and scarves. The season of warm blankets and hot tea. The season we welcomed today complete with our own indoor snow! Hopefully very soon we can play in some real snow. Until then, we'll enjoy this new season for all that it has to offer.

 

Statuses Never Posted

• You just never know where you might find baby Jesus these days.
• Lesson learned: Do not get to the Farmers’ Market late!
• So thankful for a husband who goes and gets me Home Cafe’s beef stew for lunch.
• There's been one egg in the nest box every single day!!!
• We need more restaurants with gluten free options in Bowling Green.
• So thankful for the warmer days lately. The time spent outside has been refreshing.
• 2 EGGS TODAY! This is so exciting!
• You know it’s a good book when you’ve read it twice and you still don’t want it to end.

Story Time at the Smiths Grove Library

This morning we went to Smiths Grove for a play date with friends and story time at the library. The Smiths Grove Branch of the library is just wonderful. If we lived just a little bit closer we would go there every single week. But going there every so often makes it even more special when we do get to go.

 Every library should have a tree house. 

The Smiths Grove Library does and the kids love it!

We listened to Peas on Earth...

 and then a pretend diner was set up for all the kids to enjoy. 

Never have I seen such creativity and thoughtfulness at a library and

 this happens all the time at the Smiths Grove branch.

All of the kids got hats and aprons.

 They had little notepads and pencils to take orders. 

There were menus...

  and pretend food/cookware. 

The kids got to take all of the parents' orders then pretend to 

cook and serve it up. It was the most precious thing!

 

 

 

 

 Silas even joined in on the pretend playing by sipping some pretend tea. 

 

No detail about the diner experience was overlooked. 

 The parents even got to pay the kids for our meals.

 

 After the kids played until their hearts were content,

 we headed to a local park for a picnic.

 It was simply a splendid morning!