7/52

A picture of each child once a week for one year.

(broke the rules a little this time, but I loved this picture so much)

 

 

6/52

A picture of each child once a week for one year.

 

Pages

Hopefully a series I will continue to do...I would love it if you (who journal) would join me and include a link to your pages. I so enjoy seeing other people's thoughts and doodles.

 

Current Favorite: Store

I cannot put into words how amazing this store is. I cannot. I am not going to try.

 

Just know that if you love paper goods, pens, notebooks, journals or anything along those lines then this place is a must. Thanks to my friend Katie for telling me about it.

 

My heart is literally still racing...it was that good!

 

 

 

5/52

A picture of each child once a week for one year.

 

 

County Donuts

I have been craving a good donut lately. Blame it on Instagram, I swear my feed always has at least one image of a delicious looking donut. It was not a Dunkin Donut type craving. It was a full blown, I even solicited help on a Facebook page called Wheaton Moms, type craving. (side note: That page is crazytown!) 

 

I should have simply asked my friend Paula first. Paula knows what is up when it comes to good treats, I mean she works at Blackberry Market for goodness sake. As soon she told me to try County Donuts I began plotting how many hours until we made the trek. Added bonus, or negative, not sure yet...County Donuts takes very little time to get to for us. Oh dear.

 

After church on Sunday we loaded into the car (because yes, we walk to church, don't be impressed it is literally across the street) and started the drive. Pulling up I was full of anticipation. There was a line of people. Fun looking people. Or perhaps I thought they looked fun because I personally think if I moved and was in need of good friends I would start at the local donut shop. People in line at donut shops are happy people.

 

I joined the line, wanting to whisper, "This is my first time here" as if I had entered into a secret club of some sort simply by being there. My turn came and the options were overwhelming. In my planning I had thought we would get a huge sampling and discover what we loved best. But with shelves of donuts that all appeared fabulous the task was too difficult.  I asked the young girl helping me the most popular selections. I think she listed about every single donut, except for my now favorite one. (Which I see as a win because they will hopefully always be available when I go.) I ordered and ordered and finished it off with two coffees.

 

I joined my little gang of people on the swivel barstools that lined the counter and we opened the boxes. Just like Christmas morning.

 

Taking two bites and switching to a new donut was encouraged. Boy oh boy did we have fun. They have yeast donuts and cake donuts and they are delicious and fresh. I will say that the coconut covered chocolate donut is my favorite (Paula, thank you), Nate's was the buttermilk and the kids liked them all.

 

As we sat in there, smiling as we nibbled our treats and sipped our coffee an elderly couple came in and sat down a few stools over. The man ordered their donuts and then the two of them sat their, sipping the coffee from the diner mugs and enjoying their selection. I looked at Nate and we smiled. We both knew that someday, hopefully that will be us. Old, on a date, eating donuts.

 

 

Did I mention they are open 24/7.

Yup. Death nail.

 

snowfall

 

The first hours of a snowfall hold magic all their own.

4/52

A picture of each child once a week for one year.

 

 

 

 

 

Current Favorite: Book

At Home with Madame Chic

by Jennifer L. Scott

 

I devoured this book, stopping only because I was so inspired by her words that I needed to immediately execute them in my home. Many of my personal thoughts on home and housekeeping were echoed throughout the pages, so much so that at times I felt like she had invaded my mind and taken notes. Candles for every day luxury, music to set a tone to the day, clutter-free house for a clutter free mind, prep work for busy mornings; all these things have been marks of how I desire for my home to look and feel but reading it afresh was just what I needed this time of year to get back in the game of homemaking. There were of course things I have no current plan of making a part of my life, but the beauty is I can take and apply only the portions of it that match who I am and how I am wired. The same goes for you of course.

 

 

Homemaker.

 

 

 

The word might make you cringe, might make you smile, might not strike you in any particular way. But for me this is a word I want to embrace more and more this year. I am at my house every day for at least 18-20 hours. I have four children and a husband who spend much of their life at our home. It not only makes logical sense to work hard at making it a place I want to be, it also stirs my creative, up for a good challenge personality. Thus far in working towards these changes I will say that I have found myself relishing the precious days we have been given more.

 

My eyes have become more trained to take in the beauty all around, be it in my children, the endless piles of snow out my window, the way my house lets in light...all of it can fuel thankfulness. Christ calls us to be thankful. It is hard to be thankful when our eyes see deadlines, dirt, meal making and whining children as we bow over in an overwhelmed state. But lift up your eyes. Lift them up and see Him. He will accomplish his good plan and we simply need to heed His direction for us. No, it probably is not a home cooked meal, probably not a clutter-free entry way, but certainly is our heart's state as we go about these daily to-dos. While I strive to grow in homemaking I pray I do not miss the forest for the trees.