laundry detergent

Yes, laundry detergent.  That's all. :)


I believe that most of you, when seeing the word 'detergent', would think of that brightly colored cardboard box  filled with pure white powered soap. 


Me? I think about that metal bowl, painted white and green, filled with powered soap and yellow and blue bar soap shavings.  Oh, and we don't use those green, plastic scoops.  We use the metal ones. :)


The mixture is homemade, however the ingredients are not.  But doesn't this bowl of detergent look so vintage-y?

a little taste of...

(photo credit goes to my mom)

 summer

 and

gratitude

Right now the weather seems stuck between the crisp, yet sunny

autumn days (always full of bright and glorious colors) and the cold, yet snowy winter days (always full of sledding, snowball fights, and snow angels).  It's that time where it decides to be cold, yet with no snow. Colorless, yet with nothing to play in.  It's that time where you must make yourself take a picture, for if you don't, you won't take any at all.  It's the time that God made.  The same time that God made...for a purpose. Thank you God for making this season of weather, because when the snow does come, I am even more grateful.  because you can actually pick out that flash of color now. because You made it.

Choosing to be thankful for the things we'd rather not have is awfully difficult.  But it is what God calls us to do.
"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." - Hebrews 13:15

I'm Thankful For...

 God - He is WONDERFUL! And He is Alpha and Omega!

Jesus Christ - who took the penalty for my sin that I might live forever with/for him! 

The Holy Spirit - who directs me and tells me what I've done wrong.

Rain - without it there would be no green grass and no brightly colored flowers.  Without it, we would eventually die of hunger and thirst. 

Food - that comes from the seeds that grow up out of the ground.

  

God's Word - that directs us to Jesus Christ and is full of truth. 

Children - for they make this world so fun!

 Mom and Dad - they usually do know what's best. 

My siblings - they've taught me so much.  

photo taken by my mom

My church family - they are so encouraging and fun and wonderful

 My pastor - I've learned so much from him

 Brightly colored leaves - aren't they beautiful?

 Changing seasons - this way, we can't get bored with one everlasting season

 Detailed flowers - one of my main subjects to take pictures of

 Trees - these are the huge things that brightly colored leaves grow on

 Dirt - especially in the spring

 Green grass - so soft, so cool, so green

 Animals - some are cute and cuddly, others fierce and bold, others still are frightened and enormous.  Most all are beautiful

 Music - you would agree that this stuff is amazing, right?

 Friends - I don't suppose I could go on without them, or at least it seems that way

 Running water - oh goodness, what a blessing

 Heating/AC - must I explain why I'm thankful for this? It gets subzero around here at times...

 Electricity - though this often prohibits our walk with God.

My dad's job - which provides for all that we have. 

Hair brushes - :) 

Eye sight - I once blindfolded myself for an evening to see how it was.  It was hard.

Hearing - thankful to be able to listen to birds songs, water dripping, and popping campfires. 

Good health - not something I should ever take for granted! 

Creation in one week - My God is amazing to have created this universe and all that's in it in 6 days.

America - and the freedoms we possess.

Snow - it is so fun to play in and so beautiful! 

Cameras - to capture that special moment! 

God's gift of salvation - Jesus gave his life for me! 

Genesis - this goes along with creation (above). 

The ability to be homeschooled - school in PJ's, school with food, school in bed... 

The blue sky - such a deep and clear blue today. 

The sun - summer, heat, sunsets, sunstars and sunflares...etc. 

Clouds - to give shade when the sun gets too hot. 

Cousins - "...are those childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends."   

The ability to run - this is fun! 

Children - wait, did I already mention this one? 

The fellowship of Christian friends - so very heart warming. 

Candles - they make me happy. :D 

School - ...did I really just say that? 

Missionaries - all of them. 

Christmas - Christ's birth into our world. 

Sports - volleyball and soccer... 

Answers In Genesis - I love their magazine - it's sooo interesting.

Rainbows - and the promise that comes with it.  

That God never changes - therefore what He says will happen, will happen. 

Stars - and to think that God has a name for each one! Psalm 147:4 

 photo via google

Our solar system - and the whole universe...talk about awesome! 

School teachers - yes, they are nice to have. 

The wisdom of our elders - (and Proverbs) sometimes you want to rebel, but it's amazing to realize that they've gone through all that we have before and know what's best.  

Instruments/voices - oh the beautiful melodies they make! 

The soldiers - who have fought/are fighting for our freedom. 

Birthdays - they make me happy :D 

My followers - for all of you, 17 followers isn't very much at all.  But I'm completely amazed and grateful for every one of you. 
 _____________________


I think that since I made this list, you ought to be able to share at least one thing you are thankful for.  I would really love to read what you have to say.  I guess you could say I would be ever so thankful! :)

Header Troubles

Oh goodness. I've noticed that it does say "a look though my lens".  I'll be fixing it as soon as possible.

What I've Been Thinking About Lately

Yes. Eggs

 

(P.S. We used to get eggs such as these from our chickens, by the way)

 

(P.P.S. I might explain later, but for now you shall be left wondering why on earth I have been thinking about eggs.)

(P.P.P.S. I'm having scrambled eggs for breakfast...in about...8 hours.)

(P.P.P.P.S. Photo via google)

Pinterest Fun

 

 This picture is pretty much just amazing.  The leading lines and framing are perfect, not to mention the colors.

This picture kind of inspired me to do something similar in our living room. I'm sure I'll share pictures when it's all finished.

Old books - Yes.

 

 

Cameras AND old books.

Vintage lemonade would have to be another yes.

 

 

 

Snow.  Oh please let it snow (a lot) soon!

(all photos via pinterest)

Hope you have a great day!

It's Finally Come

This stuff...totally made my day.

Deanna - Another Photo Shoot - Part 2

In case you cared to know, my favorites are the second, fourth, fifth, ninth and last one.  For the one of both of us, I stuck the camera in the tree and set it on timer.  Enjoy!

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

This tree was in the Japanese garden...it was beautiful.  The leaves were amazing!

(11)

Kind of random, but I liked the framing.

(12)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please tell me, which are your favorites?  It helps me to know for the next time I take portrait pictures.  Thanks guys!

A Prayer

I was reading my government this morning and was able to read a prayer that was shared at a meeting of the Kansas House of Representatives.  I thought it was a really awesome prayer, and wanted to share it with you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and seek your direction and guidance.  We know you Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good, " but that's exactly what we've done.  We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.

 We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of your Word and called it moral pluralism.  We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism. We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.  We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.  We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.  We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.  We have killed our unborn and called it choice.  We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.  We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building esteem.  We have abused power and called it political savvy.  We have coveted our neighbors' possessions and called it ambition.  We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom or expression.  We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Photos via google.com

 Search us O God and know our heart today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.  Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by you, to govern this great state.  Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of your will.  I ask it in the name of your son, the living savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."

     

                 

Deanna - Another Photo Shoot

First we took the vintage pictures.  But later I took pictures of her in her normal clothes.  I'm not as pleased with these pictures as I was with Lydia's (I think the bright sun had a lot to do with this) but that's all right because I love the other ones I got.  I was going to post all the pictures, but realized that was way too many, so I'm splitting them up.

Oh goodness, I love her boots so much!

Remember, more coming later!

Today...

...the sun was shining brightly in the clearest blue sky!

Dirt Cups - They're So Much Fun!

Yesterday I made dirt cups for the kids dessert at a dinner we were having.  I thought I'd share with you how to make them, though you probably already know how...it's super easy.  First, you need to assemble the ingredients.  

You'll need a package of chocolate pudding (two 6 1/2 cup serving pkg will make about 10 or so cups) and a package of oreos.

Of course, you need a bag of gummy worms too, a 16 oz. container of whipped cream and clear, plastic cups.

Make up the pudding first.  While the pudding is setting you can crush the oreos in a plastic bag with a rolling pin.

Make sure you crush them really well.  It needs to resemble dirt.

Once you've crushed the whole pkg of oreos (and eaten one or two) then you can pour half of the oreos and the whole tub of whipped cream in with the pudding.  Mix the pudding up until it's one color. 

Place about a tablespoon of oreo crumbs at the bottom of each cup

Place the pudding in next so that it's nearly to the top.  Save a bit of space for some more oreos and a couple worms.

Pour an even amount of oreos on top of the pudding and then add the worms (if I remember right it was about 2 tablespoons of oreos)

Then you got yourself an amazingly yummy and fun dessert! Enjoy!