Lord, please help me to strengthen
their bodies, voices, and minds …
to express their feelings and control
them sometimes …
to explore what is near and venture
afar. But most important, to love
who they are. ~ author unknown

sources:
basket idea
teachers prayer download
basket & frames – Michael’s
nail file, polish, and chalkboard tags – Target
candies & izze – Fresh Market
barnes & noble gift card – Barnes & Noble :)

Have you seen The Lorax? We really enjoyed the movie, but what stirred me the most is one simple word:

UNLESS

One small word. A whole lot of potential. Can I share a few examples with you?

• Unless we start exercising and taking care of ourselves, we’ll always feel unhealthy.
• Unless we stand up and tell that person they hurt us, we’ll always feel hurt.
• Unless we start budgeting better, we’ll always feel financial pressure.
• Unless we forgive that person, we’ll always feel bitter.
• Unless we decide to give it to God, we’ll always feel the weight of that burden.
• Unless we’re more intentional with our time, we’ll always feel like we’re running around frantic.
• Unless we share God’s word, people around us won’t see our light.
• Unless we are the change we want to see, things won’t change.
• Unless we believe God’s promises, we’ll never know the Father of Hope.

What’s your “unless?”

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Since the big green day is on it’s way … I thought I’d revisit some of our past St. Patrick’s Day fun!

{click on the images for original posts … one includes a free download!}

For some special fun, hop over to my friend’s blog for an addition to the St. Pat’s party above. One word for you … bunco!

I’ll explain anyway … :)

I a-s’more you … instead of I adore you. Get it now? And the treat bag is filled with s’more goodies! Clever, huh?

I enlisted the help of uber-designer extraordinaire, Nellie, per usual she didn’t disappoint! Lucky readers, guess what she’s offering up on her blog today? Free vday downloads!

nellie’s blog
nellie’s etsy shop
link to custom listing
link to free vday download

You know that pile o’ books that we all have accumulating, but time ticks away and you can never seem to get through ‘em all?  Doesn’t help matters when you’re continually adding to that pile!

Yeah.  {head hung in shame} “One Thousand Gifts” is laying in that pile.

I read many blogs that have taken Ann’s challenge to count down 1000 gifts … I admit, I’ve been tempted.  But just as quickly, discouraged.

And then.  An app.  An app to help assemble my 1000 gifts!

Ann says this: “One Thousand Gifts: The Free App …. because Thanksgiving is more than a holiday – it’s a way to wake up to really, fully living.”

I love it!  This is something I can sink my teeth into and partake in … and keep me going til I get to that ol’ pile of books!

And in other news … the number 1,000 has a special meaning to me this week … be sure to come back tomorrow and find out why.  And might I suggest you bring a friend or two!

p.s. did you know you can get {tsj} photography posts delivered right to your inbox?  click here to sign up!

Not sure why I didn’t think of it … but a brilliant reader suggested I have blank cards to write in your own RACK … so here goes!  There’s a girl version and a boy version!  :)

Click on each image to take you to the download.  Have fun!  Be blessed!

Original Advent posts:
random acts of christmas kindness :: advent 2010
random acts of christmas kindness :: summary
rack :: download edition

I’ve had tons of emails asking for the download, so I thought I’d put together a recap post of our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness {RACK} activity from last year’s Advent season, as well as a couple of bonus downloads!

You can read the original post of our activity here, and a wrap-up of the activity here.

The girls and I loved every minute of this activity.  It definitely took some time and commitment to stick to it, but I’m so glad we did … we walked away so incredibly blessed … and I promise you will too!

So … you ready for the downloads?  Here’s the download for the “you’ve been RACK’ed” card.  And as a bonus, I put the individual RACK’s into one file, and you can download it here.

I’ve also noticed that this Advent activity has been circulating, so as a bonus, bonus … I’ve put together a pdf of the Bible verses we used.

OH! and I also found a site selling cute library Advent cards that you can write individual activities on … perfect for this Advent project!

Praying God’s blessings over each of you during this Advent season!

The girls had a half day of school last week, so I took them to our local museum for a look at the
mummy exhibit.  They weren’t too impressed.  Well … truth is, they were a little freaked out.
And I guess I wasn’t really thinking … they were real mummies.  And not all of them were wrapped.

Given that Wynt thinks a little too deeply and darkly, and that Hunter is just a tad too young …
we probably should’ve skipped the exhibit.  Good news is that it caused some good conversation
about other culture’s beliefs and customs.

Piper was on a playdate for the weekend, so she wasn’t with us.  And the teen was off doing teeny-like things!

:: TWO ::

CJ’s been traveling, so I decided to break up our routine at home and take the girls
on an overnight field trip to a waterpark not too far away … the fun also
included playing hooky from school, so the girls were ALL over it!

About 7:00 Monday night, Hunter started complaining of a sore throat.
By 1:00 in the morning, she was burning hot.  I was the picture of
happiness padding through the hotel lobby trying to get some
ibuprofen at the gift store!

By morning when she woke, she was burning again and could barely talk
through her swollen throat.  So I did what any mom-who-drove-45-minutes-and-has-two-other-healthy-
girls-wanting-to-swim would do … made a doc appt for right after lunch time
so the girls could still get some swimming in!

Turns out Hunter has strep … doc didn’t even have to do a test.  Ten seconds looking
inside her mouth and she was diagnosed!

Anyway … when we got home, Hunt was doing some drawing and did a self-portrait.  When she was
done drawing … she was sure to point out her sore throat on the masterpiece!  See it?  All red and ouchy,
highlighted in yellow …

:: THREE ::

A surprise late night visit from my mommy … treats in hand with a special message too!
The older girls were grounded and put to bed early, and with Hunt’s strep … she was easy to
put down early too.  Sooo … we were all in bed when I heard a knock on the door … freaked me out!
She’d texted me, but my phone wasn’t near me … so yeah.  Good thing she came
bearing goodies & love!  ;)

:: FOUR ::

St. Patty’s Day {free} downloadable card from nellie*design!  Perfect tie-in to our St. Patty’s Day party fun!

:: FIVE ::

A fun, new mini-mag find!  For kids who want to do stuff!  Hey … I got me some kids, and
they LOVE to do stuff!  The download is 20+ pages of fun stuff for five bucks!
You can download it and get more info here.

Happy weekend y’all!

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While I was working on my projects, I was tempted to take photos so that I could post about them and share … but then decided that 1) I didn’t have the time and 2) I just really wanted to focus on what I was giving and not worry about posting about it.

All that said … there’s one gift that I really wanted to share.  I made it for someone that I love dearly, and who I really wanted to encourage.  I decided to photograph and share it because it might encourage you or someone you know.

I put together twenty Scripture verses relating to fear … or rather … fearing not!  I had them printed and mounted on matboard and housed them in a pretty fabric-covered box.  I’ve put them all together in one PDF document for you and it can be downloaded here.

And … since I’m doing this post … I thought I’d share a few of the other things I made too.  Hee … lucky you!

I sewed a couple of these gadget cases … put together about a dozen of these journals … made a couple of these snowglobes … and put together a few of these quick bread mixes … and special just for you dear readers, is the download of the labels I put together for the quick bread mix.  And the link where I got the milk bottles.

I especially scored some major points with my nephews for modpodging the edge of a wad of dollar bills, with a cardstock cover that read “dolla dolla bill y’all” … SO cool {the gift that is!}! :)

And last but not least … I sewed this dress & coin purse for my precious blessing, EJ.  I ended up calling in the recruits, so snapped an iPhone pic to show her the project when I completed it.  Not bad, huh?  Although from the video and photos I received Christmas Eve day, it looked like her 1 1/2 year old sister nabbed her gift!

Anyway … I really enjoyed these projects and I think they were special to the recipients as well … I’ll definitely be planning another handmade Christmas next year!  Can someone just remind me to start earlier? ;)