Events & Holidays

  • Happy Birthday to My Handsome Man!

    Wishing Jake a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 

    I am so thankful for my amazing husband and all he does for our family. He is generous, kind, and loves me despite all my craziness.  Wishing him many more awesome years packed full of great memories.  I am looking forward to celebrating this special day with him.

    Another really cool part about Jake’s birthday is he shares it with two other family members – his Grandpa Conklin and my Uncle Rick!  Happy Birthday to Grandpa and Uncle Rick! May it be a wonderful birthday for both of you!

    Photo credit

  • Travel & Vacation: We Made it to Bangalore! (part 2)

    A little critter on their porch…..thankfully the little lizard is on the outside of the house!  One of them did make it into our room but thankfully Jake and the kids were able to catch it quickly.

    A little critter on their porch…..thankfully the little lizard is on the outside of the house (at the moment)!

    Fresh watermelon stand, you can buy a whole watermelon or a slice from the box.

    Burning the fields and underbrush, you see this often in India!  You will often see a pile trash burning on the side of the road or paths.

    A village near Bangalore

    Monkeys on the side of the road!

    A lady walking on the side of the road carrying a pile of sticks on her head.  A common sight in India!

    Two ladies carrying potted flowers on their head.

    PVP Indus Day 2011 – 2012…..Respect, Love, Discipline, Empathy.  The kids school put together an amazing presentation.  It was really neat to watch all the performances that the kids had worked so hard on over the past couple of months.

    Rachel dressed as the wind!

    Erica all pretty in her beautiful costume!

    David up on stage

    Mike up on stage as a panda bear….his class did Noah’s ark!

    Rachel on stage as the wind!

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Song: “The Marriage Prayer” by John Waller

    This week Jake and I celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary!  YAY!  It is hard to believe it has been 12 years it has gone by so fast!  We have created so many amazing memories together and I look forward to making many more as we journey through the years together.  God has been good to us and faithful even in the storms.  I am very thankful for a wonderful husband.  Jake has been extremely loving, kind, and patient with me even when I don’t deserve it.  I am very  blessed.  As I was thinking about all our years together I wanted to find a song in celebration of our anniversary week.  I want both our marriage to continue growing stronger as well as our personal relationships with God and this song says it well.

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    The girls are excited about getting to go to Grandpa and Grandma’s VBS program.  We are all looking forward to spending some time with family this week at the family reunion.

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Read regularly to the girls and have them read to me
    2. Participate in at least 2 fun Summer Activities with the Kids
    3. Get to the Final Goal Mark (2000 minutes) on the Girls “Swim Into Reading” Summer Reading Goal (total 2,000 Reading minutes)
    4. Spend time with extended family
    5. Narrow down what type of vehicle we want to get – still working on it

    Personal Goals

    1. Spend extra time helping and making memories with my extended family

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Work on My Summer Organizational Schedule – didn’t get much done with all the travel last week
    3. Pack for upcoming family reunion
    4. Pay all upcoming bills
    5. Clean house prior to traveling

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work on projects with the family business

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – will work on it more once the car is purchased
    3. Car Fund – save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled – still saving for a new vehicle
    4. College Fund – put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – on hold temporarily until we purchase a new car

     

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Attend Family Reunion
    2. Read regularly to the girls and have them read to me
    3. Participate in at least 2 fun Summer Activities with the Kids
    4. Plan out the Girls “Swim Into Reading” Summer Reading Goal (total 2,000 Reading minutes) Grand Prize for Completion
    5. Spend time with extended family
    6. Narrow down what type of vehicle we want to get

    Personal Goals

    1. Spend extra time helping and making memories with my extended family

    Home Management Goals

    1. Put mail on hold for when we are away
    2. Line up someone to come by and check on the house / pets while we are away

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work on projects with the family business

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses
    3. Car Fund – save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled
    4. College Fund – put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.

  • FREE RedLaser Smart Shopper App

    I am super excited to share with you the RedLaser Smart Shopper App!  I love it when I find a phone app that is free, useful, and will help me save time as well as money when I am shopping!  This application can be used on an iPhone, Android or Windows phones.  RedLaser allows you to easily scan or search for item information, details, ratings, and price comparisons so you know you are getting the most “bang for your buck”!

    This application has come in handy several time while traveling with the family over the summer break and as we start to prepare for another school year.  The app is free but you could save a lot in just one week while using it.  Plus you can check to see if the item you want is in stock at your local store prior to even leaving the house (therefore saving you once again gas and time)!  If you use up the last of the shampoo and want to make sure to pick some up while your out you can scan the shampoo, find the best price for it, and where to pick it up same goes for grocery items and any other household products you use regularly.  You can easily create and share shopping lists using this application.  When you pull up a product you can even see the ratings and reviews before you even purchase it.

    Some Features of RedLaser:

    • Scan and search for products using the bar code scanner.
    • Compare prices online and at local retailers, so you’ll know you’re getting the best deal.
    • Find out which stores stock what you’re looking for by searching
      for a product locally. No need to drive around town searching for what you need!
    • Browse product reviews and ratings.
    • Buy directly from your phone using PayPal mobile express checkout and you can pick up your item in a nearby store.
    • Create shopping lists (or wish lists!) and easily share them with friends and family via email, SMS, Twitter and Facebook.
    • Scan a food item to get allergen and ingredient information.

    You can get more information about RedLaser and how it can help save you money at the following locations:

    Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks and RedLaser.  The opinions expressed in this post are my own.   A special thanks to SheSpeaks and RedLaser for providing the information to review this awesome phone app!

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Last week was a fun one with Horse Camp for the girls among all the other fun summer activities.  This week we are gearing up for extra time with extended family and friends!

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Read at least one book or a chapter in a book to the girls every day
    2. Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day
    3. Participate in at least 2 fun Summer Activities with the Kids
    4. Get to the 3/4 Goal Mark (1500 minutes) on the Girls “Swim Into Reading” Summer Reading Goal (total 2,000 Reading minutes)
    5. Go to the library with the kids
    6. Take the girls to Horse Camp
    7. Narrow down what type of vehicle we want to get – getting closer, such a big decision

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – at least 5 days this week – didn’t do well this past week

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
    3. Work on My Summer Organizational Schedule
    4. Pack for upcoming family reunion – getting started
    5. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk
    4. Put in extra hours with clients while girls are at camp

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Prepare for the next Alms & Legs meeting

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – temporarily on hold until we get the new vehicle
    3. Car Fund – save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled – saving up for new vehicle
    4. College Fund – put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – temporarily on hold until we get the new vehicle

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Read regularly to the girls and have them read to me
    2. Participate in at least 2 fun Summer Activities with the Kids
    3. Get to the Final Goal Mark (2000 minutes) on the Girls “Swim Into Reading” Summer Reading Goal (total 2,000 Reading minutes)
    4. Spend time with extended family
    5. Narrow down what type of vehicle we want to get

    Personal Goals

    1. Spend extra time helping and making memories with my extended family

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Work on My Summer Organizational Schedule
    3. Pack for upcoming family reunion
    4. Pay all upcoming bills
    5. Clean house prior to traveling

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work on projects with the family business

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses
    3. Car Fund – save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled
    4. College Fund – put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.

  • Book: “Belle” by Elizabeth Mills

    Both of our girls LOVE horses!  Their grandparents gave them several horse books which have quickly become some of their favorites.  One of the ones they enjoy is Belle by Elizabeth Mills.  The book is about a girl named Emmy who moved from the country into the big city.  Emmy loves horses and misses her home in the country but soon finds a stable were she can go riding in the park.  The horse she rides is named Belle who helps her adjust to living in the city.  If your child is starting to read independently and enjoys animals (especially horses) they will probably like this book.

  • Travel & Vacation: Quick Trip to Nebraska & Kansas

    Brina having a blast swimming at the pool in Nebraska

    Earlier this year our family made a quick trip out to Nebraska and Kansas for a conference.  During the trip we got to spend some time hanging out with family too.   While Jake and I attended the conference the girls got to hang out with Grandma Penny.  They had a blast swimming, going to the Children’s Museum and more.

    Watch this!  Karlie preparing for her next dive!  Love the blue goggles and floats, she cracks me up!

    Crashed after a fun day with Grandma…..can you guess whose wearing the “heart” pjs and who is wearing the “rockets”, ha?!  I think it is hilarious that they have a queen bed with covers yet they are laying on top of the sheet and barely even using a pillow.  You can tell from this picture which one wiggles around the most in her action packed dreams.

    Slumber party in the living room at Grandpa and Grandma’s with the cousins

    One of the best parts about going to Kansas is seeing family.  The girls always love hanging out and playing with their cousins Nathan and Brandon.  The kids have a blast together!

    Grandma set up a craft for the kids.   They were super excited and it kept them entertained for quite some time.  It was fun listening to them chitchat while creating their cool designs.

    Kids being kids….doing jumping jacks, playing Simon Says, and having fun

    Early morning Kansas Sunrise (taken through the car window on our way back to the airport).  Kansas has some pretty amazing sunrises and sunsets.

    The girls were concerned that the girls bathroom also served as the “Tornado Shelter” for the Grand Island airport.  It was a really nice and small airport, thankfully no tornadoes came while we were there.

    Hanging out at the kids section burning off extra energy before our next flight out of the Dallas Airport.  This picture was taken only a few moments before Karlie spit out her lose tooth.  She has a thing with traveling and losing her teeth for some reason because most of the ones that have fallen out have been away from home (in the Dallas airport, at a hotel in Charleston, eating a tomato at VBS, etc…).  I am thankful for the fun times and great memories with family!  I am already gearing up for next fun adventure to the Midwest which will be here before we know it.

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Travel & Vacation: Leaving On A Jet Plane….

    Karlie and Brina watching the airplanes coming and going from the Greenville Spartanburg Airport

    Do you remember the John Denver song “I’m leavin’ on a jet plane, Don’t know when I’ll be back again….”?  I don’t necessarily love the entire song but every time I fly that phrase pops into my head.  Our family, especially the kids, love traveling and flying!  The last time our entire family flew was back in January out to Kansas (the pictures are from that trip).  It was the first flight the kids were big enough to sit in their own row together without one of us beside them.  We sat in the row right behind them so we could monitor them and they did very well.   I love seeing their excitement over traveling and flying, it’s contagious!

    We are currently gearing up for another fun flight to see family soon.  The girls have already started packing their backpacks, talking about all the places we will go and who we are going to see.  Here are a few pictures from our last adventure on the plane:

    Karlie reading the informational sheet for the airplane!

    Karlie is all about flying and learning more about airplane.  Every time we fly she reads about the airplane, the safety manual, and anything else she can get her hands on.  The whole experience is a grand adventure for her!

    Brina all snuggled up and asleep in her seat on the airplane

    Brina loves to fly but when it is a couple hours past her bedtime after a super busy day once the flight is in the air she tends to crash.  Glad to see her sleeping.  If only I could curl up and sleep that comfortably on the airplane seat.

    Karlie loves flying!

    Karlie turning around to see what Dad and Mom are up to and sneaking a peek out our window too!  She loves gazing out at all the city lights and watching as the plane lands.

    I am truly grateful that both my girls love to travel and fly.  They have always been excited about going on various adventures.  It is a blessing to be able to travel to see family and friends.  The items they pack in their back packs keep them busy for hours while on the plane or at the airports.  I am thankful for the amazing memories we have created throughout our years of traveling together and look forward to many more.

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away.

  • Teaching Our Children: Book Bingo

    I got the idea for “Book Bingo” from 2 Love Learning!  The girls have been enjoying reading the books and getting BINGO’s!  For every Bingo they get they receive a prize.  When they fill the entire Bingo card they get a bonus dollar reward.

    I started doing this for the girls almost a year ago and it has been a big hit for the kids.

    If you are looking for a great way to encourage a kid to read this mixes reading, games, and incentives all in one place.  The girls love seeing the cards fill up.  We draw smiles on the square after a book has been read.  You can find a blank bingo card here.