Rehearsal Dinner Decorating & Rehearsal Event (Mt Vernon, IN)
Josh and Megan’s table at the Rehearsal Dinner
Thankfully my Mom and Dad had all the prep work done prior to the rehearsal dinner. All we had to do on Thursday evening is help set up and put out all the decorations. With the help of family and friends it didn’t take long and it turned out well. Glad we were able to celebrate with Josh and Megan on their special weekend. The “Congratulations” sign was made out of corrugated tin and looked pretty cool hanging above their table.
A big “H” for Hayes, nope not this time it is for “Hendrich”!
One of Josh’s old toy combines on the table full of freshly cut corn. Made the perfect table decorations plus the kids loved having toys to play with at the rehearsal dinner!
The table decorations were perfect for Josh and Megan’s rehearsal dinner!
My Mom put together these beautiful vases of Sunflowers, Roses, Wheat, Milo, and Baby’s Breath! They were bright and gorgeous!
Great Grandpa CE playing a game with the girls. I never had a chance to play but it was set up on a huge table and had several balls involved. They seemed to enjoy it!
Great scripture quote hanging on the wall for the rehearsal dinner – “And the greatest of these is LOVE!” Corinthians 13:13
The mason jar bases of the flower and crop arrangements were filled with fresh corn, brilliant idea!
Josh’s John Deere cap
It turned out well, now just waiting for the rehearsal practice to finish so we can have the rehearsal “party”!
Rehearsal practice!
Rehearsal went smoothly now to party!
The highlight of the rehearsal dinner for the girls was the roasted pig! They were FASCINATED!!! It was delicious too!
Table full of fun kids!
Megan and Josh handing out bridal party and parent gifts!
Karlie was super excited the caterer let her have the apple straight from the pig’s mouth! Crunchy…Munchy!
Hanging out with my girls!
Jake and his girls! Thankful for my family and the opportunity to celebrate with my brother and his new wife (AKA my new sister! Yay!)
Pre-Wedding Activites – Family Fun, Bridal Brunch, & Reception Decorating (Evansville & New Harmony, IN)
Wedding Welcome Basket!
We arrived for the super fun Wedding Celebrations! When we arrived at the hotel for my brother Josh’s wedding there was an amazing Welcome Basket waiting for us. My Mom put together the welcome baskets complete with a sweet letter, schedule of events, maps with directions, drinks, snacks, games, post it notes, gum, kleenexs, and more great items!
Since we arrived the afternoon before all the official wedding festivities began we got in on helping set up, prep, decorate, and enjoy some time with family. All of us were staying at the same hotel in Evansville, Indiana, so almost any time you were on the elevator or lobby area you could almost be certain to run into someone you know. It was a lot of fun spending time with extended family and friends. We super excited to be celebrating Josh and Megan’s big day!
Swimming in the indoor hotel pool, a hit with the kids!
Brina and Karlie hanging out on Grandma Penny’s lap and chatting away!
I am sure Pastor Jim is getting an ear full from the girls….who knows what they are talking about! Thankful for my parents and brothers Pastor and his family pitching in to help with various set up, decorating, clean up and so much more over the wedding weekend. They were a huge help!
Karlie hanging out with Great Grandma Willa! Thankful that Grandpa CE and Grandma Willa were able to join in all the wedding fun, it was wonderful spending extra time with them.
Brina and Nathan….waiting patiently!
Karlie sharing a fascinating story to Grandpa CE
Amber and Grandma Willa
Heading into the Bridal Brunch for Megan. Great Grandma Willa and Karlie talking on the way up the walk!
Bridal Brunch at the Red Geranium Restaurant in New Harmony, Indiana! They had delicious food on the Bridal Menu – Chicken Salad Croissant, Red Geranium Club Sandwich, Soup & Salad!
Brina hanging out at the Bridal Lunch!
Karlie sitting next to me at the Bridal Brunch!
Megan and Mom at the Bridal Brunch
Megan with the Moms! Teresa Petty (Megan’s Mom), Megan, and my Mom Penny Hendrich
Grandma Willa and Mom helping fluff flowers for reception decorations for Josh & Megan. The flowers went on the photo booth, cute idea!
Josh and Megan’s “photo booth” for the guest to use at the wedding. Our crew did the flower fluffing and decorating of this booth, it turned out really well!
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Love It – Hand Warmer Mug
For my birthday my Mother-in-Law gave me a Hand Warmer Mug along with Huckleberry Taffy. The mug is handmade and a beautiful blend of purple, blue, and green (three of my favorite colors)! The first time I saw a hand warmer mug was a few months ago on a date with my man! I thought it was super neat, but never had the opportunity to get or use one!
Since I got one for my birthday I have been really enjoying it. The mug holds a good amount of liquid and keeps my hands warm while sipping on my coffee, hot chocolate, apple cider, or tea. I love it!
She got my hand warmer mug from Made in Washington, but there are a lot of places you can probably find them locally or on Amazon. They have mugs specific made for both right-handed people as well as left-handed, make sure to pick the one that works best for you. Also, they come in a variety of color combinations so you can pick you favorite colors too!
The birthday box containing my Hand Warmer Mug and the delicious Huckleberry Taffy!
Enjoying my coffee!
“Love It” is a series of posts on items that I use regularly in my household that I love! There are some items in our daily lives that make life more enjoyable, efficient, or just plain fun. I will be sharing with you some of the products that have been given to us (or to me) that have made it to the top of my list. It’s my way of giving a huge thumbs up!
Organized Chaos: Homework & Craft Supply Station
Our Homework & Craft Supply Station
We set up this cabinet in the dining room where we do the girls homework, crafts, and special projects. It contains all the items we need right in one stop for their projects. On the top is the pencils, pens, markers, scissors, staplers, tape, sticky notes, erasers, white out, glue sticks, binder clips, pencil sharpener, and paperclips. Also, on top is the CD player for those days we just want to enjoy music while hanging out together in the dining room doing fun projects. The middle section contains some more supplies. The bottom section has larger supplies (construction paper, educational games, and more)!
A bunch of supplies in one spot and easy to get when needed!
The girls have enjoyed having most of their items in one spot!
Homework and craft supplies are accessible. Labeling the containers makes it much easier for everyone to know exactly which one to grab & it keeps the items in their proper place.
Holiday Gift Giving: Give the Gift of Amazon Prime
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What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
There have been a lot of extra activities going on the past couple weeks as we prepare for the upcoming Christmas Holiday. Last week a couple of the nights had to be re-arranged due to after school activities, work travel, robotics competition, and other items that came up. This week is the kids last full week before Holiday break and they have a lot of items that they are wrapping up with school as well as after school activities. The evenings will be full this week so we are going to try and make the week go smoothly by planning our meals in advance. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Top Sirloin Fajitas, Fresh Salad
- Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): French Bread Pizza, Fruit Salad
- Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Chicken Enchiladas, Fresh Vegetables
- Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Seasoned Salmon, Steamed Vegetables
- Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting
I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth). It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned. I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.
Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family. On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home. As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes. If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).
As a family of four our life can get busy. What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget. Our family typically eats 6 to 7 dinner meals at home a week. We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat. Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family. Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day. Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends. The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety. We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.
Photo by Liz
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
It was a whirlwind of a week, but I managed to get some projects completed during the week. The kids had a lot of homework, school activities, work travel, robotic competition, and so much more all squeezed into last week! This is the kids final week of school for 2014 so I have several projects that need to be completed this week. I want to make sure once they are out of school that I have more time to relax and spend with them enjoying the Holidays.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
Read the book Wonder’s First Race by Joanna Campbell to the kidsPlan one special activity with the family– took the kids to see the Easley Baptist Hospital display of Christmas Trees, Lights, and Gingerbread HousesPrepare for Upcoming Winter EventsSpend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with HomeworkAttend After School ActivitiesLunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before- Play a Game with the Kids
- Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items – this is going to have to be put on hold until after the Holidays since other items are taking priority at this time
Dr. Appointments for KidsFinish Decorating for Christmas- Send out Christmas Cards – hoping to get it done this week
- Complete Our Christmas Shopping – I bought my first gift (does that count!) I actually started this week now that I am feeling better and moving more!
Start Wrapping Gifts
Personal Goals
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day – had a couple busy days that I didn’t do well with, but need to keep it up because I don’t want to be sick for the Holidays!
Continue my YouVersion plan(s)– hard to believe I am almost done with my year of Bible Reading!Go to my Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – it took only 2 days this week, getting closer still cannot carry the laundry baskets so have to wait for assistance
Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week- Do at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later) – with the extra evening activities this did not get done
Clean House (Focus – House Decorated & Christmas Bins Back Up in the Attic)- Organize Chaos (Focus – Clean Out the Pantry) – got pulled into other activities
Yard Cleanup (Focus – Blow Leaves Off Deck)– my amazing husband did this for me! Thanks Handsome!!!- Pet Care (Focus – Skipper a Bath) – with it being cold and wet she managed to escape the bath this week
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts- Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails – couple of business contacts I need to work through some exciting opportunities with this week
Keep up with the day to day items that need my attentionWork completed for clients
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Car – working on it
- Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt) – working on it
Pay Bills & File PaperworkGo grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read the book The Cat Who Came For Christmas by Cleveland Amory to the kids
- Plan one special activity with the family
- Prepare for Upcoming Holiday Events
- Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
- Attend After School Activities
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Play a Game with the Kids
- Take the Kids to the Library to pick out books to read over the Holidays
- Send out Christmas Cards
- Complete Our Christmas Shopping
- Finish Wrapping Gifts
- Ship Out Grandparents Gifts
- Deliver Neighbor Gifts
Personal Goals
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Go to my Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Clean House (Focus – At least 15 minute daily “pick up” to keep the house clean as we prepped for the Holidays)
- Organize Chaos (Focus – Get Gifts Wrapped, Mailed, or Ready to put under Christmas Tree)
- Yard Cleanup (Focus – Leaves)
- Pet Care (Focus – Skipper a Bath)
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Car
- Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt)
- Pay Bills & File Paperwork
- Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget
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.
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When You Choose Joy…
