March 9th

Today: 3 GIFTS CARVED

The first one isn't exactly carved, but it is made of wood and put together...my hubby built a workbench for himself today, and I got to help! He is so excited to go and start filling it up now!

Carved reminder on our wall...

And, the remnant of Christmas decorations, that sadly should be packed away. It is, after all, March already! So...I will work on that this week I think! My favorite Christmas decoration by far - first to go up, and usually last to go down...

March 8th

Today: 3 GIFTS LOUD

While I briefly thought I could post a picture of my kids, they actually were pretty quiet today! ;-)

So as I thought and listened, I heard the sound of my washing machine. Not overly loud, but when I forget that I have started a load I have been known to wonder if we are experiencing a thunderstorm or small earthquake when it hits the spin cycle. But - wow! What a blessing to not have to wash clothes by hand!

Then, of course, their is the vacuum...also a lifesaver if you don't like sweeping that much!

And the gift of music...although these are not allowed to be played in the tight quarters of the vehicles (for danger of driving parents CRAZY!) - they are doing a wonderful job of learning to make beautiful music come out of these - with a minimum of squeaks and squawks even!

And a very good loud...LOVE listening to music as we go about our day! Makes even house cleaning somehow fun!

Catch up to March 7th

Well...amazing what having sick kids for a couple of weeks - then trying to play catch up from those weeks can do! Haven't been taking, editing, or posting the pictures - but have some from what has popped into my head during the time I wasn't able too! I just took one for each of the catch up days - only because I was inspired! Here goes:

February 22nd: 3 GIFTS THAT CHANGED TODAY - the girls and their temperatures change lots over those two weeks, and I was grateful they finally went and stayed down!

February 23rd: A GIFT OF TIN, GLASS, WOOD - My piano...not exactly tin, but metal - as well as wood, and used to have a mirror on it, which counts as glass! It was my Grandma's and is something I treasure and am so grateful to have brought on our move!

February 24th: 3 GIFTS BEFORE 11 AM - we have started to all try and do a better job of making our beds in the morning - partly to motivate me! This morning, the girls not only made their beds, but cleaned their room and laid out their pajamas for tonight. So sweet!

February 25th: A GIFT WORN OUT, NEW, MADE-DO - my sewing machine, that used to be my mom's. I remember her sewing so many things on it - and am so grateful to have it now. It doesn't get near as much use as it could - but when something is worn out - or new and needs a hem or something like that - this is so nice to have on hand to help those things make do!

February 26th: 3 GIFTS SEEN AS REFLECTIONS - not exactly a clear reflection, but I love watching my husband practice his bass guitar. When I sit in front of him, I am at the perfect height to see mine and the girls reflections in the front panel...

February 27th: 3 UGLY-BEAUTIFUL GIFTS - okay, this is a hard one for me! But I'm not particularly fond of pepper...and am I the only one that just thinks it looks like dirt when you put it on top of food? Nonetheless - all it takes is a little pepper sprinkled on something they don't like to (usually) help my daughters eat it without complaining. Yep...they are their Daddy's girls!

February 28th:  3 GIFTS FROM THE PAST THAT HELP YOU TRUST THE FUTURE - One of my most special treasures...my wedding ring quilt. Sewn together by my mother, with help by so  many special ladies in my life....

March 1st: 3 GIFTS AT 3 PM - okay...this picture of some of the girls all tucked in their little box just made me think of the many days snuggled up watching a movie when the girls were sick. Not fun to be sick, but those were special times nonetheless...

March 2nd: 3 GIFTS GREEN - my Cuttlebug...if you're not crafty, it is an embossing/die cut machine. It kind of makes me happy...

March 3rd: 3 GIFTS WORE - rubber gloves - and their pink! Or at least mine were...fortunately we were able to find some for Michael that are at least purple. Save the hands so much doing dishes in a dry climate!

March 4th: 3 GIFTS HARD TO GIVE THANKS FOR - Ah...the Blackberry - provided so kindly by his job. Grateful it doesn't ring or vibrate as often as it could!

March 5th: 3 GIFTS FOUND - Cute toy in the window - enjoying the sunshine! Just made me smile...

March 6th: A GIFT BENT, BROKEN, BEAUTIFUL - books...my books, Michael's books - I'm one of those people who likes to dog-ear my books. I know, I know...but then they are like old friends when you come back and read them again...

March 7th: 3 GIFTS IN THE KITCHEN (today) - and all the way to today! The kitchen is always an easy one - this is my blender. We have recently fallen in love with daily smoothies - and this is put to use nearly every day. LOVE having a spot on the counter for it - and something that can handle anything we throw in it!

My calendar - recently relocated in here. I hadn't had a good spot to put it, and was constantly getting confused on dates, appointments, and such...

And...this isn't exactly IN my kitchen - but I can peek out across the sun room and look out at this. I'm torn between being ready for spring, and hoping for a little more snow. Got a slight dusting last night, but not really enough to count. We'll see what the next couple of days brings!

February 21st

Today's Prompt: 3 GIFTS WHITE

Today was an easy one to get a few more than 3! The first couple...while I would love for it to be more snow, at least we enjoyed a few lazy snowflakes floating down! Not really even enough to stick any more, but fun and pretty nonetheless!

And a blank piece of paper - is anything so fun? Clean and crisp and clear - ready for what ever story, recipe, note, or anything you can imagine to fill it. 

One of my favorite things - my electronic cutting machine! LOVE this thing so much - and have spent so much fun time playing and crafting with it!

Lace...a simple thing really, but so pretty! Makes me think of weddings, babies, and beautiful things all at the same time!

Kleenex...when you have a sick little one in the house (or, are sick yourself) you appreciate this more than ever!

Flour...today I baked up some SUPER yummy bread that I started last night. Seriously the EASIEST recipe I think I have ever made - so in love with it! And I love the feel of flour on my hands (although it rarely stays just there...I am kind of a messy cook!) - but it makes me feel so homey and domestic!

And...even though they aren't exactly "white" - I couldn't leave you without a couple pictures of the yumminess! (Recipe HERE if you want to check it out!)

February 20th

Today's prompt: 3 GIFTS AT BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER

Nothing like your morning vitamins to start the day! Got these cute vitamin holders for the girls so that they can get their own vitamins - so much easier for mommy! And they are cute!

Then lunch, I was inspired to try out a new recipe - a healthy one, and BOY were they yummy! I am very big on eating healthy, but you know those recipes that just sound like they are too healthy to taste good? This was one of them - but they turned out super good! (You can find the recipe HERE if you are interested...I just changed it and used 4 whole eggs instead of egg whites, and added a couple heaping tablespoons of ground flax)

And water...this actually qualifies for all three meals. Our water at our new house smells and tastes like sulfur. We spent the first month or so buying and hauling drinking water - before we discovered this wonderful water filter! LOVE not having to haul water - and having it still taste good!

And dinner tonight...what else with a sick daughter? Chicken Noodle Soup. Comfort food like no other...

February 19th

Didn't get a chance to post this yesterday - and actually only have one picture (such is life with a sick daughter to take care of!) - but wanted to at least post this one picture. The prompt for this day was: 3 GIFTS THAT WERE "PLAN B'S"

While sitting and folding laundry yesterday, I asked my daughters about some socks I had seen in their dresser - brand new that they never wore. I was told they didn't fit - they were too tight. Well...(thinking, that was a waste of money!)...I suggested they bring them to me and we could give them to someone else if they were going to wear them. Feeling a little silly, I thought I would try one on. Much to my surprise - they FIT! Perfectly I might add! They both tried them on again and confirmed that they thought they were too tight. I guess I like my socks a bit tighter than them, huh?

February 17th

Today's prompt: 3 GIFTS FOUND GIVING/SERVING

Today I stayed home with my oldest daughter. She had been feverish, emotional, and a bit miserable the day before, and even though she didn't seem to have a fever early this morning, I could tell she still wasn't feeling well. I'm glad I kept her home this morning, since her fever ended up over 102 later this afternoon. When she asked Daddy to read to her from the Bible - I decided to snap a few pictures of my man reading God's Word to us:

And Katie, listening intently...

...until exhaustion and not feeling well took over.

Amy also listening...

And I have been talking about it for days, and finally got around to making muffins for my family. A small thing - but a blessing to be able to provide for my family.

And a clean sink...something so wonderful about all the dishes being done - at least for the few seconds it lasts!

February 15th

Since I happen to be ahead of the game, I am auto posting this the evening before - since we will be gone from early tomorrow morning through late tomorrow evening! Today's prompt is: A GIFT IN LOSING, FINDING, MAKING SOMETHING. 

These are all from our Valentine's evening! Now the first one, I admit is a bit of a stretch for losing - but my sweet husband brought these home for us on Valentine's evening! The downside was that they were priced for our little town - which means LOTS! So...the losing was money - does that work? Either way - they were beautiful!

Finding - now that was easy! I'm so glad we found each other - and keep finding new things out about each other! My poor husband was kind of tired here - can you tell? 

And making...here was our fun Valentine's dessert! Homemade brownie, cut in heart shapes with a cookie cutter, topped with ice cream, and homemade raspberry freezer jam...YUM!!!