A Week of Snow

It's been crazy snowy around here. Bad roads, icy paths, windy, snowy, hot cocoa kind of days. We did get outside to play...once, but otherwise it's been too snowy, too windy, too cold (wind chill at 0), or too late in the day. Welcome to Michigan, my friends!

I'm sorry for my absence but December has proven to be a full month; and when I'm not cleaning, cooking, playing with kids, at an appointment, or any other the other things I have to do...I'm resting/sleeping/sipping coffee/catching up on tv shows/just plain exhausted.

Sweetie had eye surgery on the 4th and it went better than expected. Not only did they have to do less than they thought they might but her eye responded better than they originally thought! Big Praises there!!!

A-man and Sweetie turned 4 years old on the 10th and it was a great day to celebrate their life so far and look forward to the year they will have before they turn 5! Some of which will include going off to Preschool!

P-man will turn 6 on Christmas Eve and we look forward to his class holiday party this coming week along with the last day of school before Christmas Break!! He has been doing really well with school, he leaves happy and returns happy almost every day!!

A-man has been having some hearing problems, which I plan to address at his well child check this coming week! Hoping its just a lot of wax build-up and not something that requires surgery.

Hubby will have Christmas Eve off (for the first time in probably forever) AND the day after Christmas off! We are looking forward to three days of Christmas as a family!!

I hope to post a few more times before the end of the year but I'm going to be working hard on my "blog plan" for next year as well. I've kind of been lost as to what to post so keep up with me as I figure out where this blog is headed!

Many blessings and I hope you get to enjoy the holiday with family, friends, and so much more!

Important Dates in November :: Thankful Thursdays

There are so many important dates in November that I have to remember. As we have now hit November 1, 2013 I can't help but think of how quickly a year has passed. What I did this past year and what I have yet to do this year are at the front of my mind as I hit another year older this month. My birthday tends to bring out my reflective side.

Important dates to Remember ::
5 - Sister's Birthday
7 - My Birthday!!
8 - Niece's Birthday
10 - Hubby's Holiday Work Party
13 - Hubby's Birthday
        Brother-in-Law's Birthday
14 - Sister-in-Law and Brother-in-Law's                        Anniversary
15, 16 - Remembering Isaac and Luke
17 - Niece's Birthday
18 - 4 month mark of this blog!
        Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law's                        Anniversary
29 - Brother-in-Law's Birthday
       Birthday of a Great Friend

Whew! I'm Exhausted just by typing all that! I even forgot to put in TWO girls night outs and Thanksgiving! This is definitely a busy month, and probably more busy that what our December will be! I'm going to enjoy every moment I can though!

Day 1 of Thankful Thursdays :: {Every day in November}

Today I am so thankful for it being November! I love November, despite it's many dates to remember! Not just because it is my birthday month which means a free dinner from my parents :) ... but it also kicks off my favorite seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

November means craft shows, time with family, a couple days off school, Black Friday {which I have only done 2-3 times in the past 10 years}, Cyber Monday {which is actually in December this year}, and loads and loads of great smelling food!

So thankful for November!

Now that we have officially kicked off Thankful Thursdays :: {Every Day in November} I would like to hear from you about what you are thankful for! On Thanksgiving I will be posting all the things we as a group are thankful for! Leave your "thankful for" in the comments below any of these posts over the next 27 days
 -or-
you can leave a note on my Facebook Page!

Blog In Progress!

I put up my first post on this blog on July 18, 2013. I waited a week before the official Facebook launch on July 25. This was to get a few posts up so people had things to read.

This past month has been busy around the blog {and home} as I have worked everyday on the blog along with sending our oldest off to Kindergarten and putting on a garage sale and so many other daily things!

Since it's launch the blog has had just under 1100 visitors and our FB page has over 55 likes!

THANK YOU!!! for your support!

I have so many plans for this blog and I can't wait to get it in full working order over the next few months. I will be implementing a schedule for myself; now that P-man is off to school all day, every day, a routine will be established fast!

I have to really sit down and focus on it; get posts scheduled, figure out what works and what hasn't, come up with new and refreshing ideas, and SO much more!

If you have any ideas or things you would like to see on the blog drop me a note in comments or use email!

My First Blogging Award!

I am beyond excited that I was nominated for a Liebster Award!

I have seen this award all over the blogging community since I have been more into looking at others blogs and networking!


Melisa over at Missy Homemaker nominated me for this award. I have connected with her through an online blogging class and we are in a blogger group together on Facebook.  This blog always has me thinking about the importance of being a Stay at Home Mom and keeps me laughing with her Friday Funny. Check out her blog, you won't be disappointed!





Now, onto the award!

After receiving the nomination, the blogger must:

• Acknowledge the nominating blogger;
• Share 11 random facts about yourself;
• Answer 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you;
• List 11 bloggers who have less than 200 followers (as best as you can tell based on the info provided!). They should be bloggers that you believe deserve some recognition and a little blogging love!
• Post 11 questions for the bloggers that you nominated to answer; and
• Let all of the bloggers know that they have been nominated.  You cannot nominate the blogger that nominated you.

11 Random Facts about Me!:

1. My family lives on land that has been in the family for 94 years! That's a lot of history! It was purchased in 1919 by my great, great grandfather.

2. Minus college and a 5 month stint in a different city I have lived in the same town my whole life! (And on the same land for all but 3 of those years!)

3. Hubby and I have only 2 couple friends we hang out with on a regular basis, that we consider great friends!

4. I have only sisters, no brothers. My poor dad had to put up with 5 females and only 1 full bath.

5. My favorite place to travel to is the U.P. of Michigan! I can't wait to get up there for the first time with my kids!

6. Speaking of traveling, Hubby and I have never taken the kids on a vacation. We are saving our time and money for a long vacation out West some year. When they are old enough to understand and appreciate the history of the wonderful landmarks we plan to visit.

7. Genealogy has recently become a special project of mine! I love tracing my family (and Hubby's) as far back as I can!

8. I'm a red-head and fall into most the stereotypes of a red-head.

9. I suffer from panic attacks, and because of that I only drive a few miles from home unless another licensed adult is in the car with me.

10. I have only been in an airplane twice. Once on the way to San Diego and once on the way back.

11. Hubby and I plan to celebrate 10 years of marriage next year with a renewal of vows ceremony!

11 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite meal of the day — breakfast, lunch or dinner? Breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day and gets me energized! Plus, I love eggs and bacon. Sometimes I have breakfast for lunch or dinner, too!
2.  What’s your favorite fruit? Pineapple. I love how it can go on pizza or in a stir-fry or eaten alone!
3.  When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up? I don't remember, but probably a teacher, like my mom.
4. What quality do you find most attractive in others? Those that value faith and family above all else.
5. What’s your favorite sport? To Watch: Football, To Play: Golf
6. Gold or silver? White Gold. Although, I have a yellow gold wedding ring.
7. What’s your favorite candy?  Skittles!
8. What’s your favorite online shopping website? I don't shop a ton online but I enjoy the online sales at The Children's Place and Kohl's!
9. What’s your pet peeve? Whining. My kids whine all the time. Any ideas on how to cut the whining?
10.  Winter, spring, summer or fall? Fall, because of the changing colors and the air crispness. Also, football season!
11. How many pairs of shoes do you have? 8 or so. This includes shoes for all weather, snow included! I'm not a huge shoe person because I need great support and that can be hard to find in most shoes!

11 (or 8) Nominee's from Me:

Paisley Rain Boots

The Joyful Servant

Spit on the Street

It's All Pink 2 Me - Over 200 followers on FB but only by a little, plus she deserves the recognition!

Crafty Critique

My Life, Our Journey

Treasures in Jars of Clay

Northwood Jane

Nominee's: Please answer the 11 questions I answered above!

The Story Behind the Blog Name

Why this blog? Why now?

Well, I was taking a blogging class online {for free!} about monetizing and building your blog when I realized my personal blog is not what I want to do that to. I wanted to have a niche blog, a blog that allowed others to learn {mostly from my mistakes} but also to be inspired.

I want you, as readers, to be inspired!

I have always loved encouraging people, not through advice necessarily, but through giving them things to think about, letting them know someone was there for them, and most importantly showing them that Someone, God, loves them unconditionally.

As I was struggling with what my niche blog would be I went through everything I love to do; from crafting to sewing, to fashion (which would fail!), to family life-style blog.

One day, as I was praying about it, and listening to music, the song by Downhere called Here I am came on the radio!

"Here I am, Lord send me 
All of my life, I make an offering, 
Here I am, Lord send me 
Somehow my story is a part of Your plan, 
Here I am"

Somehow my story is a part of your plan. 

Don't skip over that line. Read it again!

My story is a part of God's Plan! It's my story, but it's always been God's plan!

I've always found song lyrics to go with situations in my life and a way to encourage people. For me, song lyrics are easy to memorize, the beat sticks in my head, and the message stays in my heart! 

So this has been a prayer for me while creating and filling this blog with inspiration for women and families. I truly hope this is a blessing and that the Lord touches your heart through my words and my story!

Listen to the song here. View the lyrics in full here. 

A {Welcome} Tour

Thanks for checking out the site! Here are some helpful tips for navigating and using this blog!

The tabs at the top are for your exploration! Please click around and see what you can find!

As many tabs are currently under construction in these early stages of the blog let me explain a bit about what I plan to put under those tabs.

For Women:

My main goal here is to give resources and encouragement to all women; young, old, single, married, widowed, etc.
There will be various ways of doing this that will include links to other websites on specific topics.

For Families:

This will include resources for growing healthy, Christian families and also you can enjoy some posts about free and cheap things to do with your family.

Resources:

You will find general resources under this tab that will include devotions, how to lead others to a saving life with Christ, and general links that I find encouraging and uplifting!

Check out my Simply Sarah Page to find out more {than you probably want to know} about me!

Again, Thanks for checking out the site and please check back as I will be adding so much more over the next few weeks!

Welcome!

Hi! Welcome to the blog!

I can't wait to get started on this blog! I'm still in the process of envisioning the look and feel of the blog as well as the content. Won't you come along on the journey?!

Purpose:

To inspire women and families in their faith and home life! 

What this will look like:

I will be posting about easy ways to keep your family healthy physically and spiritually {mostly spiritually}. This may include but is not limited to; recipes, crafts, faith insights, bible verses, and fun activities! Something close to my heart is growing my children's faith at home while in the public school system {which is a great one where I live!}. Look for our story of how we came to a public school decision and how we help our children keep their eyes on Jesus!

Keep coming back!:

In the first stages of starting my blog I ask you stick with me through the good and bad. You might see some changes here and there but I will try to keep it minimal for your viewing pleasure! Keep with me as I find my Inspirational Blogging Groove!

What You can Do:

 + Pray for this page - pray that the messages God has given me to speak are done in a clear manner.

 + Tell your friends - Let people you know know about this page! Share on pinterest, facebook, google+, wherever, to let your friends know about this site!

 + Make a suggestion - See something you really like? Keep it around by letting me know! See something you're not a fan of OR something you'd like to see that you don't? Use the Contact Me! form to let me know!

 + Encourage me! - Finding my blogging niche was a difficult task. It seems everyone already blogs about everything! My family and friends have helped encourage me a ton, already! Won't you join them and send me a word or two about how you found this site and what you like best! Use the Contact Me! form!

Thanks for reading and I pray you are encouraged and blessed by this blog that is God's Plan!