Another Thankful Thursday...a few months later

WOW! It has been a while since I have blogged! It's not that anything exciting hasn't happened in our lives, it's that a LOT of exciting things have happened! 
In January we closed on our first house and since then we have been knee deep in "little" projects. A kitchen/dinning room DIY make over, and back yard clean up so that we can reseed, unpacking and chasing this little man around!

(Brave Ben has been adjusting well too!)

So, to get back in the swing of things I wanted to start by being thankful!

For a roof over our grateful heads!
For a healthy, growing boy!
For fun memories made doing things together!

Composting

IT'S SPRING!
To this (new) home owner that means that it is time to get outside! We are working on preparing a little patch of land for a home veggie garden and I can't wait to see some growth! 
The other week Will and I made a little composting bin so that in the future we can add some great nutrients to our garden. 
We started with an old RubberMaid type of container that we cleaned out during the move and drilled holes every 2 inches (or so).

 Then we ripped up some paper from our recycle pile. 

 And added the paper and some food scraps to the bin.

I continue to add scraps to the bin and shake it once a day. 

A few things I have learned:
1. If you cut up your kitchen scraps before you put them in the bin they will break down faster.

2. If your bin starts to smell then add a little bit of dry material like paper.

It was a fun little project and I am so looking forward to seeing what it produces. Also, I love having a place besides the trash can to throw food scraps in so that they don't stink up the house. Between the compost bin and the bag of vegetable clipping that I keep in the freezer to make broth with, we have cut way down on the amount of trash coming out of our house!

Thankful Thursday

I have seen several people on Face Book and blogs recently start lists of things that they are thankful for as a way to celebrate this Thanksgiving season. I love reading these lists and the little reminders of God's goodness that they provide. A few weeks ago I began my own Thankful List, not publicly, but written in a notebook to serve as a timeline journal and a visual reminder of God's blessings, big or small, whimsical or serious. I thought I would share a few things here on Thursdays for a few months. I would love for you to join in and leave a small list of things that you are thankful for in the comment section!

~An adventerous husband! (He let me cut his hair last week...it didn't end well)
~Those WONDERFUL baby smiles!
~A uneventful 4.5hour drive with Will to my parent's house to be with them while my mom is recovering from a hip replacement.

~My Mom's sucessful and safe surgery.

~Grace

Sewing Class

For the past 5 weeks I have been thrilled to be part of a sewing class at our church! Unfortunately my 7th grade Home Ec. skills are a bit rusty and I was having trouble tackling a few sewing projects that have caught my eye, so I jumped on the opportunity to join this class! It is offered for the women who live in the apartment complexes that surround our church. Many, if not most, of the families that live there are immigrants from around the world! I was the only student in the class that spoke English as a first language and the only one that did not speak Arabic (Most of the women in the class are from Morocco, Iran and Southern Sudan). This class provided a wonderful opportunity to not only learn some basic sewing skills, but to meet these beautiful women in the fellowship of learning! 

These are just a few pictures from our last class! I LOVE  the beautiful smiles!

Crafts

I just had to share with you a few craft projects that are simply adorable! All are on my never ending "to do" list!

ABC Memory Scriptures!So cute! Click here for a free download of A-Z! I know that Will won't be able to use these for a while but I'm ready to make a set to put on his book shelf now!

I have been blessed to be able to join a sewing class at my church on Friday mornings and I think my sewing skills are getting a bit better! The class was offered to the immigrant women who live in the community around our church and I am the only student there who speaks English fluently. As a result, I now know 1 word in Arabic (but couldn't begin to guess how to spell it!) When my class gets over I would love to try making this scarf from Make It and Love It looks so easy and  I already have material for it!

Do you have any craft projects that are on your list?

3weeks in review

We have had a busy little stretch these past 3weekends! Wonderful memories and times with family and friends! Here's a recap: Weekend #1we headed down to Norfolk for Bryan's graduation! He graduated Summa Cum Laude! I am so proud of him and so thankful for all of the hard work he has put into this degree for the good of our family!

Bryna's parent's made the 12+hour drive to be with us and we were also able to spend time with my mom and brother, aunt and uncle and friend Amy

Also, It was the first time Will and Grandpa Hable were able to meet in person!

The next weekend we celebrated our friend Logan's 1st birthday!

 and enjoyed a rainy football day!

Weekend #3 we traveled to Lexington for our friends Wella's wedding! Wella and I met during a Bible study several years ago and she sang at our wedding so it was very special to celebrate with her!

 Isn't she beautiful! They had a 40's themed wedding and so many people came in character!

(love!)

The wedding was held at VMI, my brother's Alma Mater, so we spent some time hanging out with two of his brother rats.

We ended the weekend in Wayneseboro, having dinner with my former co-workers and friends! It was so wonderful to see them and catch up on the wonderful things that God is doing in their lives!

Joy

Abiding Joy does not depend upon what's happening around us;

 it exists because of the One who's living in us.

~ B.J. Hoff

What brings you joy?