My Valentine Sweethearts !

How truly grateful I am for my husband and especially Bug (and all of my family) ! The immeasurable happiness they've brought to my life. I tell people all of the time - being a mom is the best thing I've ever had the privilege to do ! It's true - Bug fixed me and I didn't even know I was broken. It's the closest I've ever felt to our Savior. It's like it created a brand new life line. I pray differently. I look at the world differently. I can truly connect with the feeling that He has for his children (because I'm experiencing an earthly version of it). How LOVED we are by Him ! I've spent this weekend enjoying my family. Ignoring some parts of the house for sake of sanity. Living with intention to do things we love and can be glad we did. Our Valentine weekend consisted of the following: Decorating the nursery ! This chalkboard gets made over for each holiday, Valentine's is no exception. I found this frame at a thrift store years ago (before I ever got pregnant) and knew that it would be perfect for a nursery (holding out hope that I would one day have a need for one). I finally got to drag it out of storage and DIY it to my hearts content. Some Home Depot chalkboard and gold paint later - voila ! The paper fans were on sale after Valentine's Day last year at Hobby Lobby ($3.00). It's a simple and cheerful way to bring in the holiday of LOVE !

Next is the "Be Mine" Valentine Box. I scooped this up on sale from PBK last year after sale ($10.00). I need to monogram it. Add it to the To-Do List.

Lastly, is Bug's "Holiday Tree". It gets an update for each holiday. Again, Valentine's Day is no exception. I bought this little tree from Hobby Lobby (used a 40% off) for $16.00. I have a few different tree skirts that are neutral and try to pick up decorations during after holiday sales. I picked up the decorations for Valentine's at....you guessed it....Hobby Lobby. I just picked up a wooden sign for the topper and some blank parchment tags to decorate. It was a simple way to decorate and very inexpensive. I'll try to share each new setup. His Valentine's gift lays underneath - just a simple gift sack with Annie's Organic fruit snacks (still waiting on his Moana soundtrack to come in). Our sweet Bug LOVES music ! We'll also fill his Valentine box with his own special Valentine's cards.

He already got one of his Valentine gifts early. We got him some bath colors. We tried them out last night. They were a hit but not nearly as colorful as I expected them to be. Maybe that's a good thing !

We spent today doing things as a family.

Decorating cookies !

Lastly, we crafted some large Valentine cards together. It was simple, fun, and turned out perfect (to me). This is something you could make for any holiday really. Just modify it to fit the occasion.

FALL TIME IS MY FAVORITE TIME

Fall really is my favorite time of the year and today it certainly feels like Fall ! There's a crisp coolness in the air, leaves are whirling in the wind, and cozy blankets and smores are calling my name. Fall for me has always been a time where I feel like the world gets a reprieve, the weeding in the garden stops, the hot sticky summer days are replaced with cool cuddle me close evenings, the beginning of a series of holidays awaits, and I find myself readying our house for months of being cooped up together enjoying family time. The best thing about THIS Fall is that I get to share it for the first time with Connor ! This year Jamie and I get to begin our own family traditions with Connor. In the short 8 months he's already been a part of our world he's changed it and us for the better. I wake up happy every morning (even if it's at the crack of dawn), his smile can cure the worst mood, and I've never been more happy about being on the other end of a sloppy wet kiss on the cheek (sorry furbabies -- your kisses are still sweet) ! I've been thinking what traditions we will start ? Since it's the month of Halloween we obviously have a few things we want to introduce. Namely, I'll decorate the Holiday tree in his nursery. Right now it's decorated for the month of September, and is dubbed the Fall tree. It should transition fairly easily into Halloween décor.

I made my very first Scholastic Book Club order from Connor's school (I love that we're already building a library for him). I squealed with delight as I flipped through the pages trying to narrow down which books to order (whew that was tough - I wanted them all) ! He ended up with "I'm NOT Sleepy"; "Five Little Pumpkins"; "Halloween Hustle"; "It's Pumpkin Day, Mouse!"; "Where's My Mummy"; and "Wee Witches' Halloween"  -- at only $11 for the total ! Of course, we will be gifting a few to Connor's sweet big cousins for Halloween !

 

 

Of course, he'll need a personalized Halloween basket. Pottery Barn has theirs on sale right now. This little gem is only $13 - umm don't mind if I do !

 

I saw this precious little treat bag on Pinterest and know that I'll be handing these out this year in the big cousins bag ! What a "sweet" message !

Just tossing around some ideas for this month. Hoping we'll get some much needed time in with the big cousins and am so looking forward to each new day as we grow together as a family !

xo & Fall Greetings !
Heather



SPIRITUAL LIFE

A sweet friend of mine gifted me with James Reimann's "My Utmost for His Highest" for my birthday just back in August. It's a great daily devotional book that has a daily message and accompanying scripture. I have to say each day so far has been spot on ! Today a certain part of today's daily message truly reached me: "We have all experienced times of exaltation on the mountain, when we have seen things from God's perspective and have wanted to stay there. But God will never allow us to stay there. The true test of our spiritual life is in exhibiting the power to descend from the mountain. If we only have the power to go up, something is wrong. It is a wonderful thing be on the mountain with God, but a person only gets there so that he may later go down and lift up the demon-possessed people in the valley (see Mark 9:14-18)." The message I found in this for my own personal use was that what I might consider my mountain top with God may differ from what another's "mountain top with God" might be. None the less, those moments of sheer joy and overflowing blessings from God are not meant to be constantly replenished they are meant to fuel us to continue in our work for Him on the battle field through witnessing, through prayer, through faith, and through loving people through Christ. I have to remind myself that I have been blessed beyond measure with a healthy child. I find myself worrying and praying more intensely since becoming a mother. I pray to and praise God for my healthy child and in the same prayer I pray over someone else's sick child, and then I worry and pray over my sweet baby boy that he may never have to face a life threatening sickness or tragedy. Am I the only person that does this ?! Surely not. My mountain top moments with God since becoming a mother are seeing my healthy, thriving, beautiful baby boy that I prayed so fervently for. My call to the valley right now is to be a prayer warrior. Today I hope that if for some reason you happen to stumble across my blog post that you take a moment to be a prayer warrior with me. Two families I've been led to prayer over are facing the diagnosis of very life threatening illnesses of their precious daughters. I am including links for them both. Pray a miraculous healing over both of these precious girls. Pray for ultimate comfort while these families patiently wait for God's timing. Pray that in the process of these precious girls being healed that non-believers become believers in the wake of God's miraculous healing. God is still in the healing business !

Prayers for Wryn Harbor
https://www.facebook.com/wrynharbor?fref=ts

Prayers for Katie ! #KatieStrong
https://www.facebook.com/Prayers4Katie?fref=ts

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

MAKING TIME

So here it goes - my first blog post. I kept telling myself I would wait to publish my first blog post WHEN....the multiple house projects were caught up, or when I had more of a handle on being a first time mommy, or when things felt more in groove at work but that moment is never just going to pop up and say HI ! My life and the life of everyone else around me is made up of millions of moments that evolve, projects that linger or become something else, what "handle" on being a mommy am I thinking of, work will always be ever changing ! In this moment I'm simply making time to do something that has been on my long list of TO DOs and boy it's elating to check something off of the good ol' TO DO list, isn't it ?! Without further ado, let me introduce myself ! Hi there ! I'm Heather. I am a child of God; Mother; Wife; Daughter; Sister; Auntie YaYa;  Friend; Encourager; Animal Lover; Disney Lover; Foodie; Lover of Home Décor; Blog Addict; Proud of my Southern Roots and Traditions; DIY and Crafting; Plaid Loving 20 almost 30 year old Southern gal ! Wow - that's a mouth full ! I am in love with my life as a mother (and the million other things I am blessed to identify with) and want to use this blog as a way to chronicle the many adventures of motherhood and the like ! Welcome to Belham House blog - stop by anytime ! xo H