In the Storm

reverb12 l daily prompts

the daily prompts begin tomorrow along with my journaling response. i'm uber excited about this journaling endeavor that will stretch my heart, mind, and soul. the following are my daily prompts for REVERB12.

December 01 | One Word

Encapsulate the year 2012 in one word. Explain why you're choosing that word. Now, imagine it's one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2013 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)

December 02 | Remember

What is one thing you did this year you think you'll remember for the rest of your life? (Author: Lee)

December 03 | Fear

When were you most scared? Why? How did you respond? How do you wish you would have responded? (Author: Mary Churchill)

December 04 | Eliminate

What are 13 things your life doesn't need in 2013? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these things change your life? (Author: Sam Davidson & Me)

December 06 | Change

What one thing do you need to change this year? Why? (Author: Me)

December 07 | 7 Minutes

Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2013 in 7 minutes. Set an alarm for 7 minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2012. (Author: Patty Digh and Lee)

December 08 | Reading

What has been your favorite book(s) or blog(s) or magazine(s) you've read this year? Why? (Author: Carolyn Rubenstein)

December 09 | Soul Food

What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul? (Author: Elise Marie Collins)

December 11 | Money

Where did you spend money through this year? (Author: Kaileen Elise)

December 12 | Ordinary Joy

Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?  Even further: what activity brings you the most joy that you hope to replicate this coming year? (Author: Brené Brown, Lee, & Me)

December 13 | Accomplish

What are 13 things I'm most proud of accomplishing this year? What are 13 things I’d like to achieve for next year? (Author: Lee & Me)

December 14 | Try

What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2012? What happened when you did or didn't go for it? (Author: Kaileen Elise)

December 15 | Make

What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? (Author: Gretchen Rubin)

December 16 | Disappointment

What was the greatest disappointment of the year and how did you let go? (Author: Me)

December 17 | Spark

What in your current life or context provides the spark for the future that you want to create? Where do you see your future beginning? (Author: Lee)

December 18 | Celebrate

When did you celebrate? What did you celebrate? What did you miss out on celebrating? (Author: Me)

December 19 | Cry

When did you cry? (Author: Kaileen Elise)

December 20 | Health

Do you consider yourself to be in good health? What changes can you make to be at your most healthy? (Author: Lee)

December 21 | Serve

Where and how have you served others this past year? What was the impact? Where and how would you like to serve others this coming year? (Author: Me)

December 22 | Discovery

Did you discover something that surprised or delighted you? What was it? (Author: Lee)

December 23 | Alone

Have you had any alone time this year? Do you seek it? Does it make you comfortable or uncomfortable to be left alone with your thoughts? Where is the best place for you to be comfortable by yourself? (Author: Lee)

December 24 | Photograph

Take some time and wander through all of the photos taken over the past year. Which is your favorite? What emotions do you associate with it? (Author: Lee)

December 25 | Gift

At this point in the year gift giving is everywhere. What is the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year? (Author: Holly Root)

December 26 | Travel

How did you travel in 2012? How and/or where would you like to travel next year? (Author: Tara Hunt)

December 27 | Compliment

What is the greatest compliment you could give? Are you worthy of the same praise? (Author: Lee)

December 28 | Defining

Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.(Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice)

December 29 |Capture

Capture one thing that happened this past year of some importance to you in its full voice. From all different perspectives. Through words. (Author: Me)

December 30 | Review

As you reflect back on the happenings of 2012, what were your high points and what were your low points? What do you notice as you look back on the year as a whole? (Author: Carolyn Rubenstein)

December 31 | Forward

Close your eyes and imagine yourself on January 1, 2014. Where do you want to be - in your heart, in your soul, in the world? (Author: Lee)

Pretty awesome, huh? the last day of 2012 i will have reflected the year and manifested a new year. enjoy the ride or hitch on and reflect and manifest along with me and other REVERB12 participants.

30 days of thankful l day 30

this was a tremendous exercise in gratitude. i feel like keeping on. maybe i will just to add a one word or one line gratitude for the month of december.

speaking of december, gonna be busy - but good here on the blog. with reverb12 and december daily projects along with everyday life (which is pretty much the december daily) it's gonna be filled.

makin' plans for my one little word.

manifesting 2013.

so, so good.

and thankful.

diy snowmen family l part one

i've been wanting to make these for a couple years now.

                                                            source
pretty simple diy.

since i try to make a couple new christmas decorations each year i decided i could tackle this.

1. i began collecting the coffeemate creamer bottles. since i rarely by creamer in small sizes i had to wait until coffeemate came back out with their delicious pumpkin spice for the fall and the holidays.

2. i spray-painted these little guys white. i needed to do two coats. dripping was a problem but i decided that snowmen aren't perfect when you make them (and i've thankfully made my share of snowmen to know) so a few drips showing shouldn't be a problem. i'm not into perfection. just simple.

3. use my stash. yep, i used my stash of ribbons. i really wanted to use some flannel that i know i have somewhere in a box. but i can't for the life of me find that box. this tells me my room really needs organized. anyways, i did find some super soft, bushy ribbon in red, blue, and a soft green. i used green and red, and blue and red for the snowmen's scarves.

4. now i need to find my hot glue gun....and for part two...

 

30 days of thankful l day 29

december menu plan l 12 months of planning

i have created a menu plan for every month this year.

it has been so good for me and our family.

throughout the month i peruse the internet for recipes and save them to my recipe folder.

towards the end of the month i begin plugging in meals for the month: our favorites, our monthly must-have's, new recipes, small group desserts/appetizers, date nights, taco/mexican night (tuesday's), and so on.

there is something to be said about an armful of recipes: it makes it easy to put a menu plan together. and it makes it hard.

but, it is wonderful and simplifies our life.

without further ado.

our menu plan for december 2012.

because mom's want to know: when you arrive mom we'll be having

roasted tomato basil soup with garlic ciabatta rolls (maybe caesar salad too).

friday it's homemade pizza!! and family movie night (would be a great night for it's a wonderful life!).

saturday it's my homemade noodles and chicken soup with homemade bread.

sunday is chicken parmesan - oh, yum!

monday - yes monday! is tacos.

christmas dinner is baked ham, garlic parmesan mashed potatoes, homemade green bean casserole, and of course sweet potato casserole.

and finally beef and broccoli with rice.

hope the dinner menu is acceptable mom, see you soon.

30 days of thankful l day 28

sons of thunder academy l around the world in 180 days

an update.

back in june i shared our plan for the boys to complete one of their history requirements over a two-year plan on world geography. we selected around the world in 180 days by apologia. because the curriculum did not come with a syllabus, or lesson planning i created my own which i shared with anyone who wanted a copy. we have been using the syllabus and i have made adjustments as i go. if this was our only history for the year i'm sure we wouldn't have any trouble following the plan but because of our other classes: Bible/World History, Algebra I, Spanish II, Art and Design, Physical Science, Vocabulary, and Literature we are giving World Geography attention, but, not necessarily every day.

thus, i've been using the plan but i've modified days and assignments.

in addition, i've added a few things to the plan: the two biggest additions is reading A Heart of Darkness and adding a country by country review. thankfully we can use Heart of Darkness will also be apart of our literature assignments by using the Glencoe Literature Study Guides available on line.

i wasn't sure how to include a country by country review so i looked on line for some ideas and just started adding things that i thought the boys should know about the countries of Africa.

i began with an overview of the countries key notes. simple bits of information. because they like to draw i included a place for the countries flag and symbol.

i think the best information is going to come from a writing profile or overview of the countries history. super easy but lots of additional information that i wasn't finding in around the world in 180 days. i think counrty profiles would be a wonderful addition to the curriculum. the curriculum covers so many intriguing and broad studies on each continent but i wanted something a bit more 'geography-e' what's the country, where's it at on the continent, what kind of government, what are it's natural resources, what kind of education happens there, what's its history...i think these are necessary bits of important information for any age child to know.

so, just a bit of an update on our world geography curriculum.

 

30 days of thankful l day 27

40 recipes l roasted sausage potatoes & peppers #45

yep!

45 new recipes this year so far.

we've shared in alot of goodness. most of the recipes have been such a tremendous hit i've already added them to our menu rotation. and some we'll go months before i'll make them again. it really is interesting what pulls us in; which foods we crave; which meals we could eat again and again over the course of a year.

this has been such an interesting endeavor. i'm still debating on 2013's 40-something.

40 recipes   l   roasted sausage, potatoes, & peppers #45

don't leave out the mild (or hot) banana peppers. they add the mild zip. the flavors meld well together and were yummy. a very simple recipe that comes together quickly and was easy for the boys to fix since i had to work.

30 days of thankful l day 26