Welcoming Fall and Lentil Soup

Source: classy-in-the-city.tumblr.com via Life's Sweeter on Pinterest

I just love fall!  The weather is finally cooling off and it is absolutely gorgeous outside!  Nothing says fall like the changing of the leaves... and a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks.  Yummm...

Source: google.com via Life's Sweeter on Pinterest

Since it's a little cooler outside I thought it would be the perfect time to try a new soup recipe!  I've had the recipe for Lentil Soup for a while now from one of my favorite recipe blogs - Healthy and Easy Recipes. I had actually never used lentils before but I really like them!

Here is the 5x7 recipe card. Enjoy!

Strawberry Spinach Salad

This is one of my favorite salads!  There are quite a few variations of the recipe, but this one is my favorite!

Here is the 5x7 recipe card:

Yummy!

Moving Gift

We have a friend who is moving, and having moved quite a few times I know how hard and down right scary it can be!  I wanted to get her a little something and having searched around a while, I found this quote online that is just perfect!

And because I couldn't decide which color I did one more!

I found the perfect little 5x5 frame!

Big Boy Room Artwork

I've been looking for ideas for the little man's big boy room and working on some of the artwork.

I feel in love with this giraffe!  I am still deciding on a theme, but I'm pretty sure that it will be something to do with cars and trucks since he's pretty into those right now!

By nanacompany

Such a great idea cutting a pattern from scrapbook paper!

by Happy Deliveries

I also fell in love with this verse picture.  This verse really spoke to my heart when I was pregnant and it was the one we chose for the birth announcements. 

And I'm really stuck on the yellow right now!  Just brightens my day!

Pinterest.... my new obsession....

Whoever came up with the idea of Pinterest is just flat out brilliant!  Our house is currently on the market (crossing my fingers it won't be long!) but that pretty much puts a halt on any major crafts/projects.

In the mean time I'm dreaming about our future house and all the possibilities!

Here are some of my favs:

LOVE the beadboard ceiling! And all the white!

I told the hubs he better be ready for some construction!  I love the idea of a closet turned computer/reading nook!

Love built in book shelves.

Great storage!

I've just started seeing these grey cabinets popping up!

I love all the colorful vases!

This ceiling is just gorgeous.

This is such a great shade of grey.

Just love everything about this one.

I am definitely thinking this new color pallet for the master bedroom.  I've actually never been a big fan of yellow and have really wanted to start using it here and there.  It's just such a happy color! 

Feeling very inspired!

Be Still....

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10

Be still...

What does that mean?

Don't make any rash decisions?  Be Patient? Be peaceful?  Or, does it just flat out plainly mean what it says... be still.

It sounds so simple.

How often are we still?  I mean really still.  Not still on our computer, sitting in traffic, or waiting for food at a restaurant.  But still.  Mind, body and soul.  Just still.

Even that concept makes some of us uncomfortable.  It's foreign to us.  We rationalize that just being still is counterproductive.  Not good uses of our time.  I mean shouldn't we be multitasking away at the next project? 

Our society is so driven by how full our schedules are - we measure our success by it. 

We're exhausted.

Asking for more time in the day... to do what?  Probably throw in a few more good work hours?

Deep down we're all wishing for more time to relax.

To just be....

To just be still...

In Barnes' notes on the bible it says that the original word "means properly to cast down; to let fall; to let hang down; then, to be relaxed slackened, especially the hands: It is also employed in the sense of not making an effort; not putting forth exertion."

Wow.  They got all of that from those two little words??

Slackened...

This isn't a word used to often.  I looked a little further.  The verb slacken means to make slower... less intense.

Less intense???

That goes against everything society tells us.  Push Harder.  Squeeze a little more in.

I've actually never heard a sermon on living intensely.  I don't remember Jesus ever talking about it... Peaceful - yes.  Bearing fruit - yes.  Intensely?  Don't think so.

So why are we pushing ourselves at such an intense lifestyle?  When all we really need to do is just be still?  I mean really still.

 Maybe if we were really still we'd find some answers to some things we've been asking God for.

If we're still we'll have time to listen...