Melted Crayon Hearts

I hope that everyone had a good weekend. I was able to spend a little time crafting and putting out some Valentine decor.

I saw these and knew I wanted to give them a try.



I pulled out some crayons in Valentine colors along with a pencil sharpener, wax and kraft paper. I layed a piece of craft paper under my wax paper. I then folded the wax paper in half.


On one half of the wax paper I used the pencil sharpener to make crayon shavings.



I then covered the shavings with the other half of the wax paper and then covered it with another piece of kraft paper. I then ironed over it until the crayons melted. (Be careful of the crayon running out of the edge of the wax paper while you melt them.)


I then used two different sized cookie cutter to make my heart shapes. I then put a hole in the top of each heart and strung three of them onto a piece of thread.


They look wonderful when the sun is shining through the window!

I hope you are taking time to enjoy the simple moments!

The Whole Crew

The last couple of days things have been hopping around here. My part-time afternoon kiddies have been here. I have two four year old, a 17 month old, 7 months and an almost 4 month old to care for the past couple of days. Sure some moments were chaotic, but the hugs, kisses and sweet baby cuddles make it all worth it!

Today I just have the normal crew. I need to catch up on some household task and work on preparing my monthly shopping list.

I hope you are taking time to enjoy the simple moments!

A Simple Weekend

We received some more snow late last week and the temperatures have been cold. I am not complaining; it is winter after all! This kind of weather makes me want to spend cozy time where it is nice and warm.

Chuck had to go into work for a few hours on Saturday and then he tackled some maintenance things around home.

Daddy's little helper was right by his side. While they did that I tackled some laundry.


Nice and clean! Ready to be hung in our closets.

There were also quiet moments. This is where I spent a good part of Sunday afternoon.


The rag garland for my Christmas tree was a little short and I finally added a few feet to it. I have plenty of scraps leftover and I have an idea in mind for those. I am going to try to make a braided table runner. Has anyone ever made a braided rug or such? If so I am open to hints you might have.

A rich, warm beef stew and biscuits is what was for dinner last night.

I love it when dinner simmers away all day. It makes my home smell wonderful and it is nice to have dinner ready to go.

I hope you are taking time to enjoy the simple moments!

Wishing

Wishing there was more time to:

*sleep in this morning.

*clean. I would love a clean, totally organized home. (at least for a day!)

*craft.

*read.

*spent with my husband.

*play/snuggle/read with Megan.

*stop and enjoy the simple moments.

As I was thinking of the things I wish I had more time for I stopped and thought... "Am I wishing my life away?"

Each moments is precious and I certainly wouldn't want to wish them away. So now I am wishing to pause and cherish each moment! (even the messy house, chaotic ones!)

I hope you are taking time to enjoy the simple moments!

Around My Home

First off I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes! Thank you!! I had a wonderful birthday with a couple of meals eaten out over the past several days and some nice gifts. Before I share a couple of things that I received remember that I am a practical kind of gal. I know that some women would be offended if they received these things. My parents bought me new towels.

I have had a couple of new towels here and there but never an entire closet of new, matching towels. I certainly feel spoiled!

Chuck and Megan got me lotion, an ironing board cover and a drying rack.


A drying rack has been on my wish list for a long time. No more draping things over the back of the kitchen chair during the winter or rainy days.

This week brought more snow. It has been beautiful gazing out at it.


There have been littles to cuddle and play with.


This little man is such an easy baby and I am so grateful for that! He was a little stuffy last week so there was plenty of cuddle time.

One afternoon Megan and I filled the cookie jar.


Notice Megan's stripped dress in the picture. She took this picture and I think she might have seen her Mama take a few pictures for the blog. He!He!

I heard the words this week that mothers dread. Not the I'm bored, but the I don't have anything fun to do. Ugh!!! I was not happy and then listed off all the fun things that she had available.


I think I got my point across since she has been able to find plenty of fun things to keep busy since then.

I spent time reading.


I finished Choosing To See and thought it was a good read. Although I sniffed and cried through a lot of it I also laughed and was inspired. I am certainly "choosing to see" that God is with me!

I hope you are taking time to enjoy the simple moments!

All About the Name

I have been asked how I came up with the name of my blog. I guess I need to start out by explaining where I was when I started blogging....

Chuck and were married and settled into our cozy little home. No littles had come the old fashioned way and we were making our way through the world of adoption. I was working outside of the home and was not very happy with that. The journey of life was not going the way I had planned. Not.at.all. You know the plan where I would have 2.5 children, stay at home and the world around me would be perfect. Ha!

I started to follow a couple of adoption blogs and there was link on one that lead to a homemaking blog. I started reading that blog and one thing lead to another. Pretty soon I was reading several blogs that centered around home and family.

When I decided to start blogging I thought long and hard about a name. My Heart is Always Home just seemed to fit since I was working away from home, but my heart really wanted to be at home!


Since I started blogging my faith in God has really grown. I have learned that living a simple life of faith, family and home is more full filling then I ever imagined. I have also learned that I have no control over the journey of life (I am still learning this daily) and that home is truly where my heart is. So there you go.... the history of how the name came about.

I hope you are taking time to enjoy the simple moments!

Forty!

Forty years ago today I was born at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. There is so much hype about turning forty that I have been thinking about it for the past few days. Many of the things said about being forty are negative. I don't feel like I am over the hill, or that I am on the down hill slide. Just the opposite. In many ways I feel like life is just beginning.


I am grateful for all forty of my years on earth. Oh, there are many things said and done that at times I wish had turned out different. If that were the case though I wouldn't be where I am today and that is a very good place! My heart is overflowing with love for God, my wonderful husband, the daughter that I prayed and prayed for, my parents, sister and nieces, my home and life in general. No, things are not perfect. They never are, but through it all God is good!

My thirties were wonderful and I look forward to seeing how fabulous my forties will be!

Baking Bread

There is something relaxing, almost therapeutic about making bread.

I have made it in bread makers and I have also used my Kitchen Aide mixer to mix up the dough.

(french bread to go with a spaghetti & meatball supper)

Honestly I find that doing it the old fashioned way, the way my grandmother, great-grandmother and those before her made it, gives me the most pleasure.


What about you? Are you a bread maker? Do you do it the old fashioned way? I hope you are taking time to enjoy the simple moments!

Some Organizing

Brrr it was a cold weekend here. Saturday morning we were up and out early running our errands. After the major things were done it was decided that it was to cold and we were heading home.

Once we were warm and toasty at home it was time to get some things done. While laundry was going it was time to tackle Megan's room. It was need of some TLC to weed out some things and find places for some new things. It was such a disaster that there was no way I was taking a before picture! Everything was removed from her closet and a place was found for everything.

When that was complete it was on to the rest of the room. Every drawing and piece of paper she writes on becomes a keepsake to her. It felt great to get rid of all of that stuff. I have a solution, or at least I hope, to combat the paper clutter. When I have it in place I will share it with you.

Oh, so much better. I can't stand stacks of paper and that is what had become of her dresser. Once everything was cleaned up Chuck helped me install the new valances. Her windows have had no treatment for about two years. Since I handed down all of the crib bedding to my sister-in-law.

They match the bedskirt on her new bedding. I was amazed at the difference they made.

Saturday night was game night.

We played several different games and shared lots of laughs.

I have been fighting a cold for the last few days and lost on Saturday. I don't feel super bad. I am just tired and very stuffy. I have been taking some cold medicine and spent all of Sunday at home taking it easy. I hope that it passes quickly!

Now it is time to get the day going. Cleaning the kitchen and making some bread to go with our spaghetti and meatball dinner is on the agenda for today. Have a great Monday!
I hope you are taking time to enjoy the simple moments!

Beauty

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Proverbs 118:24

Each morning this week I have been greeted by a beautiful sunrise. It makes my heart sing and rejoice that the Lord provides such splendor for us to enjoy!

Take time this morning to look out the window and enjoy the view. No matter if it is sun, rain or snow rejoice in the fact that "this is the day the Lord has made!" May it be a great one!!

I hope you are taking time to enjoy the simple moments!

A Place for Everything

As I organize and purge I am reminded one again how important it is for everything to have a place. I have been keeping my yarn and knitting/crochet stuff in a gift bag that was overflowing. The bag was to small and it always seemed to be in the way. I picked a container at Goodwill. I knew the size would be perfect to fit beside the love seat and the handles would be handy for moving it around.


It is still in need of a makeover. I was anxious to use it and since there isn't time for the makeover at this time I went ahead and started using it. I am so happy to have found a home for my knitting/crochet stuff. Now if I could remind myself to put everything back in it's place every time!

I hope you are taking time to enjoy the simple moments!

Out With the Old

And in with the new. All of Christmas decor is put away and the living room has been cleaned and everything put in its rightful place.

Although nothing new was added to this room it feel like a new space. I love Christmas, but am always happy when things are put back in order.

I am planning to do some things this year. Not really resolutions, but goals. You might even call them life changes.

Reading is one area that I am changing. I love to read! Everyone knows this and I was gifted a stack of books for Christmas.


I use to read a couple of books a week. You know before becoming a mom! I do enjoy it and plan to make it a priority.

I do enjoy reading my Christian fiction, but along with that I plan to add this book.


I have tried several times to read the Bible from cover to cover and haven't succeeded. Some parts are just tedious, especially in the Old Testament. I am determined that this is going to happen!! I plan to give a monthly update to keep me accountable.

I have a binder of recipes that I pull out of magazines, print off blogs and such. I wish I could say that they are organized nicely and that I have tried them all, but I can't.


The plan is to go through this binder and get rid of the things that no longer interest me and then get them put nicely into the page protectors. Then the fun begins! The goal is to try one new recipe a week. I am sure that many of these will be shared with you.

Small things that I am certain will bring me joy. I hope you are taking time to enjoy the simple moments!