nurturing hope, creativity, family
A night of fun and games with Aunts and Uncles, 
a year gone, and another welcomed in with sparklers on the driveway (thanks to Kristen and Jake).
It’s been a good year, but a hard year too. I’m so grateful for a new beginning.
Best wishes to all in 2010!
Jennifer
It’s been snowing for 36 hours straight. I’ve been doing laundry for 36 hours straight. Okay, I slept for 6 hours last night, but it really is all I’ve done for two days now and guess what? I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface! Seriously, there are a lot of dirty clothes in this house!
Rather than feel discouraged about how much more there is to do, I’m taking a break to post about the neatest thing that I found at an antiques store early in December.
It was this set of 5 vintage blocks.
Aren’t they neat! They are all free-standing,from 7.5 to 8.5 inches tall.
We have a mailman, 
a conductor, 
a milkman (he actually looks rather boyish), 
a policeman, 
and a fireman.
Guess what else? They have backs!
How cool is that?!? You could build a whole room’s decor around these guys.
I have never seen anything like this. I am so curious about who made them, how old they are, etc. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a whole set of them? Or a family? Talk about durable! My little ones would play with them a ton. In fact, they will play with them a ton as soon as I’m ready to surrender them to the large bucket of blocks that we keep in our family room. For now, they’re standing at attention on the bookshelf in my office, just because I like them so much.
If you’ve ever seen anything like them, PLEEEASE tell me what you know about them! I’d love to find more!
For now, it’s back to the laundry room for me. I hope you’re doing something much more fun!
Hopeful Homemaker
I was up early this morning, much earlier than the children, and since it’s Christmas vacation, I could let them sleep.
It felt really good to have some quiet time to read my scriptures, ponder, pray, and record some things that I am grateful for. I want time like this every morning!
I’ve been pondering and praying about what direction I should move in with the start of a new year. I had so many thoughts, and there are so many areas in which to improve. Then I realized that I needed to ask my Heavenly Father what direction HE wants me to move in.
I’ve had some thoughts today that feel really good. I think I have the beginning of a plan. I need to keep praying about it, but I feel like I’m on the right track and THAT is a happy feeling.