What’s on My Nightstand?

Want to take a look into my bedroom nightstand?  My book stash has grown a bit with all this extra time on my hands.  I have two devotionals.  Well... actually I have three, but I left it at work, and at this rate who knows when I will be going back there... and I have been wanting to get a new one for home anyway, because I recently heard on a Podcast (pretty sure it was Proverbs 31 podcast) that you will focus on the first thing you read in the morning, so they suggested a quick devotional first thing before you even look at your phone.  Just kinda puts you in the right frame of mind.  So I am trying... these two devotionals....

First, my mentor mentioned this one: Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

and this other devotional was just recommended to me by our Ladies Sunday School teachers, (I am sucker for any book recommend!)  .... New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp

I couldn't choose, so I got both!

And I am continuing my pleasure book a month challenge.... this month is Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan which was a recommend from a Goodreads list I subscribe to.

And my phone is always beside my bed... yes I am a little attached. 😊

In the background is my ever present cup of coffee.  (Wild Mountain blueberry by Green Mountain).  

Finally my favorite lotion sent to me for my birthday last year by my bestest friend!  It is coconut and lemon scented... luscious

There you have it!  A peek into my bedroom....

Summer Doings

As always in the great northeast good weather is short and sweet.  We had a few major events that I will highlight in a separate post (like the west coast Starks coming to visit) but as I sit here under a blanket sipping my hot tea I thought I would share with you all the happenings we crammed into the few short weeks of good weather.

Princess #3 graduated from her preschool

 Some of the best teachers

Rollerblading has become the new favorite thing to do, but what good mother lets her kids rollerblade in their pajamas... apparently I do!

My newest 5th grade princess, 3rd grade princess, and Kindergarten princess

More wedding bells are ringing

Strawberry picking

Swimming Lessons

Bonfires

Wildlife viewing with Prince Charming

Lots and Lots of pool time

Riding in the parade

Princess #3 learned to play soccer

Camping

Vacation Bible School

Summer School

Celebrating life and 50 years

Peach Picking

Hiking my favorite valley

And finally redecorating the princesses room

Winter Doings

Winter is a quiet, indoor kinda season.  But we still managed to get to see some things.

 Playing our new favorite game, Ticket to Ride.  If you haven't played it... go get it.  There is also an app as well I believe.

One of my favorite times of the year...State of the Union.  All of my organizational/social hormones go into hyperdrive and I get to "dump" it all into my husband. What is the State of the Union you ask?  At the beginning of each year we take a weekend away and reflect on our lives.  We talk about goals, we talk about finances, we talk about kids, we talk about marriage and we plan for the year ahead.  We get on the same page.  We regroup.  We plan.  I LOVE IT!!

 We also go to some really cool places and sightsee

This year was Portland, ME 

Prince Charming... King of the World 

This family could not be in Portland without going to Cabelas!

Candlelit Valentine's Dinner 

 Prince Charming with his princesses

 Happy Birthday Prince Charming

Surprise!

Ya' all know that a while back I got a spankin new camera that I love!  Here is one of the reasons why... family photo shoots.  So awhile back I got to shoot my family... 

 So you can see Prince                                                                         My crazy test subjects for lighting! 

Charming pointing to his ear?              

Yup, morning of; he sliced his

ear open!

The Group 

The Grandkids 

 The Brother's Family

 The Pearl and Noble Gentleman

                                Total Sweetness right there

                                                                                                                           Cutie Patootie

My pride and joy 

The Princesses

     

Princess #3                    Princess #2                 Princess #1

Now all these photos are for a purpose... this scrapbook

Which is for a purpose... to surprise our mom (and dad of sorts).

My Dad had knee surgery recently and my mom was instrumental in his recovery so he wanted to give her a surprise trip away.  He had no idea where to go so asked us kids to plan a trip for him... we surprised mom and dad 10 days before the trip with all the details and a scrapbook.  The scrapbook was their trip planner and details.... they read each day the night before to know their daily activities.  It was a lot of fun!

(BTW we sent them to Atlanta, GA for a big sewing conference since my mom is huge sewer)