When A Blog Friend Walks Into Your Home...and Into Your Heart

So it happened. After months of planning and dreaming and texting and hoping, Tara and I finally met. She drove hours and hours on a Friday afternoon and finally walked into our home. I cannot even tell you how surreal it was to see her standing in our kitchen. It was the first time she and I had met in person, but I knew instantly our souls were long lost friends. She belonged in our house. She just did.

It was apparent from the minute she walked in with that familiar, sweet smile on her face that she is as kind and genuine and sweet in person as she appears on her blog. It wasn't awkward or weird or anything. It was just a friend, hanging with us for the weekend.

We didn't do much. I wanted to be real. And do what we would usually do. Which is not much. We sat and talked for hours that first night. My family fell in love with her, just as I knew they would. Saturday morning we girls went to breakfast and then to a craft show before returning home to rest on the couch and talk some more.

Saturday evening the whole family went to Mass and then out to dinner. We returned home to snuggle on the sofa and talk and talk some more. Sunday came way too quickly, and we had brunch before she had to say goodbye and return to her own sweet family so far away.

Although it sounds as if we didn't do much, I wanted just that for her. I wanted her to come and curl up on the couch and drink tea. I wanted her to have a cozy, relaxing weekend here in our house in the country. And I hope and pray she did.

I cannot thank Tara enough for driving so far to meet me and my family. I cannot thank her enough for her friendship. Over two years ago, I left a comment on a very beautiful blog. Friday night, a friend walked into my home. And into my heart.

Thursday Thoughts

Today I'm thinking about...


...Tomorrow. Because tomorrow...I'm meeting my dear sweet Blog friend Tara!! Yes, that's right. My dear friend Tara who blogs so beautifully here, is actually driving six hours to spend the weekend with us! I am beyond excited. We all are. I am so thankful she is up for the challenge of spending an entire weekend with all the excitement that is us. : ) No, actually I am so thankful that she wants to meet me and my family. You see, years ago, before I ever began writing my own blog, I stumbled upon the most lovely, beautiful, charming blog ever. I read Tara's blog and found someone who shared my love of home and family and holidays. In fact, she inspired me to begin my own little blog. And when I did, I was finally able to comment and let Tara know how much I enjoyed her space. She, in turn, visited my blog and much to my surprise, returned. Again and again. And we exchanged emails. Then phone numbers. And a friendship was formed. This is why I love this little world of Blogger. I have found many women all over the country who share the love of home and family that I do. And now, I am going to meet one. And I cant wait. : )


When Tara texted and asked what she should bring, Peyton promptly replied...sweats and jammies. In any case, I hope and pray she has a wonderful visit. She deserves it. : ) Here is a peek at what does go on in our little corner of the world...

My little Flynn all ready for Mass last weekend...

and enjoying the very first few snowflakes before we left. : )

November means some of my favorite seasonal foods arrive...

and we bake some favorites too. This was an apple pie. And it was good. : )

I broke out the scarves this week...

and lit this amazingly cozy candle too.

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

The Schoolroom...October 2014 In Pictures

Trick-Or-Treat...Halloween 2014

Halloween has come and gone for another year.  Halloween night always makes me a bit sad. I watch my little ones going door to door, and as I do, I can't help but wonder how many more nights of trick-or-treating we will share together. Children grow. One Halloween will be our last night of the anticipation and excitement and all these fun times will become precious memories. But for now, we relish the fun times we have together. : )

Halloween started with cinnamon rolls and spooky music. : )

While the big kids worked on some schoolwork, Flynn and I decorated the table and secretly baked some brownies...

Then we had our yummy Halloween lunch...

before we got dressed for trick-or-treating!

(My heart melted when I came in and saw that Flynn had added her wand and headband to the dress I had set out.)

My Cinderella...

and my two creepy zombies. : )

Makeup by Madison. : )

How happy were we when Madison decided it was too cold and rainy to sit at a football game, and decided to join us?!

Stopping to see Grandma...my sweet, sweet mother...

and then home to sort the loot! : )

I always want to remember being altogether in our van on Halloween night.

I always want to remember how Peyton and Rhett took such care making sure Flynn was right with them.

I always want to remember how Flynn sat on my lap and smiled and said how much she loved Halloween!

I always want to remember that excitement in her eyes and the smile on her face as we went house to house, and how she told me exactly what she got when she returned to the van.

I always want to remember this night.

Happy Halloween, my friends!

Thursday Thoughts

Today I'm thinking about...


...Halloween!!!! Tomorrow is one of my very favorite days of the year. I love everything about Halloween...the fun, the food, the dark, windy day, and the chilly, spooky night. I love the anticipation of trick-or-treating followed by the thrill of dumping out the buckets and sorting through the candy. I love the discarded costumes on the floor and the warm cozy jammies worn afterward. I love the fun we have together. I hope you all have a wonderfully spooky Halloween! Here is what we have been up to this last week of October. : )

The early mornings are now a bit too chilly for my morning coffee, but they still offer some beautiful images to start my day...

Evenings come earlier now, and that is just fine with me.

Halloween costumes are being organized. And we will have a Cinderella again this year. : )

Special goodies...just because Halloween comes but once a year.

We carved our pumpkins...

and made memories. : )

Madison painted a Day of the Dead sugar skull this year...Peyton did a traditional spooky one...Rhett decided on a Batman pumpkin...Flynn chose a princess...and our friend Jeffrey was here to lend a hand. : )

Happy Halloween.

Happy Weekend.

Thanks for stopping by!

One Word Wednesday

Halloween

Halloween 2000

(not Flynn...Madison!)

Halloween 2003

Halloween 2006

Halloween 2008



My Current Favorites...Halloween Edition

I love Halloween. I mean really love it. I thought I would share some of my current Halloween favorites. Just in case you love it too. : )

I admit. I am a huge Bath & Bodyworks fan when it comes to hand soap. But when I found these cute little guys, I has to pick them up. Almost made my trip into Walmart worth it. Almost.

Poptarts. Halloween Poptarts. Enough said.

My Flynn's Halloween hairbows...I love taking these out every year. And I love that she loves them too. : )

Love setting these out in a little pumpkin candy dish this time of year. Chocolate tastes even better when it is wrapped in Halloween colors, don't you think?

These are another favorite...I always throw some in my purse. You never know when a certain little lady will need some. Or anyone else for that matter.

I mean really...how cute is this?

And of course...my Yankee candles...The black one is Witches Brew. It smells like black licorice...and the orange one is Candy Corn. It smells like...yep. Candy Corn. They both smell good, but burning together, they smell amazing!

So there are a few of my Halloween favorites.

Id love to hear about yours!

Happy Halloween!!!