Old McDonald Had A ... Jungle??

Our daughter, Emahry, loves animals. In fact, she loves anything that has to do with an animal, reminds her of an animal, or remotely resembles an animal.

One of her favorite songs is Old McDonald Had a Farm. She can't quite sing it, but she sure does have the "E, I, E, I, O" part down. She also loves making the animal noises.

But why stop at farm animals. Sure, cows, horses, pigs, and chickens are nice animals, but Emahry is convinced that Old McDonald has monkeys and tigers, too.

For Emahry, the world is full of possibilities. It's amazing how different the world looks through the eyes of a child. I wonder how many things would be possible for us to do if we left behind all the baggage of the world and saw things the way a child does?

Leave a comment and tell about something funny your child has done or said recently, or how they've helped you look at the world in a new way.

Visit Keeper of the Home for more ideas on living a simply life.

Etsy Shop Showcase ~ Bubba & Doodle's

I recently had the pleasure of ordering from Bubba & Doodle's, an Etsy shop specializing in handmade pendants & vinyl decals for walls and windows.

Tim & I have been talking about finally putting things up on the walls and when I saw this adorable silhouette of perched birds I knew it would look great in the kids' bedroom. The decals are available in a variety of colors so I decided to get white to complement the white trim on the celery green wall. (This decal is approximately 5 inches tall, 16 inches wide, and retails for $8.50.)

A few days later, the decal arrived safely sandwiched between two pieces of stiff corrugated plastic. Enclosed were easy to follow directions for applying the decal. Basically, you just peel off the backing, position the decal, and stick to the wall, window, or another smooth surface.

I can't wait for Tim to get home, so we can put this up. I'll update with our photo once the decal is up.

In the mean time, here are just a few of my favorite things from Bubba & Doodle's shop (http://www.bubbaanddoodle.etsy.com/).

Click on the photos to view the listing or just browse through the entire shop. You'll be amazed at how reasonable the prices are.

I think this would be a great gift for an expectant mom. This pendant is also available with Boy checked in blue.

If you place an order, please let them know that you found out about the shop at

A Heart For Home. Thanks!

Interested in having your shop featured in our Etsy Shop Showcase? Leave me a comment & find out more here.

Also, view all of our Etsy Shop Showcases listed in the left sidebar.

What types of reviews would you like to see? I'd greatly appreciate your ideas, so please leave me a comment.

Wordless Wednesday ~ New Babydoll?

I went to the bathroom to wet a baby wipe

and came back to see Emahry making Jonathan pretty.

He didn't seem happy about his new hair-do at all.

For more Wordless Wednesday photos visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

The Top 3 Things I'm Most Thankful For

1. A God who knows all of my faults and still sent his son to die on the cross so he could have a relationship with me. It still amazes me!

2. A loving husband who desires to follow God and love his family with all that he is. I truely have been blessed.

3. Two beautiful, healthy children who teach me daily about joy, contentment, and peace. I am so glad to be a Mama.

Leave me comment & let me know what you're most thankful for.
Don't let this be the only day you stop to thank God for all of his blessings.

Check out more Thanksgiving posts at 5 Minutes For Mom.

Menu Plan Monday

This week, we're keeping our menu very simple. Tim's still getting over his cold from last week & now Emahry has come down with the crud. I'm just hoping they don't share it with Jonathan or me :)

Monday ~ chicken stir-fry

Tuesday ~ crock-pot spaghetti

Wednesday ~ ground turkey tacos

Thursday ~ We're eating Thanksgiving dinner with Tim's dad's family & we've been asked to bring items for a relish tray. It's a little boring for the baker in me, but with Emahry being sick, it's probably the best thing.

Friday ~ lentil & barley soup

Saturday ~ egg rolls & egg drop soup (recipe to come later this week)

Sunday ~ leftovers & veggie tray (for small group)

Check out more menus at I'm A Organizing Junkie.

Etsy Shop Showcase

In case you've never heard of Etsy, it's "your place to buy & sell all things handmade." You can find a huge variety of handmade items for all occassions.

Recently, I've come across lots of wonderful Etsy shops, so I thought I'd share with you by featuring these shops and reviewing some of their products.

If you own an Etsy shop and would like to donate an item for me to review for an Etsy Shop Showcase, please contact me through Etsy at aHeart4Home.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Laundry Love

When our son, Jonathan, was born 4 weeks early, he was so small that he fit in a small laundry basket. We used the laundry basket to move him with us from room to room throughout the day.

Last week, our daughter, Emahry decided it was her turn.

Read more about Jonathan's exciting birth here.

Check out more Wordless Wednesday posts at 5 Minutes for Mom .

Free Baby Leg Warmers

Anyone who has seen our kids much knows we love leg warmers. As cloth diapering, elimination communicating parents, we love the convenience of pottying and diaper changing that leg warmers provide while still offering protection to chubby little legs.

I normally make all of our leg warmers. (If anyone is interested in how, just let me know & I'll post about it.) However when I saw the giveaway that babySNAZZ has going on I got really excited ~ 20 pairs of free baby leg warmers. The contest is running until November 30th and there is no purchase necessary. So head over to babySNAZZ and check it out.

Win 20 Pairs of Baby Leg Warmers from babySNAZZ!

Keeper of My Heart

Recently, I was struck by the words of a song, "Let it be said of us, that our hearts belonged to Jesus."

These words have been playing over and over in my head. Would people say this about me? I have no doubt that people would say I was a good person, even a good wife and mom. I'm fairly confident that people would say I was caring, kind, and giving. People might even say that I followed God and that I desired to do His will, but would they say that my heart belonged to Jesus?

Am I living in such a way that my heart is no longer my own? Am I denying myself and instead responding like Jesus? Are the things that are important to the heart of Christ equally important to me? His word tells us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Are all of my treasures wrapped up in Jesus?

Unfortunately, I have to say that most of the time my heart is completely my own. I struggle against my fleshly desires for control and independence. Even when I strive to follow Christ I rely on my own strength instead of giving complete control to Him. I guess that's why God allows us to go through times of hardship, times when it seems there aren't enough hours in the day, or when we have to function on too few hours of sleep day after day. These times teach us that we can't accomplish anything worthwhile on our own.

Through late night nursing sessions with a newborn and walks back and forth to the bathroom with a sleepy, potty training, toddler God is teaching me yet another lesson. He is quietly whispering, "Lean on me, take my yoke, use my strength, let go, give me your heart & trust in Me."

Day by day, I'm learning to lean on Him more and to trust that my heart is in good hands. I'm learning to see life through the eyes of Christ, to readjust my priorities, and to evaluate the motives of my heart to make sure they are in line with the heart of God.

"Let it be said of us, that our hearts belonged to Jesus."

Will you join me in making this a priority in your life?


Check out more living simply tips at Keeper of the Home.
Also, head over to Heavenly Homemakers for Gratituesday posts.

Moms, Be Encouraged

If Ever You Worshipped



Visit Heavenly Homemakers for more Gratituesday posts.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Cute as a Button

I came across these photos of Emahry playing with my button collection & thought I'd share it. It's amazing how much she's changed since then. They grow up so fast!


For more Wordless Wednesdays please visit 5 Minutes for Mom and MomDot.