tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47164159963401709662024-03-12T21:07:27.721-04:00Doing the Next ThingThoughts on the joys and struggles of one Mom's journey of
loving my
husband and children and being "busy at home." (From Titus 2:4-5)Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.comBlogger332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-66192933873062649402021-08-14T19:55:00.004-04:002021-08-14T20:14:40.917-04:00Lost and Found<p></p> I can't even believe this blog still exists! Back in 2012 I began a new blog, Windows, <a href="https://windowsaphotojournal.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">linked here</a>, and then in 2013 I stopped posting at all. Thanks largely, I believe to a combination of being more active on social media and the feeling that someone pushed the fast forward button on life and it never slowed down. At some point a few years ago, I went looking for my blog and discovered that google had deleted it due to inactivity. I was a little heartbroken and kicking myself for not printing or publishing the posts in book form, since they contain so many fond memories. And then lo and behold! One day I'm browsing my facebook memories and there was a link to a blog post ... and it WORKED! You can bet I will be finding a way to preserve what I've posted here and I may even pop over and post occasionally. :)<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-84PL2byW2j0/YRhW81MOolI/AAAAAAABHZI/liJTqjWIpVI_v__QAEof6_P8ATl3Qk5IgCPcBGAsYHg/s759/FB_IMG_1595101664709.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="759" height="168" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-84PL2byW2j0/YRhW81MOolI/AAAAAAABHZI/liJTqjWIpVI_v__QAEof6_P8ATl3Qk5IgCPcBGAsYHg/w200-h168/FB_IMG_1595101664709.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>So much life has happened since 2013. Three kiddos graduated and grew up, a season of unemployment for my husband (and God's provision of an awesome new job), a few surgeries and ER trips here and there, and spending the last seven years teaching middle school history and science for a hybrid model classical school. This year I stepped back from the classroom to be more fully present at home with my #4 kiddo's (The "BLT" I wrote about in <a href="https://dothenextthing.blogspot.com/2007/09/blt-turns-3.html" target="_blank">this post</a> SENIOR YEAR (! how is that possible) and my baby's (the redheaded princess in <a href="https://dothenextthing.blogspot.com/2010/05/overheard.html" target="_blank">this post</a>) 10th grade year. <p></p><p></p>God is sending a new challenge our way in the form of a bone marrow transplant for our #3 girl, Meaghan, who has Diamond Blackfan Anemia. If you're interested in following her journey, check out our CaringBridge site <a href="https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/meaghancovington" target="_blank">linked here</a><p></p><p>I'm not sure how often I'll post at Doing the Next Thing, but I may pop in now and then as an outlet for journaling my non-medical thoughts. In the meantime, I'm just *tickled pink* to have it restored!</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zSk6hDzm9vc/YRhW89KVbDI/AAAAAAABHZI/VPg2ehIvvu0_RE7Z6HLE4_GMQaJWrdTzACPcBGAsYHg/s3264/IMG_20191116_171925.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zSk6hDzm9vc/YRhW89KVbDI/AAAAAAABHZI/VPg2ehIvvu0_RE7Z6HLE4_GMQaJWrdTzACPcBGAsYHg/w150-h200/IMG_20191116_171925.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><p></p><p>Cheers!</p><p>Jennifer</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-26504599524494940772012-11-27T23:19:00.001-05:002021-08-14T19:25:25.770-04:00ExperimentView the world through my lens <a href="http://windowsaphotojournal.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ehlWo1vs-5w/S7yFJTw3OBI/AAAAAAAABYs/oGfsgcqN4cc/s320/DSC_0391.JPG" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>https://windowsaphotojournal.blogspot.com/</i></span></div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-47491143795993688202012-04-10T17:13:00.006-04:002012-04-10T17:29:26.254-04:00Easter Pizza<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-npoLPPgxLZ4/T4SiyyYJBeI/AAAAAAAAFbU/S1lOAgBmc80/s1600/DSC_0498.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-npoLPPgxLZ4/T4SiyyYJBeI/AAAAAAAAFbU/S1lOAgBmc80/s800/DSC_0498.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729883619322299874" /></a><br /><div>I planned a really yummy Easter menu: boneless leg of lamb with mint balsamic drizzle, roast chicken (for the non-lamb-eaters), sweet potatoes, asparagus, fancy green salad, and homemade lemon meringue pie. </div><div><br /></div><div>But we didn't eat that - not one bit of it. Instead we had pizza. In the photo above, the caprese skewers represent the only homemade item we had at our entire Easter feast! And it was GREAT!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's been a busy few weeks, and even Spring Break was filled with things like taxes & doctors' appointments. So when the Saturday before Easter came and I started making my little "to do" list ... I also started to panic. My quick-thinking (and awesome) husband decided that the remedy was to skip it all, have pizza for Easter, and take the kids to a carnival Saturday night instead of staying up all hours to finish deviled eggs.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EK3yW1m8u1A/T4SkgWQp1oI/AAAAAAAAFbg/9Gl8s2ZI2Kk/s1600/IMAG0792.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EK3yW1m8u1A/T4SkgWQp1oI/AAAAAAAAFbg/9Gl8s2ZI2Kk/s400/IMAG0792.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729885501560313474" /></a>We had a blast at the carnival -- I wish you could have seen K's reaction to the thrill of her first fun house, first ferris wheel. We did a lot of spinning and going up high - and a lot of laughing. We stayed out late. And no one missed the leg of lamb. There's no obligation to make a big meal at Easter - the only obligation is to REJOICE in our Risen Savior!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X9vPG87TBNE/T4SirOLYzzI/AAAAAAAAFbI/Klpdsi-cm9w/s1600/DSC_0499.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X9vPG87TBNE/T4SirOLYzzI/AAAAAAAAFbI/Klpdsi-cm9w/s800/DSC_0499.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729883489346047794" /></a>This may go down in history as one of my favorite Easter Dinners ever!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><i>Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(1 Peter 1:3 ESV)</i></div></div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-62935135487700009992012-04-10T17:05:00.004-04:002012-04-10T17:12:24.679-04:0025/30<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uK0j2bhNtGg/T4Sg7laXZZI/AAAAAAAAFa8/yzXQ06WcYaA/s1600/DSC_0433.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uK0j2bhNtGg/T4Sg7laXZZI/AAAAAAAAFa8/yzXQ06WcYaA/s800/DSC_0433.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729881571437536658" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I don't really love myself in this photo - that shirt is so much cuter in person, and I have strange unflattering shadows across my face. But there are so few pics of all seven of us ... and we worked so hard to get this family shot of our spring break getaway. (You should have seen the camera -- self-timer all set -- propped on a book-on top of a pillow-on top of a barstool. That's a fast 10 seconds, let me tell ya!)</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-68226506296806837002012-04-10T16:52:00.003-04:002012-04-10T16:58:59.843-04:0024/30<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pvOQeQhfhQg/T4SeWNgDafI/AAAAAAAAFaw/X2E-Cz8tppo/s1600/IMAG0746.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 360px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pvOQeQhfhQg/T4SeWNgDafI/AAAAAAAAFaw/X2E-Cz8tppo/s800/IMAG0746.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729878730340526578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Sunrise in the Blue Ridge Mountains</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed a quick getaway at the beginning of Spring Break. Found a good deal on 2 nights at a cabin with a hot tub, pool table, and this amazing view! It was SO GOOD to just slow down and spend a couple days just hanging out as a family!</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-74556735763506488532012-02-27T09:27:00.003-05:002012-02-27T09:31:13.196-05:0023/30<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xchFBtOQg4g/T0uS7mIQCQI/AAAAAAAAE4Y/P_utNzvVyCQ/s1600/IMAG0576.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 424px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xchFBtOQg4g/T0uS7mIQCQI/AAAAAAAAE4Y/P_utNzvVyCQ/s800/IMAG0576.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713822104794695938" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">daughter, M (almost 13), took this photo on the way to school. it was a very gloomy, yucky day and then, all of a sudden - a rainbow and a patch of sunlight! the phone camera just doesn't do it justice!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><p class="lang-en" style="margin-top: 12pt; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48pt; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; text-indent: -48pt; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The heavens declare the glory of God,</p><p class="lang-en" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48pt; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 22px; text-indent: -16pt; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. - Psalm 19:1</p></span></div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-60830090413146594662012-02-26T10:21:00.000-05:002012-02-27T09:25:39.074-05:0022/30<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pO_LVFZmpr4/T0uR_qCeLUI/AAAAAAAAE4M/ajfbebMhOyA/s1600/Image.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 450px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pO_LVFZmpr4/T0uR_qCeLUI/AAAAAAAAE4M/ajfbebMhOyA/s800/Image.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713821075052047682" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">my sweet hubby built me this table! i'm in LOVE! (with the table AND the man ;-)</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-27545123533995735752012-02-25T21:18:00.000-05:002012-02-27T09:21:54.149-05:0021/30<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bCtY2yhJHDk/T0uRI9c-PrI/AAAAAAAAE4A/0bP09iDpWiU/s1600/IMAG0583.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 600px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bCtY2yhJHDk/T0uRI9c-PrI/AAAAAAAAE4A/0bP09iDpWiU/s800/IMAG0583.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713820135370669746" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">terrarium we made for my brother-in-law's birthday. i love the way it turned out</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-67745008630924787852012-02-13T16:56:00.006-05:002012-02-13T17:37:50.783-05:0020/30<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BGgl7dUEHCc/TzmOCkD4QSI/AAAAAAAAE3g/h3l3gHtPdn4/s1600/DSC_0151-1-1-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 432px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BGgl7dUEHCc/TzmOCkD4QSI/AAAAAAAAE3g/h3l3gHtPdn4/s800/DSC_0151-1-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708750177359642914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Chocolate-dipped S'mores. I made these for youth group snacks and they were a big hit! <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">(though it was kind of tedious, made a big mess i still haven't cleaned up, and didn't turn out AT ALL like what i pictured in my mind. but i think the teens felt loved, and that's all that matters.)</span></i></div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-89139006179266180372012-02-13T11:18:00.003-05:002012-02-13T11:21:04.441-05:0019/30<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozgrViH4mM4/Tzk4Gei-DjI/AAAAAAAAE2w/rNWbh5NufVQ/s1600/IMAG0545.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 360px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozgrViH4mM4/Tzk4Gei-DjI/AAAAAAAAE2w/rNWbh5NufVQ/s800/IMAG0545.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708655686598921778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">we took our Durer-inspired animal drawings and made "woodcuts" out of them (carved styrofoam plates and practiced making prints.)</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-22494162318938641862012-02-12T11:16:00.000-05:002012-02-13T11:18:17.819-05:0018/30<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DxyoKK7xHQs/Tzk3ituB-XI/AAAAAAAAE2k/jF2QnfGI2qE/s1600/IMAG0528.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 600px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DxyoKK7xHQs/Tzk3ituB-XI/AAAAAAAAE2k/jF2QnfGI2qE/s800/IMAG0528.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708655072196557170" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">a student's interpretation of me. much thinner and cuter than the original. ;)</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-23162050936133756732012-02-11T23:14:00.000-05:002012-02-13T11:16:20.372-05:0017/30<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sw7SRTaV30E/Tzk27MMfp-I/AAAAAAAAE2Y/8mr_xvfOyFw/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 420px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sw7SRTaV30E/Tzk27MMfp-I/AAAAAAAAE2Y/8mr_xvfOyFw/s800/DSC_0154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708654393182627810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">another snapshot of art class: Nativity Triptych</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-8700972792623712852012-02-10T09:11:00.000-05:002012-02-13T11:13:43.668-05:0016/30<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ncOrfiGQ4LQ/Tzk2Sgb25JI/AAAAAAAAE2M/YKrwKr6qUr4/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ncOrfiGQ4LQ/Tzk2Sgb25JI/AAAAAAAAE2M/YKrwKr6qUr4/s400/DSC_0013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708653694241137810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">owl sketch by one of my art students. we studied Albrecht Durer's animal drawings as inspiration.</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-65548300787973978932012-02-09T11:03:00.000-05:002012-02-13T11:11:07.474-05:0015/30<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lX6fPpOfD2c/Tzk0nrA5-MI/AAAAAAAAE2A/-Vd-demSVkA/s1600/Image.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 360px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lX6fPpOfD2c/Tzk0nrA5-MI/AAAAAAAAE2A/-Vd-demSVkA/s800/Image.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708651858834880706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Note from my sweet hubby. Found in my lunchbox one day at art class.</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-22640744519173220012012-02-03T09:41:00.002-05:002012-02-03T09:44:38.972-05:0014/30<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zj2BIOyTwU/TyvydAfLnJI/AAAAAAAAE1g/2JoH11en9T0/s1600/Image.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 360px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zj2BIOyTwU/TyvydAfLnJI/AAAAAAAAE1g/2JoH11en9T0/s800/Image.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704919933155777682" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In a little over a month, she'll be a teenager. Every now and then I get a glimpse of that. It happened in a blink!</i></div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-40302551829224372442012-01-25T17:13:00.005-05:002012-01-25T17:19:08.855-05:0013/30<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uFRpxbbpCyw/TyB-wqWMl-I/AAAAAAAAE1E/0_efF5V-jes/s1600/DSC_0141.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 600px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uFRpxbbpCyw/TyB-wqWMl-I/AAAAAAAAE1E/0_efF5V-jes/s800/DSC_0141.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701696502717257698" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">playing around with <a href="http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/category.aspx?ca=88">tangerine</a> </div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-83021622622638552052012-01-24T10:03:00.003-05:002012-01-24T10:06:42.028-05:0012/30<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bIn49Dw4KjQ/Tx7Ioo6ps-I/AAAAAAAAE04/SCRlykb04Ws/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bIn49Dw4KjQ/Tx7Ioo6ps-I/AAAAAAAAE04/SCRlykb04Ws/s800/DSC_0145.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701214778801370082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Homework</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i>(about 90 seconds before a battle royale erupted with nerf darts and paper airplanes)</i></span></div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-49241307782964189462012-01-23T07:59:00.000-05:002012-01-24T10:02:49.425-05:0011/30<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G2237oVKy1g/Tx7HsFmtmdI/AAAAAAAAE0s/OXv_gYs0udw/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G2237oVKy1g/Tx7HsFmtmdI/AAAAAAAAE0s/OXv_gYs0udw/s800/DSC_0140.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701213738530347474" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Monday Morning</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-51719213442673844262012-01-21T18:20:00.003-05:002012-01-21T18:24:37.642-05:0010/30<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_PXF4PLtrhY/TxtInZnf9pI/AAAAAAAAE0g/5P5Lakbczb0/s1600/Image%2B1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 360px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_PXF4PLtrhY/TxtInZnf9pI/AAAAAAAAE0g/5P5Lakbczb0/s800/Image%2B1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700229595096151698" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sky on my Thursday run. So many shades of blue - the photo just doesn't do it justice. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork - Psalm 19:1</span></i></div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-58986049250350506202012-01-19T10:35:00.004-05:002012-01-19T10:39:57.033-05:009/30<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oUaQtN3bhWM/Txg4Zp_RtBI/AAAAAAAAE0Q/JOQNu4g5yqA/s1600/DSC_0147.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oUaQtN3bhWM/Txg4Zp_RtBI/AAAAAAAAE0Q/JOQNu4g5yqA/s800/DSC_0147.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699367341856502802" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Post-run breakfast (ran 3 miles in 32 degrees. brrrr!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i>(egg scramble {b/c i stink at omlettes} with shallots, tomatoes, and crumbled goat cheese - cooked in coconut oil and real butter; green tea with coconut oil and raw local honey. yummy.)</i></span></div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-6335917121954623232012-01-14T20:46:00.004-05:002012-01-14T20:59:27.160-05:008/30<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0N9NcW11ubE/TxIwNVhrxjI/AAAAAAAAEyA/_4wDJ3Sekqw/s1600/wreath%2Bblog%2Bcollage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0N9NcW11ubE/TxIwNVhrxjI/AAAAAAAAEyA/_4wDJ3Sekqw/s800/wreath%2Bblog%2Bcollage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697669484251956786" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Finished Product. Cost: Free - DIY'd from objects around the house! Now, to find some other white plates (or maybe empty white frames...?) and hang them on the wall with the turkey platter for a nice collage effect. I think. Any ideas?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i>(Look <a href="http://www.jillruth.com/2011/11/more-of-good-thing.html">here</a> and <a href="http://makehandmade.net/2011/02/09/burlap-roses-tutorial/">here</a> to see where I got inspiration / instruction. Then I just googled a lot and got creative.)</i></span></div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-65049855968682840692012-01-13T23:35:00.000-05:002012-01-14T20:38:34.083-05:007/30<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqZk1XcKeOs/TxItiGg2pgI/AAAAAAAAEx0/n4ZaZjk9cEM/s1600/sock%2Bmonkey%2Bcollage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 600px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqZk1XcKeOs/TxItiGg2pgI/AAAAAAAAEx0/n4ZaZjk9cEM/s800/sock%2Bmonkey%2Bcollage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697666542464312834" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Sock Monkey Shower</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i>(sick kids + forgetful mom + running late = not-so-fantastic photos taken with my phone instead of my Nikon. /)</i></span></div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-89366131534297940972012-01-12T12:48:00.005-05:002012-01-12T17:00:52.564-05:00The Sick Room<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ4s_fcRcOw/Tw8jvTHsdeI/AAAAAAAAEuw/Wisqpmoor_c/s1600/Image.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ4s_fcRcOw/Tw8jvTHsdeI/AAAAAAAAEuw/Wisqpmoor_c/s320/Image.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696811349140338146" /></a>We've had a stomach virus moving through the family for about a week now. Anytime children are ill, mothering can be a challenge. But in large families, when the illness lasts 5-7 days per person, and no one gets sick at the same time ... it can drag on for what seems like eternity and a mom can grow very weary by the end.<br /><br />The first couple of days, when only my littlest K (5) and the hubby were sick, kind of felt like a mini vacation. I was rested and cheerful, and in between checking on and helping out the two sickies, I worked on my wreath from Pinterest. But as the days went on, K became sicker and one by one the other children joined in. We haven't slept through the night since last Friday. The laundry has been going round the clock, and the house I got in order before the start of school is now a disaster area.<br /><br />I'm pleased to report (and very grateful) that we've turned the corner and everyone is improving. However, as even more time passes, the little ones feel just well enough to be up and around, but not well enough to go to school. It's not as easy for mama to be cheerful. The ministry of the sick room now is less about cuddling and nursing, and more about constant work preparing foods that appeal to appetites in various stages of healing, helping with make-up schoolwork, cleaning all the sick rooms, and distracting not-quite-well children who have cabin fever.<br /><br />As I've been going through the day, I keep thinking about a passage Nancy Wilson wrote about caring for sick children. It took some scrounging around to find the right passage, but I finally did. It's from <i><a href="http://www.canonpress.org/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=255&idcategory=139">Praise Her in the Gates</a></i>, p. 34. Nancy says:<br /><blockquote>"When children are ill, it is a wonderful opportunity for teaching. You can model patience and cheerfulness to them when you get up in the night to comfort and minister to them. ... Mothers do have the capacity to make illness a happy memory"</blockquote><div><br />She then goes on to talk about specific times when her children were sick and they read a whole book, or drank pop in the middle of the night, or watched old movies when the whole family was sick at the same time. I think back to when I was a child and being sick meant that my Mom made us cinnamon toast and we drank Sprite with a straw.</div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J9s-tMgdzrk/Tw8j3CWcQEI/AAAAAAAAEu8/MF16gJdH_ZM/s320/Image%2B1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696811482077741122" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " />Hubby remembers his mom crushing ice with a hammer (no auto-ice dispensers back then, lol) and drinking Coke. I remember the time I had a terrible fever and was so miserable I couldn't sleep - my Mom sat by my bed reading aloud to me until I drifted off. What a blessing!<div><div><br /></div><div>So I'm prayerfully "doing the next thing" in the sick room as I wipe bottoms, wash blankets and pillows, read aloud, watch cartoons, and of course,</div><div>make cinnamon toast. I pray that it will be a blessing to my children and a fond memory for them, too.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-18135709831185058872012-01-11T10:50:00.002-05:002012-01-11T10:53:48.810-05:006/30<div style="text-align: center;">Party Planning</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EtiUl3btfW4/Tw2wMpwJyYI/AAAAAAAAEuk/laDIPnvDTFA/s1600/DSC_0170.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EtiUl3btfW4/Tw2wMpwJyYI/AAAAAAAAEuk/laDIPnvDTFA/s800/DSC_0170.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696402835106285954" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">gathering things for a friends' baby shower</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716415996340170966.post-47119789243002427642012-01-10T15:47:00.000-05:002012-01-11T10:50:03.089-05:005/30<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PKVr_4J6Quw/Tw2vVYgLgrI/AAAAAAAAEuM/UrfEze8FmWA/s1600/DSC_0141.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PKVr_4J6Quw/Tw2vVYgLgrI/AAAAAAAAEuM/UrfEze8FmWA/s800/DSC_0141.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696401885583082162" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">sick day</div>Jennifer@DoingTheNextThinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11638610935270014304noreply@blogger.com0