The Ways of Her Home

Embracing the homeward call

We Went West!

Good morning, friends! I've been MIA here lately and for good reason. We've been wrapped up first with my daughter's high school graduation and then left for a 2-week road trip out west!! We had a blast, and I can't wait to document it all here with photos and stories. But for now, I'll be spending the next couple of days baking a wedding cake for my nephew's wedding. Pray I don't mess it up, please! I hope your summer is off to a great start! I'll be back later this week! ... Read more

You’re a Gooood Mama!

I was a new mama to a sweet baby girl and wanted to be the very best mommy I could be. I wasn't ever looking for compliments, just maybe a little encouragement. I remember walking into church one evening with a blanket wrapped around my baby when an approaching woman wearing a concerned expression commented, "Honey, you've got that baby too warm in that blanket!" I slid the blanket off my little one, tucked it into the diaper bag, and walked into the auditorium. As I was making my way to a pew, I started to pass another lady, this one displaying a warm smile. 'Ahh, a friendly face. This will be encouraging!", I thought to myself. As we exchanged pleasantries, she wrapped her hand around ... Read more

Irish Tea Party

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Two years ago, I gifted my oldest daughter a subscription to Tea Time magazine and the first issue she received included recipes for an Irish tea. This magazine along with some newly thrifted green and gold teacups inspired her to host a St. Patrick's Day tea for our family and her then boyfriend, now husband (nothing like some good cooking to seal the deal, right!) As you'll see from the photos, she put on the loveliest tea time complete with a delightful menu served at a beautiful table! She cooked all afternoon and then set the table, pulling anything green from around the house. Each teacup held an Irish Breakfast teabag (except for my son's since he ... Read more

Snapshot Saturday (on Monday)

I didn't get my Saturday post done on time this weekend and here it is Sunday night now with me trying to decide if it's ok to post my "Snapshot Saturday" on a Monday, haha. Kind of reminds me of a cute I Love Lucy episode called "The Club Election" about Lucy and Ethel's Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League and it starts with this little conversation between Ricky and Ethel. Ricky: "Anything special on your mind?" Ethel: “Yeah. I came up to tell Lucy that the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League is meeting on Friday this week.” Ricky: “The Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League is meeting on Friday.” Ethel: “Yeah.” Ricky: “I thought you always met on Thursday.” Ethel: “Oh, ... Read more

All You “Knead” is Love! A Kitchen Shower for the Bride-to-Be

I have another nephew getting married this year to a wonderful girl! My sisters, my sister-in-law, and I all pitched in to throw her a bridal shower with a kitchen theme. Our bride enjoys cooking and trying different foods and is quite capable in the kitchen, so this type of shower was well-suited for her. We were thankful for this occasion which allowed us to honor the bride and meet more of her family and friends. Y'all, this girl has some really sweet bridesmaids! I like to look on Etsy for invitations that I can download, customize, and print. They have so many great designs for all occasions! I found the cutest template for a kitchen shower invitation from Pumpkin Pi Design which ... Read more

Snapshot Saturday: So Much to Celebrate!

Hi there! Today I have some snapshots to share from a week that included a birthday, a bridal shower, and Valentine's Day! Birthday Girl Our firstborn had a birthday last weekend and it's so hard to believe the little girl in this photo is now twenty-three! This photo was taken the Easter she was just three years old and I had made her dress and hairbow to match her doll's. Too bad her doll isn't in the photo. Such memories! Look at that sweet face. We didn't get to see her on her birthday this year since she and her husband are living in Texas, but we had a fun FaceTime call with them. ***** Kitchen Shower My sisters and sister-in-law and I threw a kitchen bridal ... Read more

Great Wolf Lodge Birthday Trip

Last week my son turned 12 years old! For our children's birthdays we've always given them the option of a birthday party at home or a day trip with just our little family. Some years are very low key and they just want to have a quiet birthday at home with no hoopla and other years are a little more festive. If they choose a day trip with the fam it's to somewhere an hour or two away and not an overnight. However, since the last two years have brought cancelled birthday plans for our son due to covid and bad weather, this year we made an exception and took an overnight trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in La Grange, Georgia. This place did not disappoint! It was clean and full of fun! Very ... Read more

Teach Them Tuesday: Bonding Through Books

Reading is a family favorite in our house! When I was growing up, I spent more of my time outside playing and climbing trees than I did inside reading, so I wasn't a strong reader but now I've spent my entire adulthood soaking up all the books I can get my hands on (since climbing trees is out for me now, ha!). And I wanted my kids to be strong readers, so I started reading to them as early as possible...the womb. I had a little basket of baby books in the nursery just waiting for baby, so while pregnant, I'd sit in the rocking chair and read those little books to my bump. Sounds silly, I know! Read-alouds have probably been our favorite part of homeschooling. In fact, my son says that's ... Read more