Spring To Do List

Spring at The Biltmore House

Today I have spent some time trying to catch up on reading blogs I have added to my Google Reader. I love this feature on my google account.  If you haven't tried it, it is awesome.  Google Reader keeps blogs you like to read all in one place and shows the new blog posts from each blog.  As you read the new blog posts it removes them from your reader.   

One blog I read today was Life as a Mom.  She wrote an incredible and challenging post on - Making a Big to Do Out of Spring!  She even shares ideas of things you can do AND a download of a cute form you write down things to do, places to go, movies to watch, books to read and people to see! You should check it out. 

After reading her post and being challenged by it- here are some of my "Making a Big to Do Out of Spring" ideas-

Things To Do

1. Organize the Craft Room
2. Clean Out my Closet
3. Make a craft I have already pinned on pinterest
4. Plant herbs.

Places To Go

1. Birmingham Zoo
2. Ocoee White Water Center with a picnic
3. Birdwatching with my neighbor friend

Movies to Watch

1. October Baby
2. The Smurfs
3. Love Comes Softly series

Books To Read

1. Karen Kingsbury series - I need to start the series on the family again

People to See

1. Mike's parents
2. My grandmother
3. Traci and Sheri

Okay- now that I've been inspired by Life as Mom- I pray you will be as well.  In my research earlier in the year on goals, I found when we write down goals and place them in a prominent place, we are more likely to follow through. 

I'd love to hear from you! Please leave me a comment about one thing you hope to do this Spring!

Much Love!
Mrs. Tara

Marriage Enrichment

Mike and I spent the past week on vacation and attending a Marriage Conference. We attended a Weekend to Remember conference in Williamsburg, Virginia. We had a great time visiting this wonderful city and spending some time focusing specifically on our marriage. My favorite is always the date night Saturday night. Mike and I went out to eat in Merchant's Square and then did a Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Walk. It was a lot of fun.

We had great speakers at the conference. I always love it ends with renewing your vows. I got really tickled this year- remembering the minister who married us messed up a little. I got tickled remembering Mike whispering over and over to me it was okay.
We also picked up a new devotional book for couples. We celebrated 15 years of marriage this past May. For at least half of our married life we have been to conferences and seminars to enrich our marriage. Some have been one day seminars, some weekend conferences and even a marriage classes. I encourage you to actively do something to enrich your marriage. Most people think that these type of classes, conferences, or seminars are just for marriages in trouble or struggling. Although these things are great to help in those situations, we should ALL be taking steps to focus on our marriage.

I encourage you to check out www.familylife.com and click on conferences to check out dates and locations. You can also find a lot of resources for marriage and family on this site.

We also loved our visit to Williamsburg. I learned so much about the history of our country and colonial life. We ate at some great places! I did some fun shopping. And YES! we visited Yankee Candles Flagship store (one of two). We watched some fun movies. We even road a ferry over to Smithfield, Virginia. We got back late last night- it is about a 8 1/2 hour drive. I took today off and enjoyed watching Christmas movies. I also made my lists and pulled my coupons to shop tomorrow. Tomorrow the office closes at noon.

All in all - a great time! I will post some pictures and info on the vacation part of our trip later. I will tell you this is definitely a place everyone should visit. If you homeschool, you should put this in your school year at some point. If you visit two days- you should purchase the season pass $58 (versus $36 for one day). It is an awesome place. We were actually there during the opening of the first reconstructed building in 50 years- Charlton Coffeehouse.