If you do order from the site, make sure to enter the code 0SHIPPING (that’s the number zero) at checkout and you can either pick it up at her house or she can bring it to you.  That will be a standing coupon code for Charlotte friends so use it any time and share it with any friends in Charlotte you might refer.

Also, you can use the coupon code 1STTIMER for a 15% discount on your entire purchase from the site now through Cyber Monday.  If you order something that is custom-made, remember that she’ll need a little extra time to make it.  Anything ordered by Cyber Monday will certainly be ready well before Christmas though.

2. Chop one or two slices of bacon

3. Saute bacon and onions

4. add two cans of navy, cannellini or great northern beans

5. add 32 ounces of chicken broth

6. chop one whole bunch of kale and add to the soup (you can add this to onions and bacon at first if you prefer)

7. let everything simmer for a bit then add about a half cup of fresh grated parmesan cheese (or more if you like)

8. add salt, pepper, crushed red pepper and some garlic salt or powder to taste.

9. Serve hot with a little extra parmesan cheese and fresh crusty bread.

I think that’s it. If I remember anything else I’ll edit the post.  It’s so yummy and good for you too.  If your kids don’t like the texture of the kale, blend a serving in the food processor and add a dollop of sour cream…they should eat it then.

Also, go for lacinato kale if you can find it. It’s really great in the fall.

Oh…and add some shredded chicken if you like. It’s so much easier to leave it out but men seem to prefer pieces of meat in their soup.

I could go on all day about the value of owning original art and while I don’t feel any need to persuade you to agree with me, I do want to invite you to a show and sale hosted by my client and friend Judith Voglesonger. Judith brings emerging artists to market and at the same time offers new and existing collectors an opportunity to purchase high quality, original art at affordable prices. She shares my passion for bringing art into the homes of people who never thought they’d be able to own an original.

I know the majority of us don’t have funds to spend on “extras” right now, but i would challenge you to consider the riches that owning and enjoying real art offers.  It’s a recession proof investment I promise.

Here are the details:

Fall Art & Jewelry Show

Original Art, Limited Edition Fine Art Photographs and Vintage & Repurposed Jewelry

Cash & Check only

Wednesday, November 9th 10-2 pm

Thursday, November 10th 10-2 pm

Friday, November 11th 10-2 pm

Saturday, November 9th 10-Noon

3330 Cambria Road, Mountainbrook, Charlotte NC

VERY CASUAL. CHILDREN WELCOME.

www.jwvartists.com

See more inventory on facebook at ‘JWV Artists’

“The unspoken language of fine art evokes a spiritual and emotional connection with the viewer that represents a truly valuable accomplishment for the  artist.”  – Kristen Thies  Wisdom and the Dreamer

I’ll also be selling jewelry at the show from my new venture REPURPOSED so I’d love for you to stop by and say hello.  I’ll have a good size inventory with lots of variety at very reasonable prices so grab a few gifts for Christmas.  JWV has a great selection of photographs as well, that would make great gifts.

One thing I’m often asked is to help pick out wardrobes for family photo shoots.  I love getting the chance to do that because it’s just one of those things that makes me tick.  I’ve been meaning to write a post on the subject for the past few years, in order to offer DIY tips and just never got around to it, but I stumbled upon this while visiting a favorite blog last night. She titled her post “What do we wear?” as well so now I don’t have to write one…just read hers. She makes the same point I stress…coordinate, don’t match.  And be open to inspiration. We used the colors from the maps we made our airplanes from to inform our wardrobe decisions for this shoot.  We may or may not have included too many colors…but if you know me, that’s a great expression of freedom.

But these two are scheming to extend the season.

They decided to get all their stuffed animals ready for one last hurrah at the pool.

They found the pool bin and got them decked out with goggles, towels, and yes…sunblock too.  Count them…one, two, three, four, five, six containers…completely emptied.

It was too cute to get mad. What a mess to clean up but the playroom smells really good now.

Exception to the rule…if there is a photographer out there who has an open slot in October, November or early December I will gladly trade family photos for 150 custom designed cards. We’re desperate this year because Hope moved to California and Jen is busy being a mommy! Just email me at spay@carolina.rr.com if you’re interested.

All that to say, part of slowing down has meant not blogging but I really miss it and so many blog worthy things have happened that I really WANT to pick it back up…no have to anymore.

So, sort of sorry to make my comeback with a documentary post but this is for me and I just don’t want to forget what happened between now and then.

Easter.

A trip to the Columbia Zoo.  In my opinion, better for little ones than Asheville.

Then a short trip to the beach with our friends the Whites and Tuttles.

This summer we watched LOTS and LOTS of television.

My Dad turned 60 on June 11th.

The next day we went on a family beach trip with my parents, my grandfather, my brother & sister and their families.

Bradley celebrated his 6th birthday the usual way, at Camp Lurecrest.

We went to the pool almost everyday (we used sunblock most of the time).

And we ate most “meals” there. Did you know kids survive just fine on snacks? But it makes them look like this…

Did I mention we watched lots of television?

Joe & I took a short trip to Mexico. It was our first real trip away since we’ve had kids.

When can we go back?

We helped my parents move into a new condo.

We discovered the charlotte greenways and made great use of them all summer.

Most every morning the boys ran out to the stop sign to wave goodbye to Joe.  It’s those little rituals that I fear forgetting.

Then school started and we sent Bradley to kindergarten. (2 weeks & 6 years)

He said he wanted to ride the bus, so now we go to the stop sign to say goodbye to him every morning. Some days I cry.

Most recently we caught and cared for a little turtle until it was clear it needed to be returned to the pond.

And then Sunday Bennett fractured both bones in his forearm near the wrist. Fortunately they are buckle fractures so they’ll heal easily.

But really, we have slowed down more than this post would make it appear.

“What often keeps us from recognizing the grace of God

is that we long for a “different kind of grace”.

In the middle of difficulty we long for the grace of relief,
while what God is bestowing us with is the grace of rescue.

We want the trial to end because we don’t like the pain,
while God wants the trial to remain in our lives
until it has completed its work in us.
We don’t rejoice in suffering like Paul did in Romans 5
because we would rather have a comfortable life
than the character that God-sent-difficulty can produce.

Yet God loves us too much to relent.

He didn’t shed the blood of his one and only Son to leave us to ourselves.
He didn’t reveal his truth to us
only to have us lost and confused in the middle of our own story.
He didn’t give us the Holy Spirit to have us paralyzed and unable
to deal with the significant struggles that come our way.

No, we have been and are being rescued by an activist Redeemer.
He does not get discouraged,
he does not get tired,
and he is never distracted.
He is intently focused on finishing what he has started in us.

It is very important in darkness to recognize the grace of God.

If our definition of that grace is too narrow,
and if what we expect that grace to offer is too limited,
we will be crying out for grace at the very time it is being showered on us.

It is quite possible to be the focus of divine love and rescue
and at the same time be interpreting what is happening in our life
in a very different way…

What we have to do is let the goal of grace define our expectations of
what grace looks like.”

-Paul Tripp