The Big White Farmhouse | intentional living, little by little

November 22, 2011

{learning} Thanksgiving School

The Thanksgiving countdown is in full swing around here, so I decided to dedicate the entire week of school to the holiday! Lots of reading and a little crafting are on the agenda…we’ll mostly focus on giving and gratitude.

The books we’re reading:

Here are a few fun ideas that we’re planning to do this week:

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Have you seen any other adorable Thanksgiving crafts or treats? Please share in the comments!

November 18, 2011

{christmas} Baby’s First Christmas

My baby isn’t much of a baby these days…he’s babbling up a storm and walking around the house like he owns the place! With the holidays approaching, I can’t help but think back to where we were just a year ago. Celebrating Christmas with our brand-new sweet miracle!

So that was how today’s Gift Guide came to life. It is for all of you new Mammas celebrating your little one’s first Christmas this year! I found some darling, vintage-inspired ideas for you. These would make wonderful gifts as well. 🙂

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Interested in your own personalized Gift Guide for someone on your Christmas list? Contact me through the button on my sidebar! I’d love to help you find the perfect gift.

November 17, 2011

{food for thought} Mother Teresa

Joy is prayer; joy is strength; joy is love, a net of love by which you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. He gives most who gives with joy. If in the work you have difficulties and you accept them with joy, with a big smile – in this, as in any other good thing – they will see your good works and glorify the Father. The best way to show your gratitude to God and people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the normal result of a heart burning with love. -pg 127

Have you ever had something practically fall into your lap and just know it was a God moment? In the midst of my crazy decluttering, I came across this little book by Mother Teresa, Jesus the Word to be Spoken: Prayer and Meditations for Every Day of the Year. It’s broken into little paragraphs for each day of the year, but I’ve just been flipping through it and finding the ones that speak to me. And wow! So much food for thought! Here is one more that I’ve been thinking about all week:

We learn humility through accepting humiliations cheerfully.

Do not let a chance pass you by.

It is so easy to be proud, harsh, moody and selfish – so easy.

But we have been created for greater things;

why stoop down to things that will spoil the beauty of our hearts?

-pg 121

November 15, 2011

{giving} Support Our Troops with Care Packages

I don’t think I’ve shared here that I was born into a military family. In fact, the majority of the men in my life have or are currently serving. And let me tell you, it is such an honor. What an example for my boys.

Whatever your political views, I think we can all agree that these men (and many of them young men!) are so selfless and courageous. They do a job much bigger than themselves, for love of country and love for the people who live here. For that alone, we should support them! And not just in words…