Introducing... Jules @ Just Jules

One of the neat things about the internet is that it seems to have shrunk the world. I've enjoyed getting to know women from around the country through their blogs, and I'll like to introduce a few of them to you over the next few weeks. I've only met one of these ladies in person, but these are all women who have inspired me in one way or another. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know them. Be sure to stop by their blogs, too!

Jules LaPierre (well, Julie, but just call her Jules) is a self-described sassy Christian blogger with foodie tendencies. A former cemetery and funeral director trained in graphic design (go figure!), she is married to a professional artist and homeschools their nine-year-old son in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Her blog, Just Jules, is designed to “challenge Christian women to think biblically and live obediently”. And to cook well, I might add.

Please share your job description in 25 words or less.   

Headmistress at The Impossibly Irregular Academy for Hopelessly
Unsocialized Children

What is the most challenging part of your job?

Remembering that education, like life, is a marathon and not a sprint.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?  

Being mommy as well as teacher, for all mothers are also teachers.

What is your favorite room in your home? (and please tell us why) 

The kitchen. I have strong
foodie tendencies.  Cooking is a joy and a catharsis for me.  I take great pleasure in cooking a meal that makes my family & friends roll their eyes...in a good way :)

Please share a favorite recipe you’ve cooked or DIY project you’ve done.

One family favorite, that is requested more than any other, are my Sweet Sausage Grinders.  These are wonderful when you're feeding a crowd and are a game-day favorite.  Flavor, flavor, flavor! 

When you are unmotivated, what keeps you going?

Prayer and coffee and remembering that tomorrow is a new day with new grace.  Psalm 30:5 is true.  "Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning."

What sage advice would you give a young woman today who would like to marry?

Invest more in the marriage than you do in the wedding -and- if you can laugh together you can make it through anything.

What were you doing thirty minutes before you answered these interview questions?

Picking up an order of grass-fed beef from a Kansas family farmer.

What’s your favorite Starbucks drink?

When I really want to indulge and spoil myself, I order a mocha breve because I need the calories (chuckle).

© Suzanne Jackson 2011.
{I'd love for you to share this post with friends, but please share the full link. Common courtesy dictates that you do not copy the post into your own blog without proper attribution. Thanks!}

The ANGEL on the shelf

Thanks for stopping by! This is the old version of Welcome to Willow House -- I'd love for you to click over to the newer site, where I'm adding new posts and Willow House deals! Click here to see my updated version of this post over on the new site. Thanks!


Don't you just love holiday traditions? My mom was always big on little traditions... like having one gift for us to open on Christmas Eve, like always having an orange and nuts in our Christmas stockings, like making sure a sweet little Valentine card awaited us at breakfast...

Here's a new tradition that your family will just love: find the Christmas angel. Angels played such an important role in the nativity, acting as God's messengers of truth in revealing His plan. One way to keep the focus on CHRISTmas this year is to use an angel as a reminder of the reason for the season.

On the first night of your new tradition (you  might want to time this to do the third Scripture reading on Christmas Eve), bring out your angel to show your children. Read through Luke 1:26-38 aloud with your children. Help them understand that the angel was serving God by bringing a very important message to Mary. Ask your children:

• Do you think Mary was surprised to see the angel?
• What did the angel tell Mary?
• What was Mary's response? 

Now tell your children that you have an angel surprise for them. In the morning, when they wake up, they should look around the house for your angel. It might be on a shelf, a table, or even in a cupboard. Perhaps the child who finds the angel can be your special messenger that day, letting the family know when meals are ready, delivering notes, etc.

For several more nights, continue to review what you read in Luke 1 and remind your children to look for the angel each morning. When you are ready, read Matthew 1:18-25 aloud with your children. Ask them:

• What had Joseph planned to do?
• What did the angel tell Joseph?
• What was Joseph's response?

Continue reviewing what you've read and hiding (often in plain sight) the angel for several more nights. Then, for your final reading, read through Luke 2:1-20 with your children. After reading, ask your children:

• How did the shepherds feel when they saw the angel?
• What did the angel tell them?
• What happened next?
• How did the shepherds respond?

If you read the final reading on Christmas Eve, you will "hide" the angel one more time. Perhaps this time you could hide it near a nativity or your Christmas tree -- somewhere the family might gather on Christmas morning. Once the family is gathered together, review -- even reread -- the passages you've shared together, "glorifying and praising God for all that {you} have heard and seen..." just as the shepherds did. 


SOLD OUT!  But check out the other products in my Willow House store. The Herald Angel, shown above, is one of many Willow House products on sale through 12/31/11. Regularly $28.96, it's available for just $9.96 while supplies last. At that price, you'll want one for your family and another to share. For those purchasing through my online store or by contacting me directly, I'll be happy to email you an attractive, printable copy of the Angel on the Shelf tradition suggestions. I hope this will help make the Christmas season more meaningful for your family!

 

© Suzanne Jackson 2011.
{I'd love for you to share this post with friends, but please share the full link. Common courtesy dictates that you do not copy the post into your own blog without proper attribution. Thanks!}

Introducing... Emily @ Jones Design Company

One of the neat things about the internet is that it seems to have shrunk the world. I've enjoyed getting to know women from around the country through their blogs, and I'll like to introduce a few of them to you over the next few weeks. I've only met one of these ladies in person, but these are all women who have inspired me in one way or another. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know them. Be sure to stop by their blogs, too!

Emily Jones is a wife and mother of four who somehow finds time to create really pretty things. On her blog, Jones Design Company, Emily shares her love of beautiful things with us (literally – I’m talking nice monthly giveaways) along with home projects, recipes, and snippets of her life. Check out Emily’s shop here (aren’t the Scripture art prints wonderful?).

Please share your job description in 25 words or less.   

WIFE . MOMMY . GRAPHIC DESIGNER . ARTIST . BLOGGER . WRITER . DREAMER.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

BALANCING WORK TIME WITH MOMMY TIME. I LOVE MY FOUR LITTLE ONES, BUT GET SO MUCH PERSONAL FULFILLMENT OUT OF CREATING THAT SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHEN TO LET GO AND JUST PLAY WITH MY KIDS.  AND KEEPING UP WITH EMAIL CAN BE CHALLENGING.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?  

I FIND IT HUMBLING AND SO FLATTERING THAT I AM ABLE TO JUST DO WHAT I LOVE {WHETHER CREATING ART PRINTS, EXPRESSING MY THOUGHTS OR SHARING A PROJECT HOW-TO} AND BE ABLE TO INSPIRE OTHER WOMEN THROUGH IT. THE COMMENTS FROM LADIES WHO HAVE DISCOVERED A CREATIVITY INSIDE OF THEM THEY NEVER KNEW THEY HAD AND CREDIT ME WITH INSPIRING IT ARE ALWAYS SUCH AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO ME.

What is your favorite room in your home? (and please tell us why) 

I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT I HAVE A FEW FAVORITE ROOMS IN OUR HOME. WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO TRANSFORM OUR ORDINARY NEW-CONSTRUCTION HOME INTO A PLACE WITH CHARACTER AND THE RESULTS HAVE REALLY MADE IT FEEL LIKE ‘US’. OUR KITCHEN IS THE MOST USED WITH LOTS OF FAMILY TIME, SO I LIKE IT. THE LIVING ROOM IS COZY AND FULL OF GREAT MEMORIES WITH FRIENDS, SO IT IS MY FAVORITE. OUR DAUGHTER’S NURSERY IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF FEMININITY IN A HOUSEHOLD OF BOYS AND I LOVE THE SPACE THAT WAS CREATED IN THERE. AND MY OFFICE JUST FEELS LIKE ME. IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO CREATE AND BE INSPIRED.

Please share a favorite recipe you’ve cooked or DIY project you’ve done.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROJECTS I’VE DONE IS THE PAINTED WALLPAPER IN MY OFFICE. IT IS SUBTLE, BUT INTERESTING AND WAS SO REWARDING TO COMPLETE.

When you are unmotivated, what keeps you going?

DEADLINES! AND SOMETIMES I JUST NEED TO TAKE A BREAK FROM CREATING AND ENJOY THE THINGS THAT OTHERS HAVE CREATED.

What sage advice would you give a young woman today who would like to marry?

MARRIAGE IS WONDERFUL AND FULFILLING, BUT ONE OF THE GREATEST FORMS OF SELF-SACRIFICE. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT SERVING, DESIRING TO BE UNSELFISH IN OUR ACTIONS AND WORDS AND HAVE HAD TO MATURE A LOT IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR HOUSEHOLD  FUNCTION SMOOTHLY. FOR A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WOULD LIKE TO MARRY, I WOULD SAY TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, FIND WAYS TO SERVE OTHERS, DISCOVER YOUR PASSIONS AND MAKE SURE THE MAN YOU CHOOSE IS KIND AND RESPECTFUL.

What were you doing thirty minutes before you answered these interview questions?

CHECKING EMAIL, SHOPPING FOR BIRTHDAY GIFTS ON AMAZON FOR MY ALMOST FOUR-YEAR OLD, DRINKING COFFEE WITH EGGNOG.

What’s your favorite Starbucks drink?

REGULARLY: TALL, DECAF, EXTRA HOT, NONFAT VANILLA LATTE

DURING THE HOLIDAYS: TALL, DECAF, EXTRA HOT, NONFAT EGGNOG LATTE

© Suzanne Jackson 2011.
{I'd love for you to share this post with friends, but please share the full link. Common courtesy dictates that you do not copy the post into your own blog without proper attribution. Thanks!}

Introducing... Melissa @ A Familiar Path

One of the neat things about the internet is that it seems to have shrunk the world. I've enjoyed getting to know women from around the country through their blogs, and I'll like to introduce a few of them to you over the next few weeks. I've only met one of these ladies in person, but these are all women who have inspired me in one way or another. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know them. Be sure to stop by their blogs, too!

Melissa Stover lives in a small town in rural Arkansas, where she encourages one husband, homeschools four “sheltered, anti-social children”, and shoots some amazing photos of life. Melissa’s blog, A Familiar Path, provides little snapshots of her day in a mix of words and photos. Find out more about her photo business here.

Please share your job description in 25 words or less.   

I'm a child and family photographer in South Arkansas. I'm also a blogger, juggling two blogs, and an occasional writer for companies.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

Finding a good balance between how much I want to work and how much I can work. Both of my jobs as photographer and blogger take a lot of my mental energy as well as sitting down at the computer for chunks of time. I love doing it, but my main focus right now is educating my children and being a mother. I don't want to neglect that job, so I limit what I take on with the other jobs.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?  

Getting to use my creative talents and learning new things.

What is your favorite room in your home? (and please tell us why) 

My bedroom. It's calm, usually quiet and I love to sleep. (Plus it's where all my shows are DVR'd waiting for me to watch them.)

Please share a favorite recipe you’ve cooked or DIY project you’ve done.

My kids and I made several of these ipod cases for Christmas gifts last year. We really enjoyed doing it.

When you are unmotivated, what keeps you going?

Usually I take a walk outside with my camera. Getting outside almost always clears my head and helps me to focus.

What sage advice would you give a young woman today who would like to marry?

Choose a man who is kind to you, who you are compatible with in beliefs, and someone your mom and daddy approves of.

What were you doing thirty minutes before you answered these interview questions?

Thinking about what to cook for supper. It's one of my most challenging times each day. (I decided on chicken, in case you were wondering.)

What’s your favorite Starbucks drink?

I don't drink coffee so I've never had a Starbucks drink. I'm a Coke fan.

© Suzanne Jackson 2011.
{I'd love for you to share this post with friends, but please share the full link. Common courtesy dictates that you do not copy the post into your own blog without proper attribution. Thanks!}