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Joel told me that he wanted to make Levi a sandbox this summer. I was so excited. You see, my husband isn’t one to suggest home improvement projects…or any projects for that matter. I usually have to beg and bribe him to do anything DIY. Don’t get me wrong, Joel is a great guy…and he is good at so many things. But he works incredibly hard, long hours on the farm and the last thing he wants to do when he comes home is “work” some more. I think I did him in when we tackled our big remodeling project the summer before we moved into our house. It was a TON of work. So you can see why I was excited about the sandbox. Levi was too.
Levi was very helpful and took out every screw one by one. He loves to help his daddy…and his daddy is very patient with him.
A few days before we went to buy all the supplies for the sandbox I saw this DIY sandbox over at MADE. It was exactly like the one Joel had described to me that he was going to make except it had stripes painted on it…and a cute little umbrella. I asked Joel if I could butt in on his project and paint it when he was done. He agreed as long as I did the painting. But he must have felt sorry for his prego wife dying in the summer heat as I painted one afternoon…he ended up finishing the whole thing for me. He is super sweet like that.
I loved how Dana painted her sandbox four different colors, but I wasn’t quite that ambitious. I love red. So we went with red and white stripes. The worst part was taping off the lines. But it turned out pretty cute and was definitely worth the extra work (right, Joel??).
Joel filled the new sandbox up with sand and Levi helped him spread it all out.
He wasn’t so sure about being covered with sand at first, but he loves it now and usually comes in at the end of the day covered in sand from head to toe.
The sandbox lost his attention when he realized his daddy’s tractor was still parked in the yard. I think he would spend all day sitting in a tractor if he could.
He even got to go for a little ride around the yard.
We have spent lots of time playing in the sandbox. It was such a fun project to do together with Joel.
I even found a red and white umbrella at Target.
I think there will be many, many hours spent playing in this sandbox. And pretty soon Levi will have a little brother to play with him too!
There’s “the look” again.
So here it is. Levi’s new sandbox. A summer DIY project by the Macs.
Posted in: diy
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  • Megan - That is SO awesome! Timmy would LOVE it. We are moving in a year though so I keep feeling like I need to cancel all of my projects. Maybe we can settle on a big Walmart plastic turtle sand box 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Sharon - What a fabulous sandbox! Love it! Levi has some rocking parents!ReplyCancel

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  • Vera - Wow great job!ReplyCancel

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  • Meg - You guys did such a fantastic job! Way to go.ReplyCancel

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  • Mindy Harris - i love it so much! can we come play? 😉ReplyCancel

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  • Nancy - you BOTH did a great job! it’s so cute & looks like so much fun for your two boys!!ReplyCancel

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  • Nancy - Soooo adorable for both of your boys. Great job to both of you…ReplyCancel

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  • Stacy - I LOVE IT!! We are going to do this. The little turtle sandbox is just not big enough for both my boys. Great projectReplyCancel

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  • Ashley - This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, next to Levi’s adorable expression!! You and Joel sound like such a sweet couple, always helping and supporting one another. Love the pictures that show him in the corner, right there in the sand next to his little boy. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Nelson's Mama - That is adorable!

    But, you’ve got me wondering why Levi doesn’t have a sandbox in a tractor tire like every other farm kid I knew growing up? 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • This Farm Family's Life - I love it Jess! Is Levi wearing your flip flops in one of those pictures?? Too cute!ReplyCancel

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  • Katy @ Live Laugh Love Craft - Oh, that is so cute!! It makes it so special when your Husband builds it, as opposed to buying it. 🙂

    PS: I love Levi’s “look”. He is so handsome!ReplyCancel

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  • Lesley - That has to be the absolute coolest sandbox ever….and the umbrella…the cherry on top…..I love it! I even had to pin it on my pinterest!

    Lesley

    http://projectmommyhood.blogspot.comReplyCancel

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  • Stef - I actually prefer the red & white look, myself!
    you guys did a great job. That last picture is so peaceful looking. Made me want to go “ahhhhh….” out loud 🙂
    Levi is getting very tan and the sun is making his hair lighter? Either way, he’s looking like a summer cutie 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Bethany - Love it! It looks so cute…and that isn’t something you can say about most sandboxes.ReplyCancel

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  • Amanda - Y’all are so creative! What special memories you will make in the summers to come!ReplyCancel

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  • Lindsay - Oh i was hoping you’d share when I spied this beauty in your fourth of July pics! The stripe totally makes it, well that and the adorable toddler sitting in it!ReplyCancel

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  • amy - It looks amazing! I love red as well…how fun you found a red & white umbrella to match! 🙂 One thing you should do is get a small dustpan & small broom for Levi to brush himself clean when he is done. enjoy!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - LOVE the sandbox and how HUGE it is!! You all are such an adorable family and I LOVE reading your blog and checking in on you. If I could give a bit of sandbox advice you might want to get a cover for your box(if you don’t already have one) so animals don’t decide to make Levi’s sandbox their potty! We left our cover off for one night and woke up to a bunch of nasty surprises.ReplyCancel

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  • Lauren - Oh my Jess, that is a great sandbox! But Levi’s ‘look’ had me laughing out loud! He is so darn cute!ReplyCancel

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  • Rachel - Love it! Enjoy!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - A hint shared with us for getting dry sand off of little ones before coming in the house is to put baby powder on your hands and smooth off the sand…also helps to make them smell even sweeter!ReplyCancel

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  • Allen and Debby Graber - And I like how the dog sits in it too!!ReplyCancel

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  • songskatesang - Jess, this is really amazing! I love it! great job.ReplyCancel

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  • meg duerksen - super cute.ReplyCancel

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  • Jennifer - How cute! Y’all did a wonderful job 🙂
    I’ve been meaning to ask you where you get Levi’s cute t-shirts? You always have such cute shirts on him!ReplyCancel

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  • onlymehere - That’s the cutest sandbox I’ve ever seen! I especially love the idea of putting in the umbrella. Oh my, Levi is going to create such good memories here!ReplyCancel

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  • Taylor - Love the sandbox (I like the red/white better than all colors actually)…wonder if my husband would let me paint our swing set 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Christina - Amazing and really cute!!! I got my daughter a tugboat sandbox at a yardsale when she was little….and the only problem I have with it is…..when it RAINS! eeeek.ReplyCancel

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  • Faith - WOW!!! You guys did such an amazing job!!! That is for sure an awesome sand box and it looks HUGE! Great job mom & dad! Levi looks so adorable playing in it!!! LOVE the “look”!ReplyCancel

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  • Erin - This looks amazing 🙂 Agree, taping lines is one of my least favorite activities of all time. And don’t you love the sweet little silly faces they make through the different stages of growing up. So much fun!!!ReplyCancel

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  • The Mershawn's - He is so stinkin’ cute & so is that sandbox! I know 2 kids around this house who would love to be covered in sand all the time. We just don’t have all the space you guys do…is that a good enough excuse;)? Just kidding…fun project!ReplyCancel

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  • Melissa Joy - That is super incredible, Jess! Excellent family project, and I see lots of super fun in your future. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Kim - Way to go on the sandbox! Levi is a cutie for sure. Just wanted to second the need for a cover. I have heard of issues of kids getting pinworms.ReplyCancel

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  • Kendra - This is fantastic! Seriously, one of the best sandboxes I’ve seen. I need to get my hubby out there to make one for my two little ones!ReplyCancel

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  • dana - oh wow! Your box turned out great! And darling photos. I love all the red and white 🙂
    – DanaReplyCancel

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  • Andrea - So perfect for two little boys! I love Levi’s “look” – amazing how children can get these totally adult expressions on their faces.

    The other night I was praying for Levi – that he would not feel any jealousy toward his brother or that his place has somehow been taken. I remember my oldest son (who also is a middle child) having a very hard time when Luke joined us, which is maybe why I felt impressed to pray that Levi would immediately take joy in his role as a big brother. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Kelly McG - That is an adorable sandbox! We too have huge sandbox (16’x6′) and my 4 kiddos LOVE it!! At first we had a problem with sand ending up in our house despite our efforts to dust off before coming inside. I bought a hand broom at the dollar store and now we use that to dust off. It helps tremendously!ReplyCancel

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  • Debilou ~ Mississippi Mama - love the sandbox.. the stripes and the umbrella make it so pretty.ReplyCancel

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  • julia - That last picture is FABULOUS!ReplyCancel

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  • Jennifer - Got to know…do you cover it? I’ve wanted to do this, but haven’t yet because I’m worried about animals getting in it. Also is the bottom concrete?ReplyCancel

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  • Diana - And what a beautiful spot for that awesome sandbox. Love it. ♥ReplyCancel

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  • barbara - great great sandbox!! I wish we had the space, but alas, we live in an apartment… Have to take my girl to the beach instead! 🙂 Great project!!ReplyCancel

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This year our Fourth of July party was filled with pinwheels. Lots of red, white and blue pinwheels. I love how they turned out. So fun. And they were really easy too. You can see my Fourth of July inspiration here. There just wasn’t enough time to make everything that I wanted to. Oh well…the strawberries and cute red, white, and blue pennant will have to wait until another year.
Joel and I spent a lot of the hot, Kansas weekend getting the yard spiffed up for the party. Getting ready in the heat is always the worst part {especially this year with my prego belly}, but it is always worth it! Last night turned out to be such a fun evening with friends…even though it was still hot. It was an evening full of hamburgers and hotdogs, lemonade and cute paper straws, homemade ice cream and strawberries, kids running all around, swim suits and sand, sitting at picnic tables and chatting with friends, sparklers and firecrackers, and staying up late to watch fireworks. I think that the Fourth is one of my favorite holidays.
A few of Levi’s funny, dramatic faces. He wasn’t a fan of whatever Grammy was feeding him in the first picture. And the second picture is his new face. We call it “the look”. He makes this face and then cracks up at himself. What a goof.
 My pregnant friends…all in our matching stripes. Can you tell who is due first??
Joel took this picture with his phone while we were watching fireworks. Levi screamed through the first few, but then figured out they weren’t so bad if he closed his eyes and Mama covered his ears. So this is how he spent the rest of the fireworks show. 🙂
Hope you had a great Fourth!
Posted in: celebrate
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  • The Sieberts - thanks again Jess- it was so much fun!!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Julie - Oh Jess! It looks like such a fun and perfect party. The pinwheels turned out so cute. And the sandbox looks AMAZING. So sad we couldn’t be there. 🙁ReplyCancel

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  • The Boccias - You guys know how to throw a party! Looks like a lot of fun! You look adorable, Jess–love your outfit! Talia eventually got used to the fireworks after being around them for about 4 nights in a row… 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • karen - Looks like a fun party!ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah - You did a great job. So cute. Looks like great fun.
    And you look Fantastic!!ReplyCancel

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  • Merrill - Looks like so much fun! And I love “the look” from Levi…too funny. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • amy jupin - jess, every time i see one of your fabulous parties, i always think there are some awesome memories being made in that gorgeous yard! love the family pic, love your growing tummy, love levi’s new face, all of it!ReplyCancel

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  • Jody - Looks like you guys had a lot of fun! I made the cake you posted about for our little supper last night. It actually turned out, which surprised me because I’m not a baker.ReplyCancel

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  • The Moffats - yeah! A belly pic!!! You look so cute 🙂 Looks like a fun fourth. Tanner cried through the first 5 min of fireworks and then fell asleep on papa. Can’t believe Levi’s hair – it is going to be as blonde as Tanner’s by the end of summer!!ReplyCancel

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  • Mindy Harris - i like levi’s hair parted on the side! so irresistible.
    the pregnant girls lineup is a hoot.
    i love the pinwheels and burlap bunting, and that you put burlap over the coolers. looks like an awesome party! makes me want to host 1 next yr.ReplyCancel

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  • Vera - Such sweet and happy pictures – love them! Our 16 month old Henry CRACKS ME UP, and a lot of the Levi tricks/looks remind me of him. They are such silly boys right now!ReplyCancel

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  • This Farm Family's Life - Love the prego pic. The decorations look great!ReplyCancel

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  • Amber - All of your decorations were adorable and so festive! And you are looking beautiful, mama-to-be! The only thing that looks prego is your belly. Glad you had a fun 4th with friends and family!ReplyCancel

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  • The Carters - Your decorations were great!! Looks like ya’ll had a wonderful Fourth of July!!ReplyCancel

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  • vickisherbert - Your celebration looks like so much fun! I have been a follower of your blog and praying for your family since Cora was in the hospital. I was delighted to see pictures of your friend Kendall. I was her second grade teacher! I remember her as such a sweet little girl. Thanks so much for sharing your heart, family and friendships through your writing and pictures.ReplyCancel

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  • Faith - how fun are these pics!!!

    and you have the cutest baby bump!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Sara @ Mom Endeavors - What a great party!!! Love the pic with all the pregnant mamas!! Super cute! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Your photos look right out of a magazine. My favorite, though, is the one of your dad walking with Levi…so precious!!!

    Leigh in HoustonReplyCancel

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  • Erin and Ryan - These pictures are so great! I LOVE the pinwheels and decorations :0) This makes me want to throw a 4th party!ReplyCancel

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  • Nancy - You & your sister look so much alike to me!
    Happy 4th ~ beautiful decorations as always!!!
    Levi looks adorable!ReplyCancel

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  • Michelle - I had to comment about your picture of Levi giving what you guys call “the look”…my daughter gave us a very similar look for about two years and we called it “the look” too!! We’d ask her to give us “the look” and she’d do it, I have no idea how many people we showed that off to and every single person would laugh and request she do it again-we loved it and were sad when she no longer did it:( you look so good too! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Love your maternity shirt….where did you get it? Great pictures as well!ReplyCancel

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  • Lane - Precious party!!! I LOVE the 4th of July and dream of hosting a party like this some day!ReplyCancel

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  • Amy - Levi’s “look” is adorable. You are such a fun party planner, Jess! I’m sure everyone there had a blast!!ReplyCancel

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  • Jennjilla - You look adorable and your party looks like it was a blast! Happy 4th!ReplyCancel

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  • EricaG - Looks like a fun, festive event! Beautiful.ReplyCancel

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  • Holt - Wow Jess — looks like a fun party!! Want to plan my daughters birthday in August?? You do great work!!ReplyCancel

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  • Leah - I LOVE the prego pic! Did you all wear stripes on purpose? I think you all looked cuter than I did on the 4th…if you want to see someone bigger than you, check out my blog LOL.ReplyCancel

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  • Kimberlee - Jess, I just loved seeing you and your friends pregnant! What a great looking party, too! The 4th is so festive and fun…and you do festive and fun, well!ReplyCancel

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  • 25 Fabulous 4th of July Projects & Decor Ideas {Plus a Patriotic DecoArt Giveaway} - The Crafted Sparrow - […] Map Project 4th of July Glitter Banner Patriotic Table Runner Simple Slipknot Napkin Rings Pinwheel Decor 4th of July Chalkboard Bottle Centerpiece 4th of July Mantle Don’t forget to check out […]ReplyCancel

  • Fourth of July Decor Ideas - […] Fourth Of July Decor from The Macs […]ReplyCancel

Day 30. It is hard to believe that today marked the 30th day that I have started off my mornings alone with the Lord in His Word and in prayer. The 30th day that I have really made an effort to make the Lord the priority of my days. This was definitely a first for me. A discipline that I have longed to make a daily habit and priority in the past, but failed many times. I’m not sure what was different about this time. I think that I have finally realized that if I really want to make the Lord the priority of my days…if that is what my heart really desires…then it is going to take discipline and sacrifice on my part. I am not trying to pat myself on the back. While this challenge did take some effort on my part, it is only by the grace of God that I got myself out of bed even one of the past thirty mornings. And I’m not going to stop now. It is my prayer that my devotion time with the Lord would be a delight not a duty. I pray that I would understand what a privilege it is to meet with the Lord and that I would long for this time with Him. And I pray that God would be the priority of my days…not just in the month of June, but everyday. That is my prayer for you too.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His Word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5

So how did you do? There were 54 of you who responded to my original post…54 of you who desired to seek God daily in the month of June. If you participated in the 30 Day Challenge I would love to hear what God has been doing in your heart and life over the past thirty days. Please share! Maybe the 30 Day Challenge was really difficult for you and you felt like you failed over and over…much like I have felt many times before. Don’t give up! Keep seeking Him with your whole heart. We need Him more than anything else. We need His strength and wisdom to make it through each day.
I have been reading a book this past month {how can June already be over?!} about finding intimacy with God through a daily devotional life. It has been so encouraging to me as I battle all the frustrations and failures I have had with my own personal devotional life. I’ll tell you a little more about it next week and I think I’m even going to give a book away…just because I like you all so much! May we all become women you seek after God everyday.
* * * * * * * * *

And one more {much less important} thing for today…
I was featured at Baby Lifestyles

Levi’s first birthday party and nursery were both featured at Baby Lifestyles this week. How fun. You can find the nursery feature here and the first birthday feature here.
Posted in: Uncategorized
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  • Anonymous - What a difference a month makes! Thanks for the challenge. God’s word and time with Him can revive the weary soul. Thanks for the encouragement and challenge. It was a life changing month for me.
    Katie T.ReplyCancel

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  • Jody - My New Testament class kind of kicked me in the butt the last couple weeks so I am planning to try again in July (:ReplyCancel

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  • Natalie - I did it! I think there only 3 days that I skipped for some reason or another…but I pressed on and so thankful that I did. Can’t believe it has been a month. I appreciate the challenge. I am moving forward with confidence as I begin the next 30 days!ReplyCancel

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  • Meggie - Thanks so much for all of your encouragement these past 30 days! I have really enjoyed my time in the mornings alone with the Lord. It started off as something I was making myself do (and still is sometimes) but now I really look forward to it and need that time. This week has been a challenge because we’ve been on vacation and our normal routine is sort of out the door! But, I’m working to make some time during some point during the day to just pray and read my Bible. As soon as we’re home I’m planning to get back on track! Thanks again for your encouragement and your comment earlier this week! selphpartyof3.blogspot.comReplyCancel

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  • Amanda - You are such an inspiration! God bless you!ReplyCancel

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  • Miss G - Hi Jess, I am behind on blog reading and so saw your 30 day challenge way into it. God used you, another blogger, a book I’m reading and a sermon all converging to help me to try this first thing in the morning quiet time with Him rather than a hit or miss time sometime during the day. I have been doing it since June 26th, the day before my 35th birthday. So far it has been a pretty up and down experience for me – starting off pretty well, days went well according to my version of them going well and I felt like I could attribute that to giving that day to God very deliberately first thing in the morning. Then a couple of days didn’t go as well (again, according to my version of going well) and I got frustrated thinking that I had given those days to God too, why didn’t they turn out as well. It is not a formula or a magic genie lamp. This morning just felt like I was doing it to check something off my list. I am encouraged by Meggie’s comment and hope that as I persevere that I will long for this time with the Lord and it will be very meaningful to me. Thanks for sharing your heart and this challenge with us. KellyReplyCancel

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  • Jen - Thanks so much for your inspiration! I have started the challenge and love it! Although I am only in the beginning…I have been blessed…of course!

    Love your blog!

    JenReplyCancel

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We are planning a little Fourth of July party with some friends and family. I love having parties and I love celebrating the Fourth! I was looking around for a little party inspiration and thought I’d share some of my favorites…
I love the pinwheel idea, so today I decided to try to make some of my own. I think I’m going to use them as center pieces on our picnic tables…if it isn’t too windy {you never know in Kansas}.
I used this tutorial. They were so easy to make. Now I just need some more scrapbook paper to finish up.
I gathered up as many red, white, and blue things as I could find around the house. Our party won’t be quite as elaborate as the parties above {although they are so pretty}. I am trying to use as much as I can from around the house and from Joel’s birthday last year. This weekend will be full of sprucing up the yard, party details, and time with friends. Can’t wait!
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…about a few good deals going on at DaySpring right now.
The Life to the Full collection is 50% off.
Life Collection - 6? Bread Plate
The bread plate is my favorite. And right now it is only $2.99.
Last year for Christmas I filled these plates with chocolate, wrapped them up and delivered them to my neighbors. They were perfect.


Colors of Compassion - 10 Premium Greeting Card Assortment      Hope and Encouragement 2011 - 10 Premium Greeting Card Assortment

And my two favorite card packs are on sale too. The Colors of Compassion and Hope and Encouragement assortments are on sale for $19.99. These are really great cards.

Max Lucado Value Pack - 15 Premium Greeting Card Assortment      Sweet Springs & Cute Friendship - 10 Premium Greeting Card Assortment

And there are a few card assortments like the Max Lucado assortment and the Sweet Springs and Cute Friendship assortment that are on sale for $4.99.
So, there are my good deals for the day. 
And to make it even better…here are a few coupon codes too:
15OFFGIFTS to get 15% off all gift purchases.
15OFFCARDS to get 15% off all card purchases.
shipping25 to get free shipping on $25+ order.
Shop Christian gifts, cards, decor, and more!
This post is part of DaySpring’s affiliate program.
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  • Mindy Harris - dayspring better know that you are a good affiliate program person of theirs because i ALWAYS buy something when you post.
    thanks for the good deals!ReplyCancel

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  • Stef - awesome! thank you.ReplyCancel

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  • Faith - Aw yay I’m so glad you have shared this! I just ordered myself a set!! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Jody - Thanks Jess! I almost ordered some cards last week, but then I thought I should wait and see if any coupons come up here soon. Glad I waited! And all my stuff was still in the cart. I did add some more cards & a few of those plates. Thought they might be nice if I get invited somewhere to take a little hostess gift on.ReplyCancel

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  • Heather Bug - Thank you for passing that info along about the plates! They are adorable and a GREAT price!! I just ordered me some. Happy Wednesday. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Really cute plates!!! Can we get the chocolate recipe too???ReplyCancel

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