Happy Halloween!

 Schaeffer Jo cleaning out 'her' pumpkin

from Papa Doug's patch

 separating the 'guts' from the seeds

 it's a job for the daddy/daughter duo

 all clean & ready to carve

 Schaeffer Jo draws the face & Griffin carves

 dangly 'guts' from Griffin's pumpkin

 snap! off with the stem

our three little pumpkins-cute as can be

this is the verse that came home on a jack o'lantern Schaeffer Jo made at school this week:

I am a Jack O'Lantern

My lights will shine so bright

For I'm a Christian pumpkin

My symbols tell what's right.

The story starts at Christmas

My eyes are like the star

That shone on baby Jesus

and wise men from far.

My nose is like the cross

On which our Savior died

To set us free from sin

We need no longer hide. 

My mouth is like a fish

The whole wide world to show

That Christians live in this house

and love their Savior so.

My color, it is orange

Just like the big bright sun

That rose on Easter Day

Along with God's own Son.

And so on Halloween

Let's set our pumpkins out

And tell the trick or treaters

What God's love is about. 

Friday Fun-day!

We are more than excited to have a weekend full of fall time festivities! We'll be busy with carving the pumpkins we picked from Papa Doug's patch, roasting pumpkin seeds, trick-or-treating downtown Saint Joe, and eating homemade doughnuts with hot apple cider.

I'm thrilled to have found a new twist on carving pumpkins--one that utilizes everyday household items like cookie cutters and a rubber mallet. 

So if you own the only porch in the neighborhood without smiling pumpkins, fear not! Here's a step-by-step guide for the coolest jack-o-lanterns around. 

28 days until Thanksgiving--say what?

So, if you've been around these parts for any amount of time, you know this has been a crazy year. While we have not endured a hurricane, tsunami, or tornado (fingers crossed!), the last six months have included: putting our home on the market, selling our home, moving twice, having grave's disease/finally giving the ol' Thyroid the heave-ho, the death of a grandparent and enduring major surgery with my dad. It has been grueling at times, but also provided us with an even greater confidence that in the storms of life we can stand strong with our great God.

With that said, a few days ago I was sitting in my dad's hospital room and happened to overhear a commercial excitedly exclaim that we're less than 2 months to Christmas day. Wow. If we're two months from Christmas, that must mean we're fast approaching Thanksgiving.

With the hustle & bustle, it is so easy to loose the focus of what Thanks-giving is all about. Being thankful. I am going to attempt to put together this board (thanks to the step-by-step instructions from here ). I look forward to being intentional with giving thanks through the month of November and beyond.

What about you and your family? How do you stay thankful in the midst of the rush and fuss of the holiday season?

W2WW: friend edition!

So after posting my first "what to wear wednesday" post this morning, my girlfriend Julie (hi Julie!) asked what I would pick out for her. It was great fun selecting a glam outfit for her, as she is tall--something that I am not--and because she has been working hard and loosing weight.

She looks great--and this outfit would be gorgeous on her!

Here's the breakdown:

Floating Chrysalis Cowlneck: Anthropologie $119 (link here)
Gauzy Wide Legs: Anthropologie $168 (link here)
La Fenice Earrings: Anthropologie $38 (link here)
Aoki Heeled Oxfords: Anthropologie $198 (link here)

The outfit is a little splurgy, but I know any girl would feel beyond beautiful in these clothes.

What to wear Wednesday

With the recent turn in weather, I can't help but think jacket weather will be more the norm than the exception for the next few many months. 

And, considering I reside in Michigan, you would think that I would be expecting this, right? Yet, somehow, every year, at about this time, I throw open my closet, expecting cozy sweaters, soft scarfs, flattering jeans, and the latest trends in outerwear to miraculously appear. Unfortunately, what I find are the same tanks, capris and bermudas that I've worn through the summer months and have transitioned through the fall. I'm as sick of them as they are of me. 

It's time for a change. There are few places you can buy an entire outfit: sweater, wool (wool!) trousers, suede flats and versatile earrings for $100. 

Here's the breakdown. 

Sweater: Old Navy $34.94 (link here)

Trousers: Old Navy $25.00 (link here)

Suede Flats: Old Navy $22.94 (link here)

Gold Leaf Dangle Earrings: Shabby Apple $19.00 (link here)

Now that's reason to celebrate autumn! 

A room with more than a view.

room service: 3 times a day!

free! fashion-forward accessories provided for your comfort

 drugs at the push of a button

gourmet beverages for guests

All of this and the medical care needed to get well? priceless. 

Laminectonmy: Ouch!

a diagram of the affected vertebra

Laminectomy is a spine operation to remove the portion of the vertebral bone called the lamina. There are many variations of laminectomy. In the most minimal form small skin incisions are made, back muscles are pushed aside rather than cut, and the parts of the vertebra adjacent to the lamina are left intact. The traditional form of laminectomy (conventional laminectomy) excises much more than just the lamina; the entire posterior backbone is removed, along with overlying ligaments and muscles. The usual recovery period is very different depending on which type of laminectomy has been performed: days in the minimal procedure, and weeks to months with conventional open surgery.

A few months ago I blogged about my dad's current health situation (Link HERE) which brought us to surgery today. There were many uncertainties with the procedure, where the mass was located, if the mass was a cyst or a tumor, if the mass would require chemo/radiation, if the surgery would result in paralasys. 


I know that God's goodness is not dependent on successful surgery outcomes--nor would cancer change God's great love for my dad--or us. I'm overwhelmed by the community of believers that have surrounded us through these days of hardship--the prayers that have been offered on our behalf, the love that has been extended, the offers to help and the care that's been given to Schaeffer Jo. 

"I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. I live and breathe God; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: Join me in spreading the news; together let's get the word out. God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. God's angel sets up a circle
of protection around us while we pray. Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him." Ps 34:1-8MSG

Schaberg family photos

 the Schaberg family 

happy autumn!

 the Austins: my sister Nikki, Josh, Tobi & Hazel

 Tobi & Schaeffer: up a tree

 Grandma & Grandpa's three little monkeys

 yep, that pretty much sums it up

 Hazel

 MeMa and her kids

 my dad and his girls

 my sister Nikki & brother-in-law Josh

 lookin' down 'the big hole'

 a sweet daddy picture

 Tobi & Schaeffer Jo 

Me & my dad: see the resemblance? 

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day to snap off a few family photos at the park today! The sunlight was warm and the trees were still rich with color. We had worked diligently to find a professional photographer, and their schedules and ours just didn't seem to match up. So, armed with a folding chair, stool and child's rocking chair, we set off to the local park with my SLR set on auto-timer. 

All things considered, we couldn't be happier with the images--especially since we had great fun taking them.

Concord grape jam!

 1/4 of our mountain of grapes

 close-up of the purple beauties

 finally making some headway

 is it me, or are the vines outnumbering the grapes? 

finally done! 

Last week all three Schaberg women (and my dad) got together with the kids to can concord grape jam. 

Schaeffer and I found a farm stand that was selling Concords and reserved a jumbo (just smaller than a 1/2 bushel). On pick up day, I was filled with panic--what if this is not enough? What if we decide this is the most delicious jam we've ever eaten and feel crestfallen I only brought a jumbo? So, impulsively, I bought another jumbo. For those of you who are mathematically challenged, which some may say fits my reputation, we peeled, cooked, sieved, and canned nearly a bushel of grapes. 

Somehow, in the chaos of the day, I missed pictures of the end result. The jam is the most gorgeous deep aubergine and in my opinion tastes very similar to a grape fruit roll up. As one who could gag a vomit eating grape jam prefers strawberry jelly, I'm excited to see these little jewels tucked into gift baskets at Christmas.

thrifty thursday style alert!

 these beauties are on their way to SJ's room

My regular readers (all three of you--Hi mom!), are wondering--what! this post isn't about Schaeffer? I've been wanting to flesh out my posts to include other topics for quite some time, to include old family recipes, style, and other miscellaneous topics. This is the first of these 'Schaeffer-free postings', so consider yourself warned. 

As a person who struggles to memorize scripture, I love having it strategically placed around our house.  I couldn't be more excited to have found two great Etsy shops--run by sisters--that continually create beautiful prints with great meaning. 

Check out Gus & Lulu and Sweet Mint Studio at Etsy.com for these and many more! 

"She lived her life in preparation for this moment"

Grandma Grace & Schaeffer Jo 

If you've noticed the gap in posting, my family has been grieving the very sudden and unexpected death of my grandma Grace. Griffin and I were in Indy when we received the call that Grandma had suffered a massive heart attack, and knew that it would be many hours before we could get to Detroit. 

Mercifully, God was quick in calling Grandma home. Griffin and I made it back to Saint Joe and had the car packed before I knew Grandma had gone to be with the Lord. While it added great sadness to my trip across the state, it also relieved me of the pressure to 'make it there in time'. 

This morning, while I sit and reflect on both my time with Grandma Grace and her legacy, there is a common theme that continually comes to mind: strength. Grandma was tender in the moments that called for tenderness--but was a strong to hold together a large family through great trial. Grandma was the glue, so to speak, that kept her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren coming together for countless holidays, parties and reunions. 

Grandma is in my earliest childhood memories--being filling with anticipation as our family car would finally have sight of the "fermi towers", then getting drawing even nearer, hearing our tires hit the old and bumpy dirt road. Grandma and Grandpa would be waiting for us, Grandma dressed in her nightgown and bathrobe, Grandpa in his blue work shirt and work pants--with suspenders, always with a hug ready. The coffee would be on, and a beer cold in the fridge. 

At Christmas, Grandma's house would be a frenzy of activity. We'd arrive to find Grandma's systems already functioning like a well-oiled machine. Pies baked, rolls rising, cookies made, turkey basting, tree decorated, gifts wrapped. In our younger days, Grandma and Grandpa gave all the girl cousins matching pajamas and bathrobes--which quickly became the Christmas jammies that were donned as we anxiously waited for the arrival of Santa Claus. 

In addition to yearly Easter egg hunts, Mother's day brunch, birthday parties, there have also been countless anniversary parties, retirement parties, bridal and baby showers (both of mine were held here). Grandma Grace can be found in every nook and cranny of her home--down to the very fact that as the family gathered after her death, her systems & preparedness fed 50 people for 3 days. 

What a woman. So, when the priest said, "Grace lived her life in preparation for this day (her death)" he couldn't have been more right. 

To you, Grandma I say the words of Jesus: "well done, good and faithful servant." I look forward to seeing you again. 

An apple a day--makes applesauce!

Schaeffer's teacher, Mrs. Kern, helping a student cut up the apples

 the kids waiting for a turn to peel their apple

 Schaeffer's friend Livvy peeling her
apple while SJ cheers her on

 SJ using her 'big muscles' to peel her apple

SJ cutting her apple into small pieces to
be cooked down into applesauce

For a brief time, when I was younger (translated: 12th grade), I thought I wanted to be a teacher. Thankfully, taking part in a student teaching co-op promptly changed my mind. There was far more paper work and details and math and spelling and children than I had initially realized--and decided that despite the really amazing schedule (read: summers off!), it just wasn't worth it. I am not cut out to be with children that are not biologically related to me. 

With that said, I must have had a momentary lapse of judgment when I agreed to be a 'room helper' for applesauce day. Schaeffer, her friend Livvy and I arrived, apples in hand, ready for the festivities to begin. I quickly realized that my puny little peeler would do little in fending off the masses of children, that that I should have in fact purchased an industrial strength and sized apple-corer-peeler with a built in child repellent, just for survival purposes. 

With that said, no one lost a digit, and I can't wait for the Halloween dress up party.