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twenty years!

September 3, 2014

we started dating when i was a sophomore in high school.
actually… he was my first date i ever went on.
i remember it more than any of our other dates.
it was when i was a freshman… i was 14 years old. oh. my. word.
but i broke up with him after a month or two because i was young & wanted to date other boys.
all the boys.
that lasted… not too long.
by the next summer we were together… forever. 🙂
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we got married sooner than we would have planned but babies bring situations up a notch.
there we were… 18 & 20, married, baby on the way and moved to Illinois all by ourselves.
we knew no one but each other.
craig was a junior in college… full time student athlete at Northwestern.
i worked as a temp at the college until Lauren was born.
afterwards i went back to work and craig watched lauren by himself.
(student athletes cannot work during the school year – NCAA rules)

megcraig2
we found a church right away.
and we think… THAT was a huge strength to a young couple.
i didn’t want to but he knew we should be a part of a church.
he found one and i remember i was at my parents visiting and he said over the phone “i went t a church today that i think you will like”
and we went from then on.
we met our friends that changed our lives there.
it was a special place to us.
and it happened slowly over the 10 years we were there.
but that place was safe and we grew in our faith, our marriage and as parents to our kids.

he graduated.
we moved to a “nice” apartment… oh boy we thought that place was awesome!!!
two bathrooms! two window AC units! a patio! an elevator to get to the second floor!
we loved that apartment.
he got a job in Illinois and we decided to stay & not move back to kansas like we had always said we would do.
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we bought a house and fixed it up room by room.
we had scott. then sean. then talby.
we had THE BEST time raising our kids in that little white house.
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we found out we were pregnant with annie the day after we came home from our 10 year anniversary trip.
we were in shock.
good news of course but 5 babies in 10 years was a lot.
our house was getting full.
we started looking for what was next.
it ended with moving back in kansas.
we knew that was God because we wanted to go someplace new.
God thought we should come back home…. so we did.
2 weeks after annie was born we moved to kansas.

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we bought a big 100 year old house that had space for 10 kids if we’d have had them.
we remodeled every room again just as we’d done in IL.
we enjoyed our time together working on the house too!
our kids grew.
and grew.
i started a blog and began writing about our everyday life.
after 7 years of loving that old beautiful home… we moved out.
we decided very quickly that we would move to the rental farm house so that we could be close to our kids new schools and run my business from the old house.
what an adventure!
it was crazy but it felt so right it wasn’t even funny.
god gave us complete peace about that decision.
we LOVED that farm house.

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we loved having so much family time just being together outside.
it was a great place to be.
we stayed there two years.
and then we moved again.
we bought a house in town… close to everything… something we owned… it was time.
and here we are.
20 years of marriage.
our daughter whose being essentially forced us to make a decision 20 years ago if we were in this or not… is a sophomore in college!
she is now older than we were when we got married and had her!
and she is awesome.
we are proud of her and how well she is doing at school.

twenty years is a lot.
but it feels like we just started… there is so much fun yet to be had!

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he is my best friend and he lets me know i am his.
he is so funny and he makes me feel like i am VERY funny.
he is patient, considerate and thorough.
he is the hardest worker.
he’s helpful & grateful.
he takes care of me and his family like an expert.
i am so proud to be his wife… i can’t believe i am so lucky.
He didn’t leave when he could have.
he has always been right here.

thank you mr. duerksen.
for making twenty years feel like a cake walk.
i love you.

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Sunday Faves – Free Education, Homegrown Veg & Love to Admire | ss_site_title - […] Image Credit: Megduerksen.com I really hope I’m writing similar words in 15 years time So those were my favourite posts this week – please share yours with me in the comments, I’d love to check them out! […]

Shelby Shreck-Beck - I absolutely LOVE this post!!! It is evident that you two love each other so much just by looking at the pictures. This is so refreshing to see when so many marriages today end in divorce. It is obvious you have something special and over the years took the time to nurture it and as a result you have 5 beautiful children and a strong marriage. Congratulations!!!

tracy fisher - I absolutely LOVE your story!

Kris - Happy Anniversary! My husband and I will celebrate our 21st anniversary next month and our oldest is a sophomore in college too! I love how happy you two are and how you said the first 20 yrs were a piece of cake. I feel the exact same way. People said it would be hard at first but it sure hasn’t been so far! I just heard on the news this morning how young people aren’t getting married anymore and don’t see the point. That makes me sad. Maybe they should read your post 🙂

Melissa - Happy Anniversary- what a beautiful post about your beautiful family! Blessings!

britt - amazing. Loved this post. Congratulations.

Tami - Wow, 20 yrs is a long time! Congrats to you guys and many more to come! I stumbled onto your blog about 6 years ago and peek on here time to time when Im not so busy! Your daughter Annie was a toddler when I first started reading, she has really grown up now! I love how colorful your blog is and its Christian based which I love. Many years of happiness, blessings and faith to you guys! xoxo

Chris - Happy Anniversary!! I love your story!! Thank you for sharing it!!

Amy - Thanks for sharing. We have two babies 18 months apart, 2 and 8 months old, and it feels like we’re in this weird twilight zone where nothing will ever exist besides diapers, Sesame Street, baby snuggles, and cleaning up messes. It’s good, but it’s great to be reminded that this is really just one stage of our lives, not the sum total of our lives/marriage. 🙂 Congrats on 20 years!

beth larson - I love your love story, thank you for sharing it. And can I just say that you were cute at 18 and 20- but you are both cuter now!

Amber - Happy Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Duerksen! May God bless you with many more years of happiness together!!! I enjoy peeking in on your life and catching up with what yall are doing. I view you as my online friend far away, even though it’s totally one sided and that’s kinda wierd. Hopefully one day I can come to a Craft Weekend and meet you in person! Keep up the wonderful inspiration!! Thanks for making me smile!!!!

Kristin S - I feel like a total blog stalker, but I’ve read this post a few times already this week. Marriage is to be celebrated! God’s faithfulness is reflected at each point you described.

You are living my dream. I’m 43 and single. It never dawned on me back in college that I wouldn’t be sending my kids to college at my current age like my peers. It’s weird.

Thank you for sharing, Meg. I wonder what God has planned for the next 20!

Tiffany - Wow! What a lovely tribute, and a beautiful life you have created together! You are blessed! 🙂 Happy Anniversary, friend!

Tanya H - I love it! Great photo collection!
We just celebrated 15 years and I put together a digi scrapbook page of photos of us on or near our anniversary thru the years. 🙂

debbie - I love you blog! I love this post! Isn’t God amazing in the way he leads and guides our lives and blesses us with the right life partner! Marriage isn’t always easy but focusing on the blessings and all the positives makes us realize all the blessings we have to gether as a couple! Have a wonderful day and wishing you many more years together – 40 …60!

Jessica Shrock - Love this post! Congrats to you and the Mr.

Sherry - I’ve read you for years now. I’m with the others, this was one of my favorites. I really like your family. Like a lot.

Jen - I absolutely loved this post! (Tears ran down my face as I could feel the love) Congratulations on 20 years! It is awesome to know that not only do you love your husband but you like him as a friend too. You should feel proud of the amazing journey you are on together. Here’s to 30 more!

ranee - i love this post…congrats on 20 years! My husband and I just celebrated our 10 year anniversary this summer…this made me even more excited to look forward to the next 10!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Well, this is the happiest post ever. It almost unsicks me. Almost…

I love this line: there is so much fun yet to be had!

And in one of those pics Lauren and Scott look SO much alike! I don’t think I’ve ever noticed that before with them.

I like your family very much.

Jenny B. - What a sweet, sweet post!! Happy Anniversary!!

Kelly - Way to go on 20 years! Kelly

Mrs. H - Happy Anniversary!

Stacey - Thanks for making me cry! WOW, you two look better each year! Congrats on 20 yeras and such an awesome journey. And 5 beautiful kids!

Abby Stanger - You are such a delight! I have followed your blog for several years and enjoyed hearing about your family life from the beginning! You inspire me to be a better mom, wife and working woman!

Kelly Sites - What a beautiful story and life. You guys are super cute!!!!!!
Congrats!!!!

Tessa - Congrats on 20 years! I realized after reading this post, that I need to take more pictures with my hubby and I. We have plenty from our younger years but hardly any recent ones. I guess 3 more kids (we have 4 all together) in 4 last years will do that to you! 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!

Susan A - Greetings from Illinois! Super-sweet post! Love all of the pictures. Happy 20th to you and your hubby!! You are both so blessed with a beautiful family and I love following your blog. Thank you for sharing your talents!

Tracie M - Congrats on 20 years and blessings on many many more! I applaud you for choosing the hard way, marriage and family when you were so young. Well done! I keep reminding my unmarried friends that marriage is a choice, to love that person when when you don’t feel like it. It can be a tough road but it’s oh so worth it!

Kristin - That was beautiful. Congratulations, and happy anniversary!

angela - Love this walk thru 20 years! What a blessed life! You are amazing and have more talent in your little finger than I have in my whole body. Heard a GREAT quote that you may like: *I want my marriage to be more beautiful than my wedding.*

chrissi - so many good things about this post. my favorite, your husband found you two a church. that kind of says it all. …and it shows. your smiles say it all. congratulations!

Carrie - Beautiful

gretchenee - You always inspire me, but I think this is THE BEST. I love seeing strong marriages in action. Happy 20th! We celebrate ours in May and I’m more in love than ever!

Elizabeth Cannata - Darn you! It is 8:18am and I am drinking my coffee and trying to start my day. Now tears are running dowm my face, makeup and all. It is ok because reading your story gave me hope. It is so refreshing to hear about a family choosing life instead of abortion. You are all so blessed and I hope the blessings continue until you all go straight to heaven. Congrats on 20 years!!!

tasha roe - congrats! what a beautiful journey the two of you have been on!! wishing you many more years together!!

Gina - Wow! Twenty years is quite an accomplishment these days especially considering your start!! I know because my marriage started the same way. Thankfully (only God!!) we are on our 31st year!! 🙂 This is one of my favorite posts of yours. I love all the photos through the years!! To God be ALL the glory!!

Cara Yeh - Happy Anniversary! It was so fun to read your story… (And see all your hairstyles!)

Heidi Jo the Artist - Happy Anniversary! Isn’t marriage an amazing journey!? Cool to document it, your kids will appreciate it someday, if not already today. Many blessings for many more happy years together!

Gevay - Happy Anniversary! Lovely story!

Michelle Deckert Richmond - Happy Anniversary to a beautiful couple….now and then. Michelle from Canada.

Jen Dahl - this is awesome. congrats on 20 years and a beautiful family – every one of you has a smile that lights up a room. looking at your family grow through the years was really, really fun. photos are SO important in telling our stories! thank you for sharing yours…

angie - meg… i’ve been following your blog for years… gotta say… LOVED this post… it made me tear up! what a trip down memory lane… seeing all of these pics in one spot from over the years… happy anniversary to you and mr. duerksen! what a journey… wishing you many more years of happiness!!!

Renee - I love everything about this. Lovely posts like this are what blogs are all about!!

kelly - Megan, I luv your story….. Happy Anniversary and way to rock 20 years.

Jennifer - Sweet tears and smiles as I read this. I love my story of marrying my high school sweetheart 26 years ago — at 19, and loved reading your story too. Happy Anniversary!

Erin - Happy Happy Happy 20th Anniversary!!!

Heather - Absolutely beautiful. Everything. And so nice to see people staying committed to each other and their families!

Tina - Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful love story. We need our world to see this kind of Love. Congratulations!!

Sarah Kirchmann - Seriously, Meg! What an inspiration!!!

Jenn - Congrats on your 20 years. I have been married for 18 years. I too married at 18. It’s not always easy, especially when kids come along. I’m very lucky to have him. It doesn’t feel like 18 years. It’s just flown by.

Carol S. - So sweet. Jealous you have all these wonderful pictures in one place! Bet that was no easy feat. but very worth it. College athlete at Northwestern, who knew? Best wishes for many more. With the last one home a hs sophomore, I’m seeing glimpses of our future with just the two of us…looks good since there’s joy at every stage.

Kate - You have a wonderful story. Congratulations.

Angie B - What a sweet, sweet post. Made me tear up a little; thanks for sharing. And, unrelated, you sure have worn a lot of hairstyles over the past 20 years! I think I’ll probably keep rockin the side pony til I die.

Janelle - Oh…sitting here at 5:30 a.m. a little teary eyed! SOOOO sweet. You and I both wore the SAME wedding dress!!! I got married in 1995 so it must have been a popular style around then 😉 Fun to see Meg! Congratulations!

Rachel - What a lovely post and I loved all the hairstyles – had a few of them myself!!! Happy anniversary.

Charissa - Best post! Happy 20.

Leslie - OH my. I loved this post! I got engaged at 18 and married my husband when I was 21, and we’ve been together 12 years now. I love hearing about couples who “grow up” and “grow old” together. And I love your blog!

Tiffany - That made me smile, Happy 20th Anniversary!

r - You are so lucky to have such a great marriage and a friend in your husband. Wishing I had the same.

laura oyler - love this! happy anniversary! i can’t believe you lived in the farm house for 2 years….felt like you were there for just a minute!

Ashley - This post makes me all kinds of happy! Love you two together!

Tricia - Happy Anniversary!!! I love that you got to grow up together. Hope that the next 20 years are just as much fun as the first 20!

Julie Friesen - Congrats on twenty years, Megan and Craig! It was fun to read your “history”. You two are so cute together! I need to take more pictures with Andy… seeing all of yours makes me think we don’t have very many together. Enjoy your day!

Jenna - Awe, love your story! You are an inspiration to me!

Michele - This was one of neatest things you’ve ever written. Happy 20th Anniversary! I just shared it with a friend.

Renee - wow. i don’t know you personally, but this gets me choked up. We’re 4 years and 2 kiddos in and i LOVE being married. seems like it’s easy to talk down about marriage on the internet these days. your joy in your marriage is so refreshing. and encouraging. just, wow! i can’t wait to have been married for 20 years 🙂 thanks for writing.

Stephanie - Oh, happy anniversary! I love your story. Your family is so relatable (we have seven kids and got married early), and I love reading about you all. This post brings tears to my eyes as I’m missing my husband who has been gone most of the summer. Here’s to many more years together!

Helen - I remember the first time we met you was at a Community Life (AKA Care Group)intro at church. I was in awe of you with your five kiddos, Annie was tiny. What a blessing you have been with your absolutely honest blog. I love reading about what you have thought to do next. You are an amazing woman, and your man is too. My man thinks he is a great guy. Glad you moved back to KS, and even though we hardly ever talk, know I am enjoying you from afar, sort of.
God bless you two and your great family!

Meg - Happy 20th Anniversary! What a beautiful and touching story of faith and family. You are an inspiration.

Juli - Awww, how sweet! Thank you for taking us on a walk through your family album. You are all adorable.

Jenny J - What a beautiful love story. Love reading your blog and enjoying the journey you are having with your beautiful family, god bless 🙂 x

Jodie - Congratulations!

Angela - Happy Anniversary to you both! I loved this entire post and the pictures! I too was married young with a little one on the way and we’re still happily together 23 years later.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Happy anniversary! I love every picture!! Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us.

Katie - What wonderful blessings through the years… love is awesome.

Pamela - What a great post, looking at your journey together through all those pictures. It is my wedding anniversary tomorrow, 21 years. September’s a good month!

Jessica Wheeler - Now that is dripping in sweetness…Thanks for sharing! God is SO good and evident in your journey:) love from Bama!

nakcus - What a beautiful story! Happy Anniversary!

Christy - Congrats on 20 years!! Thanks for sharing your story and the pictures. What a great post – one of my favorites!

kelli - This is gorgeous. I love your love story. It gave me goosebumps. Congrats to you and the beautiful, happy family you’ve made together! Hope you’re celebrating big-time! xoxox

ellen patton - What a good life you’ve had!

Jenny - I’ve been a reader for a long time now and I think this is my favorite post you’ve ever written! I LOVE IT! Also, I would love to know how you organize and archive your pictures. Would you do a blog post sometime about how you do that? Or if you’ve written one in the past, id love to read it! Can you point me towards it?

Also, confession time: I went to the Making Things Happen conference in March 2013. One of the questions that we really had to dig deep on is what is a dream job. Like – what would we really really want to do if nothing stood in our way. And my answer was to have your job! A shop, blog and host craft weekends at a home where people come and stay and I can invest in them, help them create memories and teach them! Hope that doesn’t all sound weird to say – just wanted you to know you truly are an inspiration. It is my goal to do something like you do once I raise my babies and have a little more time to focus on creative endeavors!

Lisa - I love this post today! Happy anniversary… what a great story you both have. A testimony about making things work through the good and hard. Have a wonderful day celebrating 20 yrs!!! Something to be very proud of!

Julie - Congratulation – what a love story. Thank you for sharing it and all the photos too. You are a beautiful family.

Necole@seriouslysassymama - I met my husband when I was 14, and we have been together every since.

Whitney - Oh Meg! I love every bit of this story! I don’t know you in real life, but I’ve been reading for years and feel like I do 🙂 Happy anniversary! You have such an adorable family.

Karen in NYC - Meg, This post is really special, especially because of all the photos, including from the early years. And, I realize it is totally not the point of your post, but it’s fun to see your hair styles through the years!

HJM - Such a great story! Your family has beautiful smiles. 🙂

Amy - One thing I loved about this post…besides your amazing love for each other…Craig’s 2 hairstyles and your 20+ hairstyles. 🙂 Congratulations! You are an amazing example of what marriage should be.

Anne Cucchi - Love following your blog! Happy 20th Anniversary…We’re celebrating our 30th today. September 3rd is one lucky day!!!!

Heidi Durant - Love this. Me and my Mr. were married young also. Going on 14 years. I love to read stories of marriages that are strong and successful. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your journey!

Angie - thank you – thank you for sharing your life with us. This was a wonderful way of demonstrating your love. Very romantic and touching (i cried). When do we hear from Mr. Duerksen. I would love to read his point of view..
Happy Anniversary – May God bless you and your family.

Marsha Kern - Best wishes on 20 years, you guys make a wonderful and cute family here is to lots more!!!

Linda Johnston - Thank you for sharing your journey!! Its beautiful. Full of love, joy and hope. What an inspiration! Happy Anniversary!!!

Nicole - I absolutely loved reading this! Thanks for sharing your story and such fun pictures! Blessings & Congrats on 20 years!

Jamie - What an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your journey. Your family is beautiful!

Jessie - Wow! This really hit home. We are contemplating a move back to Kansas from Denver and I keep looking for *signs* that the move is right for us. This post felt like a sign…..but….it’s KANSAS.

I keep telling myself how hard it was to leave home in the first place. Then, I take an afternoon walk and see those gorgeous mountains and I can’t possibly move back to Kansas. Then my 2-year-old cries b/c he wants his Grandma (in Kansas)…..

Today, your post was my *sign*.

Thank you!

erin - congrats!! Happy 20 years!! I hope my 20 years with my man (we are newlyweds) are just as fulfilling as yours!!

Heather - Precious story! Happy 20th!

Livlife - Hi Meg!

I’m a long time reader, but I don’t comment very often. I just wanted to say that is one of my favorite posts you’ve ever written. I love hearing about your family and the early years and seeing all your old photos. This post just felt so full of love, it was moving and beautiful.

Congratulations on 20 amazing years.

kelly - loved every bit of this. thanks for sharing!! happy anniversary.

Sarah Wolfe - I’d say he’s a keeper, but I bet he thinks the same about you too 🙂 Loved the walk down memory lane and all the pictures. Happy anniversary!

Jenn - I’m crying! That is so awesome. I knew most of your story…but to have the pictures and it all told in one go….just awesome! Congratulations! 20 years is a very big deal.

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long weekend.

September 2, 2014

i had a lovely weekend.
we worked HARD but had fun too.
we watched Mrs. Doubtfire and stayed up past midnight.
we grilled burgers and brats. (and i made these turkey spinach &feta burgers for me… YUM)
we shopped at lowes and even the kids liked it!
we went to a HS football scrimmage.
craig made homemade ice cream.
our kids played basketball together.
we sat outside, listening to music on the deck and enjoyed the view.

i found the biggest grasshopper i have seen in my 38 years of life.

we had beautiful weather and terrible thunderstorms all in one weekend.

i got crafty for Camp CREATE.

we gave away the last of the kittens and are down to just two cats again. 🙂

i scored the best quilt E V E R at our local thrift shop.
we got take out pizza for dinner…meaning i didn’t have to cook.

annie and i made bunting past her bedtime.
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i texted with friends i miss a whole bunch.
i finished a book.

i found out that i REALLY like this premade coffee and i REALLY like this almond coconut milk.

we went to our favorite pool on the last day it was open for the year.
and played with our new Watershot underwater case for my iPhone… AWESOME!!!
(i will post all the fun pics later this week… SO MUCH FUN!)

craig and i worked all day saturday and all day monday at the craft house.
yard work and pressure washer and gutter cleaning and painting and furniture moving.
we were so tired.

so i made margaritas.

this space doesn’t look like much now… but it will.
our swingset used to be here but we gave it away.
we cleared and cleaned and it’s ready for a facelift this week.

and my sweet husband sold his pool table for me.
it was a little sad to see it go but Craft Weekend just got a little roomier.
(don’t cry for him too long… our new house has a pool table so he can still play)

how was your long weekend?

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Tiffany - What a fun and productive weekend! My favorite kind! I’m excited to see your outdoor facelift! It will be amazing, I’m sure.

Mindy - Beautiful picture of the cornfield and that grasshopper is a big one – what a gorgeous green color he is!

Jenn - I think we should always have Mondays off. Its just nice to really relax on Sunday with no worries of Monday.

Ali - Great weekend ! Can you teach on the blog how to make a bunting !?! Such a great craft !!

Barbara (WA) - Great weekend beginning with dinner with friends and then major work on our office/library, yahoo!! Just wanted to say I immediately noticed the Red & White sign. I have a friend with a huge collection because family members owned one of those groceries.

Angela - Well, my husband is deployed, so my 8-month old son was my date to an out-of-town wedding, and we also did about 5 billion little projects around the house with my lovely grandparents.

In other news, I’ve just started sewing and I made my first bunting. I’d like to make one similar to the ones you and Annie made, but I don’t really have that much fabric. I need to go fabric/remnant shopping, but I’ll probably end up finding a ton I love and buying, you know, all of it. Whoops. 🙂

tasha roe - im so excited for your new adventures at the craft house!!
where did you find the coconut flavored almond creamer?!!!!! I’m kind of twitching over how awesome that would be.

Janet - The craft house is coming along! i love all your photos especially the one of your dog!

Jenny B. - So many lovely photos! 🙂 I am in love with that yellow tray from the thrift store!! I hit one flea market this weekend, and I was on the hunt for a tray, but came home empty-handed. Any chance you want to sell that one?? 😉

danielle - I need to thrift shop more! That quilt is beautiful! Looks like a fun full weekend! We hiked, biked, went to church, and did our first day of school 🙂

Kerri - That is a gorgeous quilt!

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soup for you!

August 31, 2014

thursday was rainy and a bit chilly and it was making me CRAVE a big bowl of soup!
here are 10 soup recipes i found that look amazing!

Chipotle Chicken Chowder

5 Ingredient Pesto Chicken Soup

Lasagna Soup

Garden Fresh Tomato Basil Soup

Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

BBQ Chicken Pizza Soup

HEALTHY CROCK POT JALAPENO, CHICKEN & SWEET CORN SOUP

Stuffed Peppers Soup

Pork Chili Verde

Sicilian Chicken Soup

the problem is… which one to start with?!

knowing me i will start with the ones that my kids would be most willing to try. 🙂

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Weekend Cheer - […] When Meg does a Pinterest round-up, I immediately repin EVERYTHING. This one is […]

nic - soup is my favorite, forever and always amen.

Jeremie - The BBQ Chicken Pizza Soup is the BEST soup I’ve ever had!!!! You won’t regret making it!!!

Necole@seriouslysassymama - I love soup. The minute it gets out of the high 90s and 100s here in Texas, i will be in soup making mode!

Michelle Whitlow - I was just saying the other day that I was craving some soup now that our temps have turned more fall-ish! That chipotle chicken chowder looks yummy!!! And homemade tomato basil soup is always on our list in chillier months! I especially like to add cheese tortellini to it 🙂

Stephanie - Chilly?! In August?! It’s been so long since I had that experience, I forgot it happens in some lucky locals. Thank you for posting these! I’m trying to save money this grocery day and soup always does it!

Cami - That lasagna soup is my jam! It’s amazing! Am looking forward to trying the soups you’ve posted. Thanks 🙂

Laura H - Drool….
I have a fantastic recipe for Broc Cheddar soup! Just like Panera Bread! And my kids actually like it 🙂 Can’t wait for cooler weather to come this way!

Valerie - YUM! Wow that BBQ Chicken Pizza one looks delish! Soup is heavenly on a nice Fall day 🙂

Danielle - That lasagna soup is begging me to make it this fall! Thanks for sharing all these great soup recipes.

Audrina - Wow, all these look so good! The weather’s getting cooler now, so I’m definitely going to try these out. Thanks for the ideas!

http://www.mindfullyaudrina.blogspot.com

Colleen - Thank you for these and for you blog. that’s all, good nite!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - I’ll have one of each.
Also,we have stuffed pepper soup in the regular rotation. Big crowd pleaser. Super simple. And cheap!
I would like to have soup with you. Bye.

Ellese - OOOOOhhhhh I just got hungry. This is perfect, just in time for fall where I only eat soup for lunch (practically). Thanks for sharing!

xo, ellese
http://rockpaperglam.com/

Suzelle - These ALL look SO good !! I want to make ALL of them….if it ever goes below 95*. I am over it !!!

Kristin S - Except for that stuffed peppers, I’m going to make every one of these at least once this winter. I love soup and love new-to-me recipes.

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striped.

August 29, 2014

friday of a holiday weekend?
the best.
tonight we have HS football and i am hoping the rain stops.

last night on instagram i posted a picture saying that we striped Scott’s helmet.
until last year i had no idea what that meant just like you probably don’t.

the helmets are just white and at the beginning of the season the parents all show up in the gym and put new fresh stickers on their son’s helmet.
they are pretty heavy duty stickers.
and you use a hair dryer to kind of melt them to mold a flat sticker onto a curved surface.

i was throwing quite a fit in the car on the way there saying “why can’t the boys just do this themselves?! why do WE have to go? why can’t they just buy helmets with the logo on them? isn’t that a thing? don’t they make those?”
then we get there… and sitting with my husband on the gym floor… working together on our son’s helmet… seeing a gym full of parents (many of them our friends) working for their kids…. i got a little choked up inside.
it’s actually a pretty cool thing!
it is neat to see your community together.
all these people who are wanting a good season for ALL the boys… not just their son.

and because i am anti-social (at times…) i would’ve missed out on it.
(but craig duerksen don’t you dare hold that statement over me the next time i try to avoid being with people! 😉

school sports are quite different than the travel teams where kids come from all the place to be on a team and play teams from all over too.
that crowd always makes me feel uneasy.
i don’t always trust those crowds with my child… does that make sense?
the parents get CRAZY. it’s sad and embarrassing to witness. it makes my Mama Grizzly tendencies flare up.
i don’t trust that they want the best for my son.
but with your school team there is a unity present. there’s pride in the work the team and coaches are doing together and the adults recognize that.

after the stickers are on, you write a note to your son, roll it up and put it in their helmet.

that was when i realized i was being a jerk and this was kind of a neat tradition that i was not appreciating.
writing “love” notes just doesn’t happen too much over here.
the teen age years can be hard.
not BAD or awful of course… but still a challenge.
everything is a battle it seems for some kids and parenting through that leaves me not feeling up for writing sweet notes too often.

and even though i am a nervous wreck every single game when my basketball loving son plays football… i am proud.
proud that he is working hard, stuck it out and is having fun out there.
and that his helmet looks soooo good.

(the tape with their name is just so the parents knew which helmet to get…it comes off before the game) 🙂

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Sami - Oh my goodness! You’re a Hesston Swather! We always played you guys in sports growing up and I thought your mascot was so fitting for Kansas (I mean after someone explained to me what a swather was.:) We were the Canton-Galva Eagles. Small towns UNITE!! I love the unity created with the sticker party. And the notes you put in the helmets are so precious. If my son plays football, I hope they do that. If not, I might have to start it. 🙂

Lorie - That is such a great tradition and I am so glad you didn’t miss out on it!

Amanda J - I also love your shoes.! Where did you find them?

s - I can’t imagine you as antisocial since you genuinely seem so friendly. I am a total somebody so I would have felt the same as you but it sounds like a wonderful tradition. And sports…brings out the best and worst of people. My kids play for fun….they aren’t the best, don’t have a killer instinct so it sometimes gets difficult to watch and hear the other parents screaming… but I try to just enjoy regardless…it’s all about being part of a team, getting some exercise and learning skills, persistence and dedication. Loved the note in the helmet!

Kristin S - I want your sneakers!

Kerri - That is a very scary looking Swather. Praying all our boys have a safe season without serious injury. I love football, but not too disappointed that my son didn’t play.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - You guys are the sportiest.
Also, yay community!
And yay stripes!

martha - what a great tradition! (especially the note in the helmet) and may I mention your shoes???? loving them!! 🙂

Becca - I am so glad you explained, I thought you meant putting the tape with his name on it. Obviously not a sport family. Cool tradition:)

Liz M - HS football sometimes gets a bad rap, but the traditions– like you described–are so powerful. I love the note tucked in the helmet! Sort of double protection. I miss the Friday Night Lights…enjoy these years!

katie Skiff - That is a fun tradition, but I am the same way. Home. alone. Much better for me. lol…
Tonight was our scrimmage, and I don’t know if I am ready for High School football.

Molly - this is pretty cool!!! i grew up in a small iowa town, so all thee traditions. i get it. they are pretty cool. and your mascot is pretty intense!

Tessa - I LOVE THIS!!! I am forwarding this post to my husband who is a football coach … not sure if they can do the same tradition, but if they can I am totally encouraging it. My son plays 9th grade football this year, and so next year he will be in the high school team. He also has a concussion, and so this would be especially meaningful to pray over his helmet to protect him. Thanks so much for sharing this!

Adrienne - I feel the same way about school sports vs club! Friday night lights is my favorite! I have a senior this year, so it’s a big, BIG deal (to us anyways)!

KWolff - This is such a cool tradition! I hope that your Friday Night Football is fabulous and that the victory bells will ring out for y’all.

ira lee - my oldest is a senior in hs this year and its already been an emotional ride. so i get where you are coming from; the sense of community, pride in your children, the sense of togetherness. maybe its southern football!! lol

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the super hike

August 27, 2014

we talked about renting canoes or kayaks for this area (Colter Bay) but then decided on taking the boat tour.
that way no one would tip, get soaked or drop oars and much less fighting would occur.
the boat tour was a good choice.

we saw a bald eagle. 🙂

hey… who is that?
oh yeah – MOM!
you know one great thing about a vacation where you hike all day and sleep in a “cozy” cabin?
no make up.
i used it once the last night when we went out with friends. 🙂
i like no make up.
a lot.

reality.
also on a vacation with lots of hiking and cabin-y things… no cell service.
so here we were out on a boat in front of the most gorgeous scenery and suddenly someone noticed that we had service! i admit that it was even exciting to me. but this picture of scott cracked me up.
because literally this is him.
all the time.

talby was the age where life jackets were still required.
she was thrilled about it… just kidding.

funny kids.

“here mom… let me take a picture of you taking a picture”

we also took the hike down (all paved sidewalk ) to see Mammoth Falls in yellowstone.
CRAZY awesome.
and scary.
i don’t like heights.

it was so high. you can’t even grasp it by the picture.

i like her.

then we drove farther and went to see where we HAD been.
so to the left of the fall you can see tiny little specs… those are people.
that where the family picture was taken.
SO HIGH!

our next hike was Cascade Canyons by Jenny Lake.
it blew my mind.
one thing i learned on th boat tour was that Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks have a “let it burn” policy.
so if there is a forest fire… it is left to burn out on it’s own.
and that it is part of nature… killing off certain bugs or plant diseases.
interesting isn’t it?

so this trail obviously had experienced a forest fire.
but it made it look SO COOL!

i kept saying things like “doesn’t this look fake?”
“this looks like a movie set!”
“this can’t even be real!”
“where are the ewoks?!”
“are we going to find ET?”

a couple that did not speak english was looking at this chipmunk.
i took the picture and they asked “what do you call this?”
i said “chipmunk”
she repeated “CHIP-MUNK?”
i thought it was so funny.
it’s not but i was laughing to myself all day about it.
and still now i can’t stop smiling.
CHIP-MUNK?

it was a long hike.
according to google… 3.5 miles each way.
no wonder i was tired!

he’s a cutie.

annie was my hiking buddy for most of the time.
the boys were so fast and talby was trying to keep up with the boys.
and craig was keeping up with her.
so annie and i just went as fast as we could.

“Look Mom! A huge heart rock!!”

this was where our hike ended.
we were ready for a break!
the kids all found ways to get in the icy cold water but not fall in.

then scott decided to take the shortcut back.
oh my.
with his phone in his pocket.

he made it.
crazy kid.

then we hiked all the way back down at hyper speed because it was about to pour.
the kids were so far ahead of us that we couldn’t see them.
the trail was almost empty… kind of eery.
i was sure a bear was going to appear in my path and i would be its dinner.
thankfully that didn’t happen.

as soon as we go to the car it did start to rain.
but we were dry!

and then the vice president and his motorcade drove by!
that isn’t something that happens every day… at least not for me.

on our last night we walked out to catch the last sunset.

sean said “mom… here’s a rock that looks like africa!” 🙂

we left Grand Teton National Park and headed to Sheridan, WY to visit some friends for one evening.
(gorgeous drive – oh my word!)
and then on sunday we drove the WHOLE way back to kansas.

to be honest… i was not looking forward to this vacation.
i just couldn’t imagine that it would be fun.
but i knew craig really wanted to go… so i halfway went along with it as he planned.
i wasn’t cheering him on… but i wasn’t refusing.
and i am so glad i was wrong.

This was a FABULOUS vacation!!
i loved every hike.
i loved being outside.
my kids do so well with physical activity…less fighting when you are hiking.
it was so beautiful every where we went.
i highly recommend Yellowstone & Grand Tetons & colorado.
in case you were on the fence…. go for it.
you will love it.
but book your lodging now for next year because it fills up QUICK.

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danielle - Looks like so much fun! Hopefully it will not be as crowded if we go later in the year next year 🙂

Shellie - Unreal beautiful!!

Sheridan Eketone - Sheridan is a PLACE?? I never knew that. My mother named me Sheridan after an American friend she made before I was born! Loved all your pics. It looks amazing! Please come to New Zealand & hike here so you can come meet me 😉 xxx

adrienne - my parents used to drag my sister and I to lake Dillon in Colorado, we hated it. looking back, I wish, almost daily, that we could be back there! hiking, horseback riding, going in the cheesey native American stores.. it was the best. dairy queen was our big reward after every hike. dad would make sandwiches on cheese onion bread (gross then, gross now!). just the best.

Leslie - Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!

Kristin - Love Cascade Canyon Trail!!! But I can’t believe you didn’t talk about how scary the trail to get to Inspiration Point is. Scared the heck out of me! I’m so glad you enjoyed one of my favorite places on earth so much.

Lisa - Beautiful! What a wonderful trip for all of you.

Mindy - What beautiful pictures! Sounds like an amazing family trip.

Jenn - Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing.

Maureen - We live in Chicago suburbs and have driven twice to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons for family vacations. Favorite trips for all of us. Kids now all in college and were just saying that they wished we had gone again this summer but like Lauren all were working. I think that every family should make the effort to go. Nature at its best!!!

Kimberlee Jost - All of it gorgeous.
Even without makeup.
😉

Kimber-Leigh - your pictures are just beautiful. i hope to take our family one day soon! And i giggled about chip-munk…because all my children call them “chick-munks” and i just can’t bring myself to correct them!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Amazing, Megz! I love it. I want to go now. Your pics were perfection! Good job, God!

Carol S. - AAwesome trip and pics! I planned that trip from Chicago to Yellowstone, rafting in Bozeman, MN, then drive thru Black Hills, to Mt. Rushmore and stayed at national park lodging throughout. Very different active driving vacation, but memorable and fun for all of us. Fun for me to experience things first time with my family. You’ll never forget that trip.

jodie - chip-munk? hehheh

Jenny B. - Beautiful! I am so glad to read that you didn’t want to go but went anyway and had a great time. That’s me. I would never be excited about a trip like this, but I think I would probably love it if I would just do it. 🙂 Also, I am very impressed with Scott’s jumping ability. Good grief! I don’t know how he didn’t fall in. 🙂

Melia - Meg-do you mind sharing what lens you used on your vacation pics? I’m assuming you didn’t haul a whole bad of equipment-I’m looking for an all-around lighter weight one to use for things like that.
Thanks!
Melia

Jen - I’m so envious about this trip. I have the exact photo of the falls that you took but it’s from 1980 when I was last there as a 10 year old kid! I would love to go there with my family but we live in PA so it would be a looooong trip.

stephany - The cell service thing is funny! When we go up to northern idaho to lake pend oreille the best place for cell service is the middle of the lake. My dad and husband have been known to go out on a jet ski to get on conference calls for work when we are there!

Erin - Your pictures are truly breathtaking!!!!

Kristin S - Absolutely beautiful. The scenery and your family!

Lisa - Wow! My Family and I toured Grand Canyon, The Arches and Bryce Canyon this summer. I, too, was a little hesitant (lots of driving; more my sons and husbands dream trip) and (just like you) I was so happy we went! It was stunningly gorgeous. A once in a lifetime trip. And the same is true about forest fires. We saw entire mountains of burned forest. So shocking. There was even a fire burning in Grand Canyon that the Ranger said was a low level burn and they were letting it go. Loved my family’s faces as we toured–pricelessly happy.

Anita - Oh my gosh my family just got back late last Friday from out trip to Yellowstone and Tetons. We did the same boat ride from Colter Bay. It such a beautiful part of the country. I love seeing your puctures.

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ladies night

August 25, 2014

since we moved to this house and had the coop moved over here, the chickens haven’t been able to roam
(neighborhood dogs… coyotes… golf course… makes for rough free ranging conditions)
i do enjoy the poop free patio though!
and i realize that they are chickens and they are fine not roaming.
but i am also caring too and i like seeing “happy” animals.
soon we will have an area for them to walk around bigger than the coop but this summer was packed and it just hasn’t happened yet.
sometimes when the sun is going down and it’s just before they will naturally go in to roost we will open the coop and let them out for a bit.

the dogs are always curious…

this was the first our kitten had seen of the chickens up close.
but was also very interested in the grasshoppers EVERYWHERE.
then last night i was practicing my “caring” and let them out.
but forgot to shut the door later that night when they went back in.
blerg.
so… they all were out again this morning.
my trick did not work to toss them blueberries until they all went back in the coop.
how can their pea brain figure that out?!
so in my jammies… BEFORE coffee… i had to catch each one.
running. pouncing. grabbing. missing. grabbing again.

yeah… that will wake you up on a monday morning!
i bet my neighbors enjoyed the show.

THEN i got to have more fun by taking stanley to the vet to get his stitches removed from being neutered 10 days ago.
which required me to hold him down.
and sweat.
and get peed on.

can i start my day over please?

no?

ok… i will just go paint something instead.

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KAREN OSBORNE - We have chickens and dogs also and I am amazed at how the chickens do not learn to stay away from dogs. Ours can fly into a fenced area around the coop (that is how they get into the yard) but when the dogs chase them they seem to lose this ability 🙁

CathyC - Too funny. Very pretty birds. The kitten is adorable.

Sue Groff - Unfortunately, I cannot see your pictures and your script because of a “Find New Roads With Your Family” ad from Chevrolet that has your picture on it. I love your blog. Please see if there is a way we, the readers, can remove the ad to view your post. Thank You

Jen - I am in awe of your photography. Stunning. Thank you for sharing your talents!

Jayme - I can completely relate. So we just finished up with our permanent coop for our 5 hens this weekend. The previous coop was smaller and closer to our house, so they became used to that arrangement (they free range during the day). Well we began the transaction to the bigger nicer coop and let’s just say I completely understand how hens do not just follow a trail of treats or allow themselves to be easily caught. Hubby and I were out in the evening for over 2 and a half hours trying to contain the ladies and can I just add that I’m 38 weeks pregnant. Entertainment at its finest if anyone could have seen it!

Janet - I love the photos! The black and white chicken is my favorite, altho the golden one is quite pretty too. The brown one looks a little cranky as if it might just peck that kitten if it came too close.

Jennifer - I love this post and can so relate! My daughter and I were chasing chickens around the yard a few days ago after a stray dog came into the yard and got one of our girls. There were some electricians working in the yard next door to ours, and I’m quite certain they were bent over in laughter at the site of us chasing these silly birds. It’s very easy to fall in love with your flock of feathered ladies. We even have some watermelon out for our girls to snack on right now.

Megan - I have so many animal questions for you, Meg.
How do you keep the dogs from eating the chickens? How do you keep them from eating the cat? How do you keep the cat from destrying your furniture? Do the cats want to eat the chickens? My new farmhouse has mice (eeek!!) and we are considering a cat to help out. But, I’m a dog person and my two big dogs have a high prey drive. I think they’d kill a cat. Perhaps it’s a lost cause for us. I also think they’d kill chickens if we ever got any. They sound vicious but they aren’t at all. Just hunters–birds, rabbits, bats…And I have no clue how to take care of a cat!

Cali Kliewer - This makes me smile. Mostly because we got a new puppy on Friday, and today was the first day I had to deal with a puppy, and two kids, and trying to get myself ready and out the door by 6:30. I may or may not have been seen in my yard, in my jammies, pre-coffee…chasing a puppy and begging him to poop. Only 4 more days until the weekend…

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miracle

August 22, 2014

did you all see this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftAoelTlKLs

it’s amazing.
what a HUGE victory!

praising the Lord for this.

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Karen Groves - This is amazing. I could not help but cry tears of joy as I watched this. Thank you for keeping us informed on all of this. I will continue to pray. It is powerful to see God’s work in action.

Mindy - Very behind in my blog reading but had to echo your thankfulness for this wonderful miracle!

Melissa - Agreed! I have been following this story. miracle indeed. God is great.

Elizabeth Cannata - I am so grateful for my faith because I know, first hand, that miracles do happen. People often think that if they don’t receive the miracle they pray for, then miracles don’t exist. It isn’t true. God has a plan for each of our lives and it is up to us to follow Him and be faithful to Him. Thank you for sharing this on my Monday morning. What a way to start off the week!

Jennifer - Yes, indeed. Praise the Lord!

jen - Praise the Lord!!!

Sara - Thousands. So thankful to God that Dr. Brantly and Nancy Writebol both recovered and have been released from isolation!! Just so happy and relieved. Thank you for sharing this news clip.

Terri Christian - I prayed for him and our God is AWESOME! Grateful He said yes.

Rebecca - amazing!!

Jenny B. - Wonderful!

miss lynn - beautiful. we serve a MIGHTY GOD!

Valerie - Wow, WHAT a miracle! God is so good!!
I love hearing someone praise God even through the hard times.
“God saved my life.” — what a great testimony!

Andrea in AK - To God be the glory!

Kelly - So incredibly awesome and a wonderful answer to prayer!!!
To God be the Glory indeed!!!!!

Elizabeth Stewart - God hears and answers prayer!

Karen Gerstenberger - Wow – what a gracious, composed and grateful man. I am so happy for him, for his family, and for the other doctor who was brought here for treatment. Their survival is a miracle, and perhaps will lead the way for the experimental drug to be developed further – and used to save more lives in West Africa.

Jenn - What a miracle indeed! We do need to continue to pray for West Africa. Its almost out of control. How is your friend Pam? I think of her often when I hear more news about the outbreak.

kirsten - saw it earlier and immediately thought of you and your friends. praise god!!

beth - Praise Jesus!! So happy he is reunited with his family.

elma - I watched that and his Faith is just so amazing!! So thankful to the Lord to have healed and spared his life!! What a awesome man doing what Gods called him to do. You are so lucky to know him!!!

Julie - Praise the Lord for His healing power!!! So thankful for this.

Heather S. - Was watching the news and heard this story – thought of you! What a great testimony!

Marsha Kern - Yes it is-wonderful news!

Angela - Great news! And so thankful for the way he praised the name of the Lord and thanked Him for His healing!

kelly - Praising God, too!! And still praying for the people of Liberia. Thank you for posting.

sarah - I’m praising the Lord with you.

Are Pam and her family still in Africa? Today I’m reminded to pray for them and those they love and serve.

Beth - Praise Jesus! Amazing that he is standing there today. A miracle.

Barbara - YES, Meg, what a miracle!! To God be the glory! I watched Dr. Brantley give his speech yesterday and how God honoring it was. I enjoyed watching the people behind him, too….you could tell that every person standing there shared in his joy and was so happy for him. Even in the midst of his good news, though, he didn’t forget the people Africa and asked for continued prayers for them.

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