Total Body Workout Calendar

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We sure did!
Now that all the food has been eaten and all the pants' buttons have been undone...let's get to work! Don't wait until the New Year to start some resolutions!

Still feeling stuffed? Well let's get back to work
with a great workout!

God Bless, 

Be Thankful!

We're taking this week off to celebrate with our loved ones, but we just wanted to stop by and wish you a very Happy and Festive Thanksgiving! We hope you have a safe holiday filled with time spent with family and friends.

God Bless, 

 &

Harvest Week: Recipe Cards

Chances are you've already received or found plenty of recipes to whip up for upcoming dinners and parties. What better way to stay organized than to have recipe cards ready to write them down? Or feel free to write your favorite dish on them and hand it out to friends and family! Print them out and make them your own!

And here's an example card with a bonus recipe on it! You're going to LOVE these crackers. Not too spicy and just addicting enough to snack on while you cook your Thanksgiving feast!

How do you keep your recipes organized?

God Bless,

 &

Harvest Week: Turkey Craft

We love to get crafty here at James & June and we're hoping to instill this into our kids' hearts early as well. Everyone loves a good hand/footprint craft so why not get festive...and maybe a little messy! We created our own Pinterest inspired turkey craft to do with little ones as well as older kiddos.

We've attached some printables for you to customize your turkey! Below you'll find a printable turkey, turkey outline (in case you're older ones feel like coloring), and several backgrounds to choose from. Get creative! Just "feather out" Little Ones' painted hand or footprints, then cut and paste the turkey cut out over it! So simple and so cute!

Here is everything you'll need:
-Printable Turkey (find below)
-Background (find below)
-Construction Paper for mounting (optional)
-Paint
-Glue
-Scissors

Here are some pictures of our playgroup getting in on the fun:

Painting with baby feet is HARD! Our turkeys came out different but equally cute! What a great way to remember how tiny our babies' feet once were. 

How did your's turn out? We want to see!
Do you have any other turkey crafts you like to create with your kids?

God Bless,

 &

Harvest Week: Decorations

Changing up decor for every season or holiday is a great and easy way to liven up your living space and make things a lot more cozy and warm during as the cold comes. Here are the things we put up in each of owns to capture the fall spirit!

Jillianne's Home

1,2,3: These are all decor on our fireplace mantle. Our mantle is big enough to have all three scenes of decor without clashing. I love filling a space like this since large and can feel very empty. My favorite pieces are the chalkboard and owls. Writing on chalkboards can be easily changed from time to time and the owls just fit into the fall season!

4,5: When I was little, pumpkins came in one form and it is the ones that you typically carve. Although now being older and going to a local pumpkin patch, pumpkins are so diverse. I grabbed some unique, little pumpkins to spice up the dinner table and used pumpkins that Kacie gave me to add a little something to our TV stand.

Kacie's Home

It's been a crazy, hectic, madhouse around here. We moved this past weekend so our fall decorations are slowly but surely making their way out of the storage bins. So here are a few of my favorites!

1) I found these super cute leaf plates at a grocery store in Texas. They're great little platters for treats. Aren't owls cute in every season?! And the scarecrow figurine was a gift that reminds me to give thanks for all the gifts in my life. 

2) Pumpkins everywhere! Starbucks pumpkin bear, pumpkin carving, and a mason jar full of pumpkin potpourri. Have I mentioned I'm addicted to pumpkins? :)

I wish I could show you all of my decorations, but alas we still have some unpacking to do! 

Do you get new decorations each year or do you stick with the classics?

We want to see your Fall homes! Post pictures in the comments. 

God Bless,

 and

Harvest Week: Recipes

Ahhh cooking in the Fall...is there anything better? The smell of warm meals and treats coming from the kitchen just makes a house feel like a home. Our Thanksgiving celebrations may be small this year, but we still plan on whipping up something yummy for our families! Here are some of the dishes and desserts we love to make (and devour!):

What are you cooking for Thanksgiving? We'd love to hear about your family's favorite dishes!

God Bless, 

&

Harvest Week: Traditions

Welcome to Harvest Week! By now I'm sure you've busted out your favorite Thanksgiving decorations and started making those delicious Fall treats. We thought we'd devote a whole week to sharing our favorite traditions (old & new), recipes, decorations, and crafts for this festive season. So sit back and enjoy!

I sure do miss the UT vs. A&M games. Luckily there's still plenty of football to be enjoyed after a hearty meal!
We were able to travel back home for Thanksgiving a few years in a row and thoroughly enjoyed the time by camping! It's one of our favorite activities and Hubby's family really knows how to do it up! One year we decided to cook a Mexican themed meal (tamales) instead of the traditional Thanksgiving fare. We loved exploring new recipes so much that we spent the next few years creating new menu themes like Italian (lasagna), Asian (egg rolls & noodle dishes), and back to turkey & dressing.
This year we plan on starting a new tradition: writing down what we're thankful for. Sine we're a new family of three, this will be a fun way to see how we've grown in the coming years.

A lot of Thanksgiving traditions involve football and our family is no different. We always watch the Apple Cup, a rivalry between our alma mater, WSU, and their rival, UW. It is usually the day after Thanksgiving so we look at it as wrapping up our Thanksgiving festivities. While watching the game, we usually put up Christmas lights and decor around the house to bring in the spirit of Christmas. This is something my husband and I started when we first got married and still continue it every year. With my husband's job, sometimes the decorations don't go up right after Thanksgiving but it still gets done eventually and being able to do it together is what makes our traditions special.

Now that we have started a family and have a little one, I wanted to start a new tradition: The Thankful Jar. Starting after Thanksgiving, we will have a designated jar to put things we are thankful for in. It will bein the same place all year round with a pen and paper near by. When we think of something we are thankful for, we'll write it down, stick it in the jar, and come Thanksgiving we'll read everything thing we have to be thankful for each year, then start all over. We have so much to have gratitude for and Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year to celebrate it.

What are some of your family's favorite Thanksgiving traditions?
Do you plan on starting any new traditions this year?

God Bless,

 &

Testament Friday: All About Mary

Out of all the women in the Bible, we hear about Mary the most. With Christmas coming up and as we celebrate Jesus' birth, Mary also comes to mind. Because of these reasons, her story can often become redundant. For those times that Mary may seem mundane, it is good to remember that we can grow and learn from her and what God called her to do.

I think Mary's story is best expressed in the book of Luke. In chapter 1, the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be the Son of the Most High" (v.30-31).

At first Mary is "greatly troubled" by what Gabriel was going to tell her, I know I would be (Luke 1:29). Have you ever been led by the Lord to do something and felt "greatly troubled" like Mary? Of course, it wouldn't be anything like Mary was called to do but when we diligently follow the Lord, sometimes we are called to step out of our comfort zone. Whether God is calling you to an area of ministry, a different job, or even to reach out to someone who needs Him, we can feel uncomfortable or scared. Just because we are scared, doesn't mean that what you're called to do won't be fruitful. It all comes down to trusting Him and having courage.

"Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will never fail you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:8

Mary shows her trust in the Lord and courage to carry out His will. She answered the angel, Gabriel and said, "I am the Lord's servant...May it be to me as you said" (Luke 1:38) I am encouraged by her willingness to serve the Lord and let His will be done. To be honest, if I were in this situation, my answer probably would not be as graceful as Mary's. (Please tell me I am not the only one!) I would also be worried and in a tizzy about the fact that, me being in this situation, am supposed to be a virgin to wed. In Biblical times, getting pregnant by someone other than my husband and not even married are grounds for death! Now I wasn't there with her so there may have been tears or she may have complained, who knows but her answer, no matter how she felt; Mary carried out the Lord's will with grace. Her song just says it all.

After Mary had Jesus in Bethlehem, angels visited shepherds and instructed them to go to Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus. Filled with awe, they spread the word of Jesus' arrival for all to know. Although, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). She had peace in her heart. God's will was done. Mary had the courage to trust God, walk in faith and our Savior born. What an amazing example faith!

Are there things that God had called you to do? Are you nervous or scared to step out in faith? I hope Mary's story encourages you to rise up to your calling! It certainly has for me.

LORD, you are so good! Thank you for your faithfulness. I pray that today you help each and every one of us to step out in courage. That your example of faith in Mary's life speaks to us and encourages us to follow the life you have set for us! In Your Wonderful Name, Amen!

Is there anything we can be praying for?

How does Mary's story speak to you?

Blessings,

Veterans Day

It's Veterans Day and I'm sure that many of you have time off work and school to relax and reflect on this day with family. It's a day to honor those who have bravely served in all of the branches of our military. It's a time to remember those who have and currently do sacrifice their time, energy, and even their lives so that you and I can celebrate our freedoms and feel safer in our homes.

Unfortunately, many military members return from service with something they didn't have before: physical challenges, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and much more.Today we'd like to showcase an organization that gives hope to these courageous people.

"The Pets for Vets program is dedicated to supporting veterans and providing a second chance for shelter pets by rescuing, training and pairing them with America's veterans who could benefit from a companion animal." - Pets for Vets website

IMAGE SOURCE

This is a nonprofit organization with locations in over 20 states. Founded by Clarissa Black who has a degree in and experience with animal training, Pets for Vets works very hard to make a perfect match between animal and veteran. We love this because it tugs on two of our biggest heartstrings: veterans and shelter animals. An animal can be a great companion, especially in a time of struggle and discouragement. With the help of organizations like Pets for Vets, may more veterans' lives can be greatly improved.

While donating time and money to groups like Pets for Vets is highly encouraged, we also want you to get involved on your own. You can visit a local VA for some fellowship and service, help honor service members in your church and work, and/or help any veterans you know personally with any household projects they might need done.

So don't forget the purpose of today and laze on the couch all afternoon. Get out and serve those who have served for you!

Are you a veteran? If so, let us know! We'd love to honor you!

Is there an institution catering to veterans in your area?

Comment on this post by 10pm PST today (11/11/14) with what you're doing to serve veterans and you could win a small giveaway!

God Bless,

Life Update

We've been extra busy these last few weeks here at James & June. Halloween has come and gone and we'd like to share a quick update on our lives.

We were able to make our own costumes this year and the kiddos looked extra cute! The babes were Pebbles and Bam Bam while the Mommies were Wilma Flinstone and Betty Rubble. Here are a few pictures of their first time trick-or-treating:

Aren't they precious!?

They lasted about 2 hot seconds in that wagon!

Trick-or-Treating is especially fun with babies.
You get to keep all the candy for yourself!

Little James had his first birthday party over the weekend and it was so fun to get to celebrate with family and friends. Turning 1 is a huge milestone, especially for Mommas and especially emotionally! Just like everyone says, a year truly does go by too quickly! Here is a little peek into Little James' party!

We chose to have an airplane themed party, with so many fun decorations. I did everything very simple since we had a lot of people attending and of course the focus was on Little Man and socializing. A lot of the decor also came from Etsy. I found an airplane themed party package that was printable which cut my cost down and of course it was cute and perfect for Little Man's party!

I wanted to show how much James has grown so I printed our his monthly photos that I took. I backed them with kraft paper and put them up on our fireplace mantle for guests to look at. Putting it all up really put into perspective how fast this year has flown!

I have been seeing these cute chalkboard signs for birthdays and wanted to have one for little James. I found this on Etsy also and printed it out myself.

We had some propeller pops and airplane-shaped Rice Krispie treats for dessert that were both yummy! They were hard to make at first but totally worth it and very cute! Instead of cake, we had cupcakes with little cupcake toppers.

I didn't want to sugar shock Little Man, so I made a healthy, no sugar cake for home. For natural sweetness, the frosting was cream cheese with apple juice and the bulk of the cake was bananas and apple sauce.

 Here are the little co-pilots during the party! Aren't they the cutest!?

I hope you enjoyed catching up with us! We have some exciting this coming up for the end of the year as well as the new year. Can you believe we are heading towards the New Year already?

Blessings,