Large Snow/star Project

I love snow. I love the way it looks, the way it smells, and especially the way the world sounds when it snows. Everything becomes so peaceful. When I look out my window and see snow falling, I’m filled with joy and peace all wrapped into one.

Each year, I enjoy making snowflakes and “stars” to decorate my home and workplace. I’ll spend an hour or two cutting shapes from white paper or brown-and-white paper bags. It’s fun, relaxing, and a cherished tradition. When my kids were young, we’d cut out snowflakes together and hang them on the windows. Even if we didn’t see a single snowflake outside, we could enjoy our paper snow inside. It was simple, joyful, and brought a bit of magic to our home.

A couple of years ago, I learned how to make three-dimensional snowflakes—sometimes called stars. I still call them snowflakes, even when I make them with brown paper bags. They add a cozy charm to our home and bring me joy whenever I see them hanging up. Even without real snow, I can enjoy the beauty of my handmade creations.

This is a project for all ages. It’s perfect for a cozy evening watching Christmas movies or listening to holiday music. These decorations can stay up long after the holidays—into January, or even February, if you’d like.

And let me say it one more time:

I LOVE SNOW!

Let’s make some snowflakes-

Supplies Needed:

• 6 to 12 lunch-size or smaller brown paper bags.

• 8.5x11 white paper

• scissors

• hot glue and hot glue gun

• tape

Directions for paper snowflakes:

1. fold the white paper into a square. This means taking one corner of the 8.5 paper and folding it to the opposite side. You should have approximately 1.5” of paper on the bottom. Cut that strip off.

2. Fold the white paper in half two more times. See the photos below to see how the folds look.

3. Cut into your white paper. You can cut triangles or swishes. You can also use a hole punch to punch holes in the middle. There is no right or wrong way to cut the edges. The most important thing is not to cut all of the folded edges! If you cut all of the folded edges your star will fall apart.

4. Unfold your paper. you now have a star!

5. Do you remember that piece of white paper? Now you can do the same steps with the small piece of white paper and make a small star. You can also cut your paper in half and cut out med. stars the same way we cut out the big star.

Pictures of the steps that are for the paper snowflake.

Directions for paper bag snowflakes/stars:

1. Count out 6 bags. Take one bag and fold it in half. Cut the center of the bag out. Unfold the bag and cut the edge of the bag either in a triangle or circle. Repeat this with all 6 of your bags.

2. Once all the bags are cut you are going to glue your bags together. Please note: If you are younger have an adult or older teen help you with the hot glue gun. Heat up your hot glue gun. Once it is heated you will glue the six bags together. Set them aside and let the stack of bags cool.

3. While the bags are cooling take a piece of twine and cut it approximately 6 to 10 inches long. The length of the twine will depend on how low or high you want your snowflake to hang.

4. When the bags are cooled slowly unfold your stack. You will want the bottom bag to meet the top bag. Add some hot glue to the top of the stack and place one end of the twine on top of the glue. Then press the bottom bag onto the top. See the pictures to see how that works.

5. Once the last bit of hot glue is cooled you are done and ready to hang your snowflake.

Pictures of the steps you follow to make a three dimensional snowflake.

I hope you can enjoy a cozy evening of making snowflakes. This is a wonderful way of creating memories with your family no matter the age. So pop on a Christmas movie, pop some popcorn, and start making snow!

The Simple Joys of a Bucket List

Embrace the Season: Creating a Fall Bucket List to Cherish the Simple Joys

As the leaves begin to turn and the air gets crisper, there’s a certain magic in the Fall season that beckons us to slow down and savor the simple pleasures of life. This year, I’ve decided to channel that energy into creating a Fall bucket list—a collection of activities and experiences that I want to enjoy before the season slips away. You might be wondering why I’d create yet another list when life already seems full of them. The reason is simple: having something to look forward to helps us live more intentionally.

Why a Fall Bucket List?

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to let time slip by without fully enjoying the moments that make each season special. A Fall bucket list serves as a gentle reminder to pause and engage with the world around us. It’s about more than just checking off activities; it’s about creating memories, enjoying traditions, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Creating this list isn’t just about me—it’s about my family too. Part of living a simple and fulfilling life is making time for the things that bring us joy. By writing down the activities we want to do, we’re more likely to make them happen. It’s also a wonderful way to bring everyone together. As a family, we can share ideas, plan our weekends, and look forward to the adventures we’ll have together.

Planning Our Fall Adventures

Michael and I have already started brainstorming, and we’ve got a few events that we’re excited to include on our Fall bucket list. One of the highlights for us is always the local Oktoberfest.

For the past two years, Michael and I have made it a tradition to attend the Oktoberfest in our area. It’s become one of those special events that we look forward to all year. The festival is a delightful escape from our everyday routines. The lively music fills the air with a sense of celebration, and the aroma of delicious food beckons us from every corner. Michael, of course, enjoys sampling the variety of beers, while I indulge in some soda or a sweet cider. The festive atmosphere, combined with the crisp Fall air, makes it an experience we cherish.

But Oktoberfest is just the beginning. This year, I’m excited to add a trip to our local drive-in theater to the list. Drive-ins have a nostalgic charm that’s hard to resist, and we’re fortunate to have one close by. There’s something magical about watching a movie under the stars, bundled up in cozy blankets, with a big tub of popcorn in hand. It’s a simple, yet unforgettable way to spend an evening. Just last weekend, they screened The Goonies—one of my all-time favorite movies. It’s little moments like these that make Fall so special.

The Joy of Simplicity

As I put together our Fall bucket list, I’m reminded of the beauty in simplicity. Life doesn’t have to be filled with grand adventures or elaborate plans to be fulfilling. Sometimes, the most meaningful experiences are the ones that are closest to home—like a walk through the woods to admire the changing leaves, baking a batch of pumpkin spice cookies, or spending a quiet afternoon reading a good book by the fire.

This season, I encourage you to embrace the simplicity of Fall. Take a moment to think about the things that bring you joy and write them down. It could be as simple as carving pumpkins, making homemade apple cider, or having a cozy movie night. By planning these activities, you’re more likely to make time for them, and in doing so, create memories that will last long after the season has passed.

Creating Your Own Fall Bucket List

I’ve made a printable version of my Fall bucket list, which you’re welcome to use as inspiration for your own. You can find the link below. Whether you use mine or create your own, the important thing is to take the time to enjoy this wonderful season.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Visit a pumpkin patch and pick out the perfect pumpkin

• Take a scenic drive to admire the Fall foliage

• Host a cozy bonfire and roast marshmallows

• Make homemade applesauce or apple pie

• Go on a hayride or visit a corn maze

• Spend an afternoon crafting Fall decorations

• Try a new soup or stew recipe for a warm, hearty meal

• Plan a day trip to a nearby town or festival

• Have a picnic in the park with a thermos of hot cocoa

• Attend a local farmer’s market and pick up seasonal produce

Remember, the goal isn’t to pack your schedule with activities but to choose a few meaningful ones that bring you joy. By writing them down and planning when to do them, you’re giving yourself something to look forward to, and creating the space to savor these simple pleasures.

Making Memories

At the end of the day, what we’ll remember most about this season are the memories we create. Whether it’s laughing with loved ones at Oktoberfest, enjoying a cozy movie night at the drive-in, or simply taking a walk in the crisp Fall air, these moments are what make life rich and fulfilling.

So this Fall, take the time to slow down, plan some fun activities, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you’re doing it with family, friends, or even by yourself, a Fall bucket list is a wonderful way to celebrate the season and all the joy it brings.

Fall Bucket List

Mother’s/Mom’s Day

Mother by definition is a woman in relation to her child or children. If you were to ask any woman who is a mother, the definition would be so much more. It is someone who has sacrificed a bit of them for the betterment of others.

Mothers are the ones who make the meals, wash the clothes, wipe the bottoms, dry the tears, help the boo-boos go away, and pray by your bedside at night.

Now, I know many dads do this too, but there is something about a mother. She is the one whose laughter can fill a room, whose stare can stop a train, and whose words can fill the gap. It is a mom who walks the floors from birth until eternity full of worry, fear, love, and prayers. Prayers for our futures, our pasts, and our days. It is a mom who walks beside us, defends us, and yet reprimands us for our good. It is a mom who loves us to the core no matter who we are.

I have been the one who needed the tears wiped away. I have been the one to walk the halls with worries on my mind and prayers in my heart. I am a daughter and I am a mother. From both, I have learned what it means to be a mom.

“Mother is a verb. It’s something you do. Not just who you are.” —Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Over the past 37 years, I have learned what it means to be a mom. To be a mom to someone gifted to me, and to some I gave birth to is a profound honor. There is no other job in this world that can compare. Raising all of my kids was a journey that grew me into the adult I am today. It was a journey of growth. Neither is different in my mind. Both are treasured. All of them gave me laughter and tears, frustration, and delight. All four of my kids grew me into the mom I am today.

When I think about where I would be today without the influence of the many moms in my life, or without the experience of being a mom myself, it is hard to comprehend. It is their love, wisdom, and strength that shaped me into the adult I am today.

I know in my heart this is a job that is not for the faint of heart. It is a purpose that God gives to us to strengthen our faith. It is the opportunity to see God’s creation grow. It is the moment of sanctification for both ourselves and those around us.

1 Peter 3:4

You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

You never know the effect you may have on someone or what effect someone may have on you. God puts people in our lives at certain times to help us grow. Being a mom is not just about the biology of life, it is about the job of mentoring others. Being a mom never stops because of age or relationship. Being a mom means that you are willing to sacrifice a bit of yourself for the betterment of others. He puts those moms in our lives to show us Christ.

When we think about it moms are the ones who show us so much more. They show us how to be soft, how to love unconditionally, and how to protect at all costs. Moms are the ones who bring the sunshine into our homes and the twilight at night. To be a mom in any sense is to have the privilege to touch someone else life. I have had that privilege in every sense of the word.

I pray that the knowledge and influence given to me by other moms is something that I have passed on and can continue to pass on to others. I pray that being a mom to others has given them just a drop of what I have received from the moms in my life.

• “[Motherhood is] the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It’s huge and scary — it’s an act of infinite optimism.” — Gilda Radner

Mother is by definition a woman who is related to a child or children. We know that being a mom is so much more. It is the woman who prays every waking moment for their child’s future, faith, and growth. Being a mom means that you love even when your child is slightly unlovable. I am a mom. I am a daughter. It is an honor to be both. It is a challenge to be both.

There are 12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days in a year. And it seems so funny that one of those days is set aside for moms, mothers, madras, and mas. I don’t think there is one day that I am not thankful for my mom. She has guided me, loved me, and raised me. My mom walked beside me when I was successful and comforted me when I fell. My mom is my cheerleader and my conscious. I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for my mom.

Many friends and mentors were and are my mom. These were women who loved me. They laughed with me. They taught me and prayed for me. These women were the ones who showed me what contentment meant. Who showed me what love meant. I would not be who I am today if it were not for these amazing women.

I am a mom. I have raised four kids. They have challenged me. We have laughed and cried. We have fought many battles. Some have been won and some were lost. We have prayed together and for each other. I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for my kids.

Today and many more days, I will honor my mom for the example she gave me. Today and many more days, I will remember my friends for the example they gave me. And for today I will take one moment to be proud to say I am a mom.