Countdown began long before we left for Disney.

We made this 'hand'made calendar for our families for Christmas this year. Started early to have different sizes.  Printed the calendars on publisher. Used the cheap washable paint at Hobby Lobby, this paint is safe for babies. Laminated and bound together at Office Depot.

This was Porters 2nd Christmas. We started the season off with 25 days of Christmas everyday of December Porter got to open a present.  Throughout the summer I found puzzles and books to wrap and put under the tree.
We were only five weeks along, but we wanted to be able to announce it while everyone was together. With everyone living in different places this is one of the few times a year we are all together. We thought what another exciting year and August we had coming.  Well, last week we miscarried... My brother and sister in law have struggled with this same thing many times before so it is something I am familiar with. The emotional pain is something that you cannot describe to someone else unless you experience it yourself.  When people say to you "this is not uncommon" it does not matter. What matters is you had a child one you prayed for, loved, planned for, and wanted that was taken from you. I know there is a reason for everything and I am thankful for what God has blessed me with.  This is what has gotten me through the past week. So thankful for a loving God and family. Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

As you can tell most of the ingredients I use for recipes are from Aldi, but I have learned you can get so much more than just groceries. You can say we tried them before you buy them!  Here are five things that we love from Aldi that are not groceries.