Gathered thoughts – Page 3 – Redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

Fall Teaparty 🍁
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We had the sweetest fall tea party recently and ofcourse had to include @americangirldolls . Check out the little tea sets and napkins that coordinate .. so cute!

It was fun planning the details and working within a budget . I was able to keep it super affordable without compromising the theme of the party . So many little details that brought the tea party together and made it a beautiful party🍁

The leaves made cute place settings by just writing the name of the attendee on it and adding a glittered acorn to the plates. So cute!

Here is a list of all the things I purchased and a full budget to plan your own ⬇️

Doll tea sets with spoons set of 10 10$

Leaves, acorns ,pumpkins 4$

Napkins 3$ ( I cut one napkin to make the doll sized napkins )

Less than 20$ for the decor! I used our tea set and plates and serving items I already had on hand .

Food was mostly from Trader Joe’s and Target . I also made cucumber sandwiches and pumpkin pie was the treat! I spent around 30$ on food .

Total budget with food – 47$

homeschooling

Pumpkin Sight Word Hide & Seek

September 25, 2025 redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

Learning sight words is so much fun when you get creative . I picked up these pumpkin eggs and filled them with scrabble tiles. I hid them and then let my students seek them out . Once we returned to the classroom ,they opened them and worked on unscrambling the scrabble tiles to reveal the sight word. So much fun for the whole class!
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To get the link for the eggs and scrabble tiles comment 🎃 and I’ll send you the link to purchase :)

Gathered thoughts

Falling Leaves

September 24, 2025September 21, 2025 redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

“In every change, in every falling leaf there is some pain, some beauty. And that’s the way new leaves grow.” — Unknown
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Beauty in all the changes. I took this pic last fall when we were on WSU campus and even now it reminds me of all the beauty ,pain and growth that has happened this past year. Would I change it? No. I know in all of it ,God is writing a story more beautiful then I ever could . So I will keep my eyes on him , trusting him as the author to my story…bringing beauty to my mess to glorify His name.

Gathered thoughts

First Day of Autumn 🍂

September 22, 2025 redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

Crisp air, cozy sweaters, and falling leaves 🍁
Happy 1st day of Autumn 🍂

Goals, hiking, pnw, travel

Colchuck Lake ~Gateway to the Enchantments ~Hiking in the Cascade Mountains

September 8, 2025 redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

Colchuck Lake has easily become a yearly favorite . The first time I ever had the privilege of doing this hike it turned into a crazy day . We had an injury in our group, we experienced bouldering for the first time , many of us ran out of water , it took us way longer then we planned , and we met our first skinny dippers at the lake 😂 Since then, we have had so many laughs looking back at that first time.

Here is some of the first boulders we experienced.. but stay to the right and you will find a path that makes it easy to get through.

This hike is so captivating that when you first get the glimpses of the water you are in awe that you have just stumbled on this hidden gem . It is surrounded by two of Washington’s tallest peaks ,Dragontail and Colchuck Peak. Literally, I could stay there all day ! So beautiful and the water is so clear .

Colchuck Lake is one of the two gateways to the Enchantments. It’s an iconic hike in itself but if you want to challenge yourself more ,you can continue on to Aasgard Pass, the door to the Enchantment Core. Makes me think of a portal to another world , which now after doing Aasgards ,it actually does seem like a whole different world you step into . Look for that post later!

Here are our stats⬇️

📍Colchuck Lake

🧭 Leavenworth, Wa

🥾 8.7 miles RT ( we came in at 10.55)

🏔️ 2342ft elevation gain ( we gained 2491)

⭐️ Stats based on AllTrails and Apple

Check out the full reel of our adventure ⬇️

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And check out our post of the cutest Bavarian Starbucks we went to after our hike

Unique Starbucks in Bavarian Town of Leavenworth ~ Review

Goals, hiking

Mystery of the Climb

September 3, 2025 redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

What does climbing mean to you?
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For me…There is something about each step I take on the way to the summit. There is a release of everything in my mental to do list or all the things in my life that are demanding my attention . Instead , my mind is filled with awe in all the beautiful details that I know my picture or video will not capture as accurately as I see it . Then the next step , the emptying of all my strength and full reliance on Gods strength, and constantly saying to myself “Oh my goodness , I can’t believe I’m doing this!! Praise be to God!”
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Wherever you are today in whatever journey your on , I pray that you will keep going …one step at a time. If you have any summit plans I would love to hear ..drop it in the comments below so I can be praying for you ⬇️

Book, reading, Review

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah ~ Book Review

May 19, 2025May 15, 2025 redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

Are you ready to read a book you can’t put down? Kristin Hannah The Nightingale is it!
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This historical fiction follows two very different sisters throughout their lives. Both sisters navigate their worlds very differently as they grapple with WW2 and the Nazi occupation of France and as they soon learn they are stronger than they could have ever imagined.
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There are a few parts of the book that were extremely difficult to read so please be aware of that if you are sensitive. They are short but important to the story. I’m glad my friends encouraged me to finish it and skip over the one section because it was so worth it!
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Kristin did a great job of really developing each sisters story and following them in their journey of healing as a family , fighting for others even when it meant they had to let go and bringing it all together in the end.Such a good book!!

coffee, family adventures, hiking, Review, travel

Espresso Chalet

May 18, 2025May 16, 2025 redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

Espresso Chalet has one of the best views of Mount Index . It was the perfect stop to grab coffee after hiking Wallace Falls & Heybrook Lookout. Both hikes are within a few miles of each other with the Espresso Chalet between them. Look for the Bigfoot and you will know you are there.

We ordered our drinks and then went to soak in some more Mountain views… amazing! Perfect place to stretch your legs and grab some drinks or snacks before heading home .

A fun fact : this was an official location from the movie Harry and the Hendersons … anyone remember that movie?

Check out our reel below ⬇️

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Book, Book Club, faith, reading, Review

Once A Queen ~ Book Review

May 16, 2025May 15, 2025 redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

Our March Book Club pick was Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur.
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Once a Queen is a fairytale fantasy that weaves real life family dynamics with magic portals , secret gatherings and magic woven tapestries. You meet 14 year Evie as she travels to England to meet a grandmother she has never met before who lives in a beautiful estate that has an intriguing staff. The staff is one we would all want if we were as privileged.
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It starts off slow but then quickly starts to wrap you into the story as it unfolds. As the characters unfold , and the story is weaved ,and you get glimpses of the white stag, you can’t help but to start to step into the magic of the story . Definate Narnia vibes throughout that awakened my childlike faith in reading this.
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Our bookclub enjoyed reading this and several of us are adding the other books to our list!