Anticipation

They were so disappointed when they woke up this morning to rain instead of snow.

Then it happened.

Rain turned to snow.

And through their eyes, everything was right.

Light

This is the word that keeps getting spoken in our home.  Now more than ever, believers are the city on the hill, the light of the world.  What will we do with this?  Live boldly and brightly, or fade into the back round praying no one notices we are different.  I want to be different, in the best possible way.  Light attracts, are we?  We have the truth and only hope, are we living it out, every day?  Lots of thinking, praying, meditating is happening in me, desperately hoping I don't miss any opportunity to share Christ's light in this very, very, dark world.

Advent 2012

 I just had to get more creative than, 'I'm back.'  My poor, little, neglected blog.  I am excited anew about Christmas.  We are in a magical place with the kids ages.  They are all Excited about Christmas.  They are in love with all things by candlelight.  They will try strange foods, in the  name of Christmas.  So last night we had pheasant, patatas bravas and flan.  River dipped it all in ketchup, but that's okay.  I believe some culture was caught.  Today we will bake cookies, knock on neighbor's doors and not be creepy all in the name of Christmas!!   We find the Advent devos that are out there hard to navigate  with little ones.  We have taken a different approach this year.  After dinner, we just open it up, ask them if they have questions or thoughts on Christmas or whatever.  Last night both girls told us they would like to be baptized.  Lily told us she talks to Jesus every night before bed.  When we asked Claire and River if they did too, they said, 'no, we are too tired.'  I love the honesty!!  So far they have been sweet times together.  So through this season we hope you are blessed, with family, intentional and loved.

We are back,

sort of. I'm exhausted....pictures to come.  No cell service for a week led to a bombardment of texts, voice messages and emails that made me want to crawl under the covers, go off the grid, or get a piercing or tattoo.  Haven't decided yet(=  It's ok, I'm putting on my big girl pants  ,and facing the big, bad world tomorrow.  Tonight, I am taking a bath and sleeping in our sleep number bed.  If I were to get a tattoo, I like this one.

One last detail before vacation.

Practical and pretty!

See you in a week!

Happy Birthday Beautiful Boy!

Hard to believe it's been 3 years since I had this little guy.  What a joy he is!  

His birthday is squished right in there with end of camp, the county fair and school starting.  Needless to say, parties are a challenge.

Ice cream suits him just fine.

                                                   

Explaining his plans for the upcoming year.

This is how to really enjoy an ice cream cone.

                                         

Some entertainment in lieu of a clown.

A prayer

I woke up this morning excited to prayer journal, and thought maybe this could help someone.

Dear Heavenly Father, I am convicted again how much I need You, Your love, and Your grace.  I am seeing people through my eyes instead of Yours-I hate that... I don't want to, but it sneaks up on me, stealing the joy out of relationships and circumstances.  I am sorry that it takes me everyday of my life to learn that each person is precious to You,no matter how I feel ,or where we stand on things.  Help me to be thankful again, to remember again, Your unending gifts and salvation alone!  Thankyou for hands that help all around, in ways I don't even know.  Thankyou for the people who pray for me that I am unaware of.  Teach me to be a person that prays.  Bring people to mind and break my heart for them.  So much hurt happens, I pray I wont' get caught up in my own little world.  Let me have hands that reach out, help and point others to You.  Thankyou for my health, and the health of our family...that alone should keep me thankful all day.  Please continue to soften our kids hearts to You, to truth.  Protect them as they go through each day.  God, thankyou for holding the universe and caring about me, my best works really are filthy rags, so much of the time my motives are not Yours.  Thankyou for continuing to work on me, and make me like You.  Help me come to You about things instead of complaining about things in vain. Why do I do that?  Only You heal.  I am fearful so much of the time, but I want to be bold.  I don't want to hear news and freeze in fear.  Help me to move forward sheltered by You alone.  I pray that every conversation I have will be full of grace, truth and love, forgive me for so many times that it hasn't been.  Today ,specifically I pray for wisdom and patience.  I know you have heard those 2 before, mothering seemed to bring me to my knees so much more.  I am so thankful for that! So thankyou for this gift of today.  Amen

Food,Family and Flowers

The older I get (gah, did I just say that?) the more lovely and enjoyable those things become.  This weekend we celebrated my dad turning 60 and my brother turned 30.  My mom is literally the best cook and hostess I know.  She always  cooks for an army.  It's what her side of the family is known for.  My grandma always made at least 4 desserts.  This weekend she made delicious pulled pork, triple chocolate cake, and sangria, just to name a few. My aunt Vickie was in the kitchen helping, and it's a beautiful thing to watch two sisters make cooking look like a dance.  I have a cookbook of the Crum side's recipes that I can't wait to use!!

 Flowers around our house have really taken shape this spring/summer season and make my heart sing!

 These little sedum were growing out of the rocks at the beach, grow anywhere and require no  maintenance!

                          The ever faithful and hardy geraniums, vinca, portulaca, lantham and impatients.

  Today this high chair becomes robin's egg blue to match so many of my favorite pieces, Thanks to  Cindi  for your constant thoughtfulness!(=

What's everyone reading these days?

I want to be more intentional about reading a book a month.  This seems doable.  So, what has inspired you in life, marriage, parenting or just a good read.

Supposed to be...

He's supposed to be sleeping and I'm supposed to be folding...Eh

Who makes these rules anyway?  I'm the mom!(=

What these faces mean

Sister love

                                  This picture cracks me up.  Andy looks exhausted, but happy.

                                                                 A very happy baby!

                                              Claire asks for gum as soon  as she wakes up.

                                                  Lily doing everything to make me laugh.

                                                                        Me laughing

                                                                   His favorite 'bankie'

                              Quick take the picture while we are clean, ready and presentable.

just for me

School started yesterday for us!  The girls also tried out for their first musical.  Lily was shocked

and upset that she did not get a 'real' part, the travesty!!  River also auditioned by marching up on stage, the director asking him to sing,  River saying 'no' and marching right back down.  He's sweet like that.  Potty humor is pretty big in our house right now and I'm trying to figure out when to laugh and when to push back.  I laugh more often than I should.  Claire is obsessed with mermaids,princesses, and cooking.   Bode has been spoiled with afternoon naps in our bed, ok, me too.

Lily is running with me now.  She turned 8 in July and just seems so grown up!  We have great conversations all the time.  As the kids get older my idea  of parenting changes constantly.  My greatest pearl of wisdom this week was this; create a culture in your home where you rebound from sin, instead of sin avoidance and concealment.  We want our home to be the first place they feel they can come to confess and heal...

And below you are looking at the number one, most fought over toy in our house right now.  Don't let that tough guy exterior fool you.  He falls apart if the girls take it from him. 

New York

We got back yesterday from a fun trip to the Adirondacks in NY.  It was full of celebrating as most of Andy's family, including out of state cousins, aunts and uncles were there.  As you will see I have almost no pictures except for the day Andy flew in and took these.  Turns out traveling alone with 4 kids doesn't allow much time for photography. 

                                                                  Fun on the boat!

  Swimming every day right in the back yard.  I loved that!  It was so fun to lay the 2 little ones down and swim!

                     

           Now I am busy planning school for the next year.  Happy to report I am already on week 7!

                                                  River needs some serious vacation detox.

       Bode turned 4 months old on July 6th.  He continues to be a smiling, happy blessing to our family!

Glimpses of the girl's room

Both girls were in day camp this week ,so I finished up their room.  I am really happy with how it came together.  Sometimes,(most of the time) the idea in my head doesn't happen.  This time it did.  Furniture,walls and trim are all freshly painted, curtains were washed, every inch was cleaned and organized.  A family heirloom quilt sits pretty at the end of their bed, and graduation decorations that were going to be thrown away were the perfect touch to hang from the ceiling!  Sorry I couldn't get a whole room picture.  We need a new lens, hopefully this casts a vision though.