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!(=