Saturday, May 29, 2010

Last night rain and hail were falling as we drove into the garage. There was a quick exit from the car for the warm rain was calling names. It was time to dance, time to run, time to ride bikes... it was time to enjoy the rain falling on heads. Then all at once we noticed him. A little friend that confused us as we stood and watched him. So much like a hummingbird and yet not quite... he let us stand and visit with him for several minutes.




He finally flew away, ready to find his next meal and we went back to playing and unloading the car. Once we had a few minutes, the search began. What was our little visitor? And, then we found him...



A White-Lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth. We are so thankful he came and visited for a few minutes.

Friday, May 28, 2010

A time to celebrate


Another school year has come to an end! I'm so proud of these boys -
We've learned and grown... we've had fun... and yesterday we were able to celebrate!

Now it is time to enjoy the days of summer.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Six Months Old

I look at you and I just don't believe it. To think... to think, you are now six months old.

You are sleeping quietly right now and I sit here thinking of the last six months. It was six months ago that we made our way to the hospital. It was Thanksgiving day and I can think this was just the most perfect day for you to have been born on.



Daddy calls you his smiley girl. You are so happy and your face just lights up when you smile. Oh, how you love your brothers and sisters and they treasure you. You are held and talked to, loved and adored. We are just so thankful that you are a part of our family. We praise God for the gift of your life...


It seems you are now waking up from your nap. It's time for me to gather you up, hug and kiss you, feed you and then we'll head outside together to enjoy the sun and do a little weeding.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

pausing to see...


The rain softly fell for just a few minutes today. It's filling our earth with water. Making our grass green. Watering flowers. Causing rainbows to fill the sky. The puddles come and it seems the birds dance in them. Singing.

Beauty and joy are all around us, if only we stop to see.

We want to see our children learn to stop and thank Him for all things. We want them to see His fingerprints on the world around them.

We often ask them what they are thankful for today... causing us to pause and praise Him.

So, today we are doing just that.


... running freely and wildly ... sibling and friends ... a heart thankful for where we are ...

... seeing the transformation of a yard ... hard work, time together, dreams of what is to come...



... visiting a nearby farm with cousins ... enjoying the last few weeks of our school year ...

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A fun evening...





One little girl learning to ride her bike without training wheels.
Daddy and big brothers ready to help.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Oh, Colorado.

We love living here. You are simply a beautiful place to live. The mountains, the wildlife, the lakes, the farms, the snow and thunderstorms, the warmth of the sun... you have romanced our hearts and there really is no other place we would rather be right now. We have a slight problem though. You see, we moved here from California and in California we would be enjoying nice, warm weather right now. Spring weather. Warm days with maybe a little rain here and there.

Oh, Colorado. Do you know what Spring weather is? I don't know. Maybe you've forgotten. Today we woke up with two inches of snow on the ground. Oh, how silly you are.

We love experiencing the four seasons here. We really do. But, snow in May? That seems a bit silly. We really are ready for warm days and planting. Our veggie boxes sit almost all ready. Now we just wait for you. Are you, dear Colorado, ready to let us enjoy some warmer days?

I'll forgive you today. We're still getting over our colds so a day inside is nice. Yes, I know fresh snow on the ground is beautiful. It may seem silly to you, but we really are just ready for the warmer days to be here for good. We'll look forward to the snow next winter.

So, dear Colorado, can you please remember that we only have a little more then five weeks until summer? We would just really appreciate it. :)


Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Some of our favorite things...

...mom's blueberry coffee cake (john)...

...holding alaina (faith)...

...playing with my tractor (benjamin)...

...getting my baby dressed (olivia)...

...dancing around (faith)...

...going on walks (mom)...

...seeing my friends (john)...

...being outside (benjamin)...

...a warm cup of green tea with honey and baked oatmeal with strawberries (mom)...

...daddy (alaina)...

My Vision


It's a quiet morning here as we are having yet another sick day. Hopefully, it will be our last. :) Even with sick little ones, our day is gentle and sweet. Full of reading. Quiet play with Lego's and baby dolls. Chores have been done for the day and as I walked through the house from one bathroom to the next I find myself pondering... thinking of the importance of vision.

Vision in my role as a wife and mother. Vision in homeschooling.

Sally had a beautiful post on Mother's Day and it started my thinking. Then I wrote a letter to a friend who had some questions about homeschooling. Vision. The importance of Vision. I think the Lord is wanting to challenge me.

I think all too often it is to easy to just get into a pattern of living life... going from one thing to the next. Cleaning and school. Church and errands. I thrive when life is going in a nice little rhythm but then I had to ask myself if I am remembering our vision even in the simple moments of life.

I know our vision. We've made decisions for our family based on our vision. On hard and challenging days, I remember our vision. It's our vision that keeps us doing the next thing.


Yet, I don't want to lose our vision on a daily basis because without our vision we will walk aimlessly.


Where there is no vision, the people perish
Proverbs 29:18




My prayer is to see my little men become mighty men. Men of God, men of prayer, men of wisdom, fully set-apart, fully yielding yet walking with courage and strength. Loving the Lord their God with all their heart, soul and mind. That they would act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. Having the character of Daniel and the heart of David, the faith of Abraham and the boldness of Paul.




My prayer is to see my little women become the King's daughter. Women of prayer, of wisdom, fully set-apart, fully yielding and walking with grace. Having a gentle and quiet spirit, a corner pillar fashioned for a palace, all glorious within. A creative and confident woman, full of vision, realizing that like Esther she was created for such a time as this.



I want our home to be a place full of peace and love. A house of worship. A sanctuary. I want them all to fall in love with learning. To see their passions take shape. To see them flourish. I desire that they love and value family, finding their best friends within our family unit. Then to see them raise a godly family. To do what God created them to do. To be who He created them to be. To have a heart for the orphan and widow and to be able to stand before His throne with hearts on fire.



::::

The accomplishment of this grand life is found only in the soul of a mother, through the power of the Holy Spirit, personally mentoring her children.
Sally Clarkson


I can't do it on my own though... I need Him.



And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9

:::


Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13,14

:::


I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13



Lord, help me not to lose our vision daily. Help me not to walk aimlessly.




So I press on, lean on His strength, ask for and receive His grace...

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Breathing Deep

...oh, the joy of growing together...


It seems like sickness has been in the air here for so long... in reality it has only been two weeks. Although, with Spring here singing to us, the warmth pouring in from outside and the smell of fresh air filling our lungs, it seems to only makes being sick a little bit harder.

It's quiet time in this home and as Faith sits here with me, we pause and think of all that we are thankful for.

We're breathing deep. Remembering His goodness. Thanking Him for all of the little things.

...the beauty of Spring surrounds us...

...causing us to stop and dream of the fruit that might grow on these trees...

...thankful for being able to pause and and see, really see...



...A little man in our midst who has a heart full of love...

... a little man who loves to work, and work hard he does...


... a husband and father too amazing for words...


Monday, May 3, 2010

This last weekend we went to the home of some friends for a Space Party. Well, Daddy and the three older ones went and I stayed home with Olivia and Alaina because of colds. Each family was to choose a topic to talk on and we picked the Hubble Space Telescope. We spent a couple of weeks learning about the telescope and what it does and then I was able to find a model of the telescope that we made from pvc pipe.

The party was simply amazing from all that I heard. They watched video clips from different voyages, went through astronaut training, set off on an adventure, spent time in Space and then came back to earth to eat dinner. After dinner it was time for each family to do their presentation. We had practiced a lot and I kept waiting for the boys to say they were nervous. They never uttered those words though... maybe because Daddy was up there with them and then the fact remains that they were surrounded by friends. :)