our week in pictures

A time to imagine...

A time to create...

A time to design...

A time to wander...

A time to explore...

Last week you were able to read my thoughts.  

Today it is my Mom's turn to share.  Go here to read.

I woke up late. ugh.  It always seems to ruin my morning...  I start out running behind and it feels as if I will never catch up.   

Breakfast to make, kids to get dressed, chores to get done. 

|Lord, where is the peace in our home?  Why is everyone so crabby today?

I go on.  Correcting and training.  It seems like I am noticing every wrong and my words come quick but then I have to ask myself,  Are they marked by Him?

Time for school is upon us and still the attitudes are there.  

|Where's my joy?   

Lunch and more chores.  It's been such a long morning but we've just got to press on through quiet time.   

I sit down and it seems like now my eyes are being opened.  He begins to stir me.  

|Lord, where are you today?  I need your mercy and grace.  I can't do this on my own... 

And then I remember my morning.  It was me.  I started the day wrong and it seemed to carry over to everyone else.  

Forgive me, Lord. Forgive me.   And He comes... rushing in... flooding me... washing me... cleaning me...

|O Lord, how I need You.  

And I come and sit at His feet...  I'm still in His presence and He quiets me.  He fills me with joy and peace. And I learn.      

Now.  Now, I am ready for a fun, joy filled evening. 

|Thank you, Father.  Thank you.   You are good.

art from artposters.com

Oh, how you make me laugh!

I was busy wrapping the gift for a bridal shower that I was going to and the following conversation occurred....

Said boy: Mom, when are you going to the shower?

Me: It's at Miss Kendra's house tomorrow.

Said boy: But you already gave her a shower.

Me: Oh, it's not for Miss Kendra, it's for Miss Erica.  She's going to marry Mr. Sam at Church and we're getting together to celebrate.

Said boy: Who else is going to be there?

Me: All of the ladies from Church

Said boy: Mom, how can that be?  The shower can't hold that many people.

Wow.  Belly laughs were wanting to erupt from deep within me.  

Me:  (With a smile on my face.)  Did you think we all took a shower at Miss Kendra's house?

Boy: with a grin, he shakes his head up and down.

Me: You silly, we don't get in the shower.  It's like a birthday party but we're celebrating that she is getting married.

Oh, my son, how you make me laugh!

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. Proverbs 17:22

Our week in pictures

hmmm...  the simple beauty of a quilt blowing in the wind.

Blanket time

The kiddos want to join me in taking more pictures.  :)  This one was taken by Faith.  :)

My Sweet Faith.  She's been sick this week and just wanted to sit outside. 

 She's actually almost asleep in this picture.

I just love seeing the boys in their jeans and cowboy boots.

Doing a guest post...

It’s funny how some things, whether through reading a book, listening to a story, hearing a friend speak… can trigger a flood of memories.

:::

The rest of the story can be read here.

:::

It's a story written by God Himself, yet not fully finished.    His faithfulness, His goodness, His grace marks every page...

I'll be back later with our week in pictures.  :)

My little love

It's amazing to look at each of the little one's God has blessed you with and see completely different individuals.  They are all unique,  they each have their own passions and they each teach us different things.

***

It's funny to look back to the first couple years of your life, all you cared about, all you wanted to do was to follow your older brother and copy everything he did.  I wanted to see you become your own person and would continually encouarage you to not copy him. I loved seeing you become you...  Yet, I realize that even then, when you were following your brother, I was seeing you.  

You, my son are so full of love.  You love deeply. You love those around you and you love life. 

You showed me that during that season when you followed and copied your brother it was simply because you loved him.  You no longer copy everything he does but that has not changed your love.

You make me smile and brighten my day with your hugs and kisses. You are always reminding those you love how much you love them and I know it blesses them.  

And in this you challenge me...

My Prayer

A Mother's Prayer

Help me dear Lord, as a mother, I pray

And bless these hands folded in prayer today;

May they be ever strong as they guide, as they teach,

Being never too far for a child to reach.

May they never, with selfishness, try to dissuade,

Nor too quickly punish, nor too slowly aid.

May they point out the pleasures in laughter and song,

And may they show, wisely, the right from the wrong,

So that one day I'll know that I've helped all I can

To make her a woman, to make him a man. 

- Mary A. Loberg

Our week in pictures

Who needs a jacket when you are running?

My Sweet Faith Elizabeth

Our special We Love You project for Daddy

Hard at work with Lego's close by   :)

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.  

Isaiah 25:1

Valentine's Day

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 

John 13:34

***

This year we are focusing on loving one another and showing each other our love.  We've been busy making Valentines for those we love, working on special projects for Daddy and tomorrow we'll go over to my sister's home for a Valentine's Day party for the cousins.

Today we are learning how to love each other, how to serve each other, how to protect our sisters and cherish our brothers...   There is still a lot to learn and it is not an easy lesson to learn because our flesh loves to rule our actions.  But we are working together and taking steps forward, learning and growing as a family...            

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.  

Ephesians 5:2

***

So, my prayer for today is that we would learn to walk in love... to live a life of love... and for our actions to be saturated in love.

***

And now, it is my turn to go make a Valentines for the man that I love!

Happy Valentine's Day Week!

My Boy with a sevent's heart

I love seeing how you take such pleasure in serving others.  You are always wanting to reach out and help them.  

**

You are always right there ready to help make a wrong right amongst those you love.  

**

You know how to work hard and you are not afraid of it.  

**

In this you challenge me - am I willing to serve others with the same joy?  Am I willing to lay down my life to help make things right?  

We are so blessed to have you in our lives... so blessed to call you our son.  

*****

It always amazes me to see the differences in our children and how the Lord can use them in our own lives.  In their own way, they seem to teach us... challenge us... encourage us... spur us on... and take us to our knees.

But then the question becomes, will I learn?

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:14

Our week in pictures

We have enjoyed a wonderful week.  It was a week full of hard work, breathing in the fresh air and time spent with family and friends.  

::We are in the midst of putting in new hardwood floors with my parents.  It has been tiring but we have loved working with our hands.   We are a little over half way through.::

::My sweet little girl as we worked together::

::Doing school outside while enjoying the fresh, clean air.::

::The hope of Spring::

::On Wednesday we joined my Mom, Sister and her girls for a little walk::

::My Sister and I with all the kiddos::

Modesty

Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female                          excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of her honor.

-From Webster's 1828 Dictionary

I know that it is still the beginning of February, and I know that we still have more snow to grace our world but we are in the midst of swimsuit discussions in our home and have begun looking for swimsuits for this next summer.   Crazy, I know. :) 

So, my question for you is this: Where do you get your swimsuit? Have you found any cute, fun, yet modest swimsuits that are not outrageously expensive?

Thanks Kim, for the quote.  :)

I wait

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.  

Psalm 130:5

What is His word to you this morning?  Have you already gathered your daily manna, and tasted its sweetness?  The heavenly food lies thick around you, for the Lord has strewn the pages of His Word with promises of blessedness to those who wait for him.  And remember, his slightest word stands fast and sure; it can never fail you.  So, my soul, see that you 'have a promise underneath thee', for then your waiting will be resting, and a firm foothold for your hope will give you confidence in Him who has said, 'They shall not be ashamed that wait for Me.'                                                    -Sussanah Spurgeon

Yes, Lord.  I come and wait.