Mama

She stops, pausing for a minute and then looks at me.

My favorite name is Mama.

Quickly she starts playing again.

My heart ponders her words.

I just want to soak in what she said.

Some days are long and hard.

Some days are full of joy and laughter.

But there is nothing else I would rather be doing.

Again, she stops. She's been thinking of names for a baby and she looks at me.

Mama.

Yes.

My favorite name is Mama.

Her words are a balm

They are sweetness.

I pause again. To soak in.

To remember this moment.

It's a moment to treasure.

A moment to store away.

***

And then I stop.

How our Father must love it when our favorite name to call on is His.

haiku

Colors Abounding

Trees Stand In All Their Glory

Autumn Days Are Here

a little girl and fashion

Yesterday we found ourselves with our very first cold morning and this sweet little girl just did not know how to get herself dressed. She naturally grabbed her shorts and short sleeve shirt, yet she was cold so she quickly found a long sleeve shirt to go over her first shirt and added some socks. And then to go outside? A scarf, mittens and snow boots was the answer.

The funny thing is that her older sister was not dressed much different.

They make us smile.

ramblings...

I'm sitting outside right now. Enjoying the afternoon and it's warmth, enjoying the gentle breeze... The first day of fall comes next week but it's here already. I can feel fall in my bones. I can smell it and taste it and oh, how it makes me smile.

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself wanting to hold onto summer. I didn't want to let the warm days go, I wasn't ready for a daily schedule to return, or for our evenings outside to end earlier. But, here we are. School has returned and how good it feels to fall back into a routine. Evening walks find us walking under the moon and stars and then all of a sudden I start to remember. I remember how much I love fall. The cooler mornings and the warm afternoons. It will soon be time for soups and candles.

So, maybe we can just hold onto fall a little longer this year and maybe the holidays won't be here so quick? :)

:::

We spent our morning outside doing school. Reading our books on a blanket, painting pictures and exploring. We found ourselves simply enjoying all that surrounds us. Enjoying His creation.

This afternoon we enjoyed a bike ride and piano lessons. We climbed up and picked fresh peaches from our tree, quickly eating one and then two, laughing as the juice ran down our arms.

Fridays are beautiful.

:::

And this? A must read for any family.

doing the next thing

Last week just seemed to be one of those weeks. Looking back, I can see that there were several things making it one of those weeks. The days were long. The kids were tired. My attitude was bad.

It was in those moments that I would remember just do the next thing.

I would whisper a prayer for help. I'd stop and seek out the beauty that always surrounds me yet I fail to see sometimes. And then, I'd work on doing the next thing.

And I'd be changed in the process. Thank goodness!

It's funny because I don't remember the story around do the next thing. I just remember the words, do the next thing. So I stopped and looked it up.

The poem says, "Do it immediately, do it with prayer, do it reliantly, casting all care. Do it with reverence, tracing His hand who placed it before thee with earnest command. Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing, leave all resultings, do the next thing." That is a wonderfully saving truth. Just do the next thing.

From Elisabeth Elliot

Yes, that's just what I needed.

And today? We're thankful for a new week.

A princess in the making

How precious this little girl is. She makes us smile.

While we were on vacation, it was my goal to get a good picture of each kiddo. :) We were limited with my ability. Yet for some, we have several pictures to choose from and for some, taking pictures is a painful process.

John -- 9 years old

Benjamin -- 7 years old

Faith -- almost 5 years old

Olivia -- 2 1/2 years old

Alaina -- 9 months old

:::::

:::::

This last week found us enjoying a simply wonderful vacation. It was full of family, full of warmth and sunshine and full of relaxing moments. We breathed in the tropical air, walked in the sand enjoying the sound of the ocean, we jumped in the pool and played in the hammock.

The vacation itself came together about five weeks ago much to our surprise. We had been talking about it... dreaming about it... for a couple of years. We had planned to do it for our tenth anniversary last year but it was not able to come together.

Then all of the sudden we came across an airline sale that also had milage seats available... talked to this guy that needed to get rid of his week at a resort... made a few phone calls... and quickly bit by bit it all came together. It was the hand of God and nothing less.

This week we find ourselves thankful for

:::Safe Travel:::

:::Memories Made:::

:::Quiet Moments:::

:::His hand providing:::

:::Family:::