If Only For Today...

Getting it together

2010-09-15T16:42:00.000-04:00

The last few days have been a little hectic. I'm working on getting a few closets organized and the basement cleaned out. I figure it's about time to switch out our summer things for some heavier clothing. All the while, trying to get some lesson plans in order for the next month for the kids' homeschooling. I say all this to say that it tends to get a little overwhelming if I think about doing all of these things at the same time. Who says I have to organize the closet all in one day? Who says I can't wash the rest of the whites tomorrow? Well, no one. So I've decided to give myself a break and give in to the twentieth time I've been asked to play a game today.

Let's be reminded that while it's important to keep a clean and healthy home it's so much more important to appreciate and love on our children while they're still young. I hear it almost every time we go out, but it's true, "Enjoy these years, they go by so fast."

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:3

Daddy's girl

2010-09-12T16:00:00.000-04:00

This afternoon Meg and I made Daddy his favorite Pineapple Upside Down Cake. She was so excited to keep it a secret until it was ready. She wanted to serve it to him as soon as it came out of the oven at 350 degrees, but I convinced her to wait. (for Daddy's sake) I love that she loves him so much. Truly a Daddy's girl.

Big Weekend Plans

2010-09-03T20:55:00.000-04:00

Wow! Can't believe it's Labor Day weekend already. This summer has flown by.

We started back to school this past Monday. The kids have been very excited to see and hear about what we'll be learning this year. I remember those days when cracking a new school book was as exciting as Christmas morning.

Tonight was a "hang out around the house" night with a brief trip to the much needed car wash and to get some ice cream. Sometimes those are my favorite kind of Friday nights. Something good to snack on and a fun family movie.

Tomorrow, however, will be much faster paced. I'll be getting up early to squeeze in a workout and then heading to the store to pick up a birthday cake. After that we'll be packing up the kids and heading down to the farm to celebrate my grandfather's 80th birthday. We're so excited to be able to spend the day with him and my grandmother. The rest of the family will all be there too. I'm sure it will be a day filled with frosted faces, grass stains and dirt, but all while having tons of fun. Can't tell you how much I love and appreciate that my grandparents are still around. My grandmother has played a very influential part in my life. I'm also glad that my children have been able to meet and will remember knowing their great-grandparents. When I was born all of my grandparents and great-grandparents were living. I even had one set of great-great grandparents. Crazy!

Church on Sunday and then hopefully hanging out around the pool on Monday. It's actually getting a little chilly for that but the kids don't seem to mind so we'll swim until the last minute before the cover goes on my mom's pool.

Well, hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend too. We all know that from here on out the year tends to be a blur and we'll be right back here before we know it!

Strawberry Picking

2010-05-20T15:43:00.000-04:00

Today we opted to put off our schoolwork until this afternoon and went strawberry picking. I've wanted to take the kids for a few days and today turned out to be the perfect opportunity. It was a beautiful, sunny day here.
We picked three buckets full of gorgeous strawberries with only a few "iffy" ones. We also got to have a great conversation about how even the mushy strawberries have a purpose too.

These are the kind of days that I want to etch in my memory. The ones where we explore life together side by side.

We made it back home with 8 lbs. of strawberries to use and freeze. After some lunch we hit the books and turned this school day into an adventure.

Swimming and such....

2010-05-10T11:23:00.000-04:00

The swimsuits have been unpacked and in use for a couple of weeks now since I've been taking all three children to swimming lessons. They are taking to the water like little fish. It's a skill that we felt was very important to learn early. We live around water, and visit the ocean often.

We'll be heading to the lake in a few weeks for a family vacation. Lots of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents around. I'm concerned about having the right life jackets on the kids while we're boating and just in general while they're playing on the dock. I know there are weight limits and such that determine what size to buy, but I'll be looking for a style that lets the kids swim freely, but keeps them nice and safe.

Any suggestions?

Time for change.....

2010-04-27T14:59:00.000-04:00

I have to admit I've always been the kind of person who didn't mind change. I'd move anywhere, travel anywhere or just adapt to any new thing that came my way. That was before I embarked on my adventure called "motherhood". Now I find comfort in consistency. I tend to live a very scheduled life. Organization has become a hobby at times.
I say all this to say I've come to a point in life where things are changing around me. Friends and family are moving away. Jobs and churches are changing. It's been a little harder to adjust to then I realized. I have become comfortable with the way things are. Well, as much as I want to be stubborn I must embrace these changes. I don't want to look at them with negativity. They are positive changes. This positive outlook is a choice that is mine to make everyday. After all, isn't that what life is about....experiences, relationships and living!

Out of the mouths of babes.....5 yr olds to be exact!

2010-04-01T19:48:00.000-04:00

It never ceases to amaze me what my kids come up with sometimes. You know, the way their little minds analyze a situation. You can see the wheels turning. Well, just when I thought I'd heard it all my daughter turns to me today and says, "If you don't let us play with that, we won't be your kids anymore." What???? Well, after I explained to her in no short detail that there was absolutely nothing they could do that would make them not be my kids anymore, that she may want to make sure her words are uplifting and not unkind. No shortage of drama in my household!

Snow, snow, snow!

2010-02-04T14:32:00.000-05:00

As we brace for yet another snowstorm coming our way I start to get excited. Excited about the idea of staying lazy for a whole weekend filled with movies, goodies, and just being together as a family. I'm choosing to believe that these "weekend" snowstorms are God's way of gently telling me that the special people within these four walls are the treasures He has chosen for me. Enjoy them, love them, make memories from these days. Oh, I'm not saying that by Monday I won't be ready to run away, but for now....bring on the snow!

Psalm 33:22
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Pictures are worth.....

2009-09-02T08:45:00.000-04:00

My family recently decided that we needed to update our family picture. Family being my mom, stepdad, two brothers and their families and two other younger brothers. It was quite the project to get 20 people (10 adults, 10 children) into a hay wagon and ready to take a picture that didn't look like we were all scrambling to get off the Titanic. Well, after an hour or so and the patience of our new friend, Jayme, we collectively took a great family picture. Hopefully, it will be back for the much needed Adobe Photoshop session in the near future. With all that said, I am so very thankful for my family and all they mean to me. Each person is a vital part of my life. They all help to complete the person that I have become. I'm so amazed by God's plan for putting families together. Some big, some small, but He knows just who we need to be related to. Thank you, Lord for all your wisdom.

A book to read....

2009-05-12T15:44:00.000-04:00

My husband and I recently wandered through our local Family Christian bookstore and randomly picked up books that looked like good reads. My husband always heads to the Bibles first, (I swear he just likes the smell of a new Bible) and I head to the "self help"/inspirational section. Finally, after much time had passed we both decided on Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It is a book that has been recommended by several friends. Well, a few chapters in we can see why. I find it to be a book very relevant to today's Christian life. Francis Chan writes in very appealing words about how we are to revere God and to fear Him which is a message that seems to be missing in many Christian circles today. He combines that awe and respect with a love that surpasses any emotion that we could ever connect with. We love God purely because of who He is not just what He does for us. I could go on, but I'm only on the third chapter. I tend to get excited when I find literature that inspires me to think about my life and urges me to become a better person. I find myself wanting to put the kids to bed right after dinner so I can read.

2009-05-08T15:07:00.001-04:00

On our way......

2009-03-04T12:24:00.000-05:00

Well, tomorrow is the day. We leave for Disney World. I've come to the conclusion that I pack much better under pressure so I'm going to put it off until....say....midnight. No, really I've gotten the kids' bags ready to go I'm just down to Wayne's and mine and the little last minute things. You know, the things that drive you crazy making you think that you forgot something.
We are beyond excited. This is truly our first family vacation that has been just the five of us. I hope to come back with some good tips for those traveling to Disney with young children. I'm just preparing myself for the fact that I may need another vacation to get over this vacation. Anyhow, I hope to blog our trip for friends and family so stay tuned.

2008-12-07T20:26:00.000-05:00

2008-06-04T16:43:00.000-04:00

If only for today.....I'm thankful for rain. It waters the earth, makes a peaceful sound, and helps us to love the sunny, beautiful days. There's just something cozy about being safe inside while it rains hard outside. I'm so glad God's creations are perfect and perfect for us even though we don't always appreciate them. "Rain" happens in life too, like bad days, tough personal times and struggles, but we know that on the other side of the clouds shines the SON. For that we are thankful!