and lots more

I am thankful for

messy hair and dirty chins


floors with inspired messes


catnaps


and so much more.

we'll be dancing

I've been thinking about Natalie today.

I've been thinking about the day I get to meet her.

My heart already overflowing with the joy of Heaven and seeing Jesus face-to-face...running and wrapping my arms around my daughter...laughing and jumping and crying happy tears...saying "I love you" again and again...singing and dancing for Jesus...singing and dancing together for the Precious One. Glory, Glory!

What a day that will be!

this week

Sunday
was the first time the four and five-year-old Jr. church class met Chester the Chimpanzee. He wears an aqua blue onesie with the letters ch glued to the front. He was a big hit. Bring puppets when you teach this age group and you are guaranteed to be considered a "fun teacher."

Monday
was the first day of spring, with rain and a few snowflakes.
The day started out with a great beginning that too quickly came unravelled by pulling the threads of a health insurance appeal and a trip to the library with two books that didn't have their cds with them. Grrr.

I never got my groove back after that, so I threw in the towel and put on Beauty and the Beast.

After Lizzie woke up from her nap, I plopped her on my bed to watch along with Kate while I worked on some laundry in the next room. Those two little girls were being awfully quiet and when I went to check on them, this is what I found:









Katie told me she was taking care of Lizzie so she wouldn't be afraid of the beast. Lizzie rested there on her sister for quite a while. It was precious.

That moment totally redeemed my failed Monday. That and my husband cleaning up the kitchen and folding laundry when I went out grocery shopping after the kids were in bed.

Tuesday
didn't feel like spring, but we still hit the swings.







Wednesday
it snowed.


It snowed because last week I washed all the snow pants and heavy coats and put away most of the hats and gloves and scarves.

You're welcome.

Thursday



it snowed again.


But the sun came out in the afternoon because Spring realized that the joke was getting old.

Friday
was lunch at McDonald's playland with friends where four little people ran around until they were tired and sweaty, while one very little person walked around enjoying her first playland adventure, and I forgot my camera.

Saturday
was a day. A day that began with waffles, saw a few house projects completed, and produced the best cheeseburger that my grillmaster has ever made. Ever.


(guacamole, watercress, tomato, grilled pineapple, cheddar, juicy beef, bit of mayo, toasted bun)

All the more yummy when served with a side of sillies.





My day actually ends with me eating a bowl of cheerios with banana for a snack while blogging, but I don't think anyone wants to see a picture of that.

In one hour and fifty-four minutes another week begins.
I hope it's a good one.

grace and glory

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory:
no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Psalm 84:11,12


I am so thankful that the LORD is my God.
I can trust Him.
He loves me and doesn't make any mistakes. Ever.

Still I struggle.
When I should lean on Him, too often I lean on me.
But I am still blessed. He is merciful.

He gives me grace, day by day, minute by minute.
He protects me. He takes care of me.
The LORD is the sunshine of my life.

He deserves all the glory.
How can I ever praise Him enough?
For all I have, will have, here and forever.

when you give a baby a bowl of yogurt...

...you get a mess.



A big girl mess.



A "where did all my yogurt go?" mess.



A too cute mess.



A get your cute blueberry-scented self into the tub mess.

unpublished

Last Saturday all three of my home and garden magazines came in the mail. It was quite a nice afternoon coffee break: perusing through paint colors and wall papers, checking out potted plants full of salad greens, and eyeing up interesting antiques.

Looking around my house, it was hard to not chuckle at the disparity between what I saw around me and what was published on the pages.

The magazines displayed no playrooms as visually stimulating as mine.





No step-by-step instructions on how to make a "crystal" and tissue paper centerpiece.




No kitty-enhanced houseplants.




And not one magazine had any fingerprint-and-dust window coverings.





I have been making attempts to be a better housekeeper lately. There is obviously still room for improvement. Much improvement.

It is my struggle in the never-ending battle between housekeeping and homemaking.

And then you throw homeschooling in the mix...



The difficulty is in finding the balance between having an organized home and making a place for a creativity-filled, relaxed atmosphere, but at the same time not making excuses for my laziness or poor planning.



I can try to make a fresh start and find my style.




But ultimately, this is where life happens.
It will never be perfectly clean, but I want everyone to love living here.


So how about you? Are you clean?
Are you cleaner than me? :)

Do you face the struggle between housekeeping and homemaking, or is it no big deal for you?

I would love to hear your thoughts!

lookin' good

She has style.



Exactly what kind of style that is has yet to be determined.

life is good, you know

Today was full of mothering and teaching and reading and cleaning and washing and diaper-changing and cooking.

And swinging.













It was a good day.

4 years ago

I found this one in the computer hard drive archives.






Go on.

Admit it.

You're laughing.


It gave me a laugh, and I needed one. Today was a tough "just keep swimming" kind of day.

It is fortunate I have some funny looking kids to amuse me.

:D

katie bug

For her birthday, Kate wanted a ladybug cake with a number 4 candle in it.



I did my best.



I was actually quite pleased. I am not very good at applying smooth icing, but the crazy-huge eyes turned out just the way I wanted them to. It looks like it could be a character on A Bug's Life, and talk with a squeaky, high voice.

Katie specifically asked that the ladybug have bows on her "whiskers."



What she lacks in knowledge of insect anatomy, she made up for in the injestion of artificial food coloring.



Isn't that lovely?

The little ladybug had a strawberry rear, and a chocolate head, also per the birthday girl's request.

Why two flavors?
It makes perfect Katie sense: black head = chocolate cake, red body = strawberry cake.

The ladybug had a delicious demise.




The best part, though, was making Katie happy.

When she first saw the cake in the morning, she was very underwhelmed (which is typical "Katie in the spotlight" behavior). But later in the day she was looking off into space, and I asked her what she was doing.

She replied, "I was just thinking about how much I love my ladybug cake."

That made every minute in the kitchen and every drop of food coloring worth it.

practically empty

I have no creative juices lately. None. Especially none to blog.

Lately my mind has been filled with the practical.

Like figuring out a plan to really, truly get my house cleaned, even if it is only every two weeks.

And how to make the chore routine run more smoothly with less nagging.

And how to adjust my schedule (which I was getting pretty fond of) to the change Lizzie is making from two naps to one.

And how to be a better friend.

And how to remember to pray for those people who need prayers.

And how to be filled with love and joy so that I don't ever yell at my kids.

And how to make sure I am giving Katie enough time since she is sandwiched between the homeschooler and the baby.

And how to make a ladybug cake.

Well, the last one, once the practical side is all figured out, just may get the creative juices flowing.

And then maybe I will be back with more posts, that may or may not include a photo of a ladybug cake with a 4 candle on it.

Which gets me thinking about how quickly four years goes by.

But that kind of thinking makes me cry, so I'll stop that.




Hope you are having a blessed week.