A Conversation in Our Home this Morning...

Brysen... "Kids, let's be good today so we won't get in trouble today."

Lily... "Good thinking, Bry."

I will get to it...

I am trying to find a few minutes today to upload some photos so I can show you what we have been up to.  Birthdays and all that jazz...

I will get to it...

Today...

Had a great time at the photo shoot yesterday!  What a bunch of cuties!

Today, we have cleaned the house from top to bottom and it smells so nice in here...

We have to grocery shop since we couldn't do it yesterday...

I would love to break out the sewing machine... but don't see that happening.

Found a friend from 20 something years ago on Facebook and am getting reaquainted...

Is missing her oldest... who is off to visit folks in Nevada...

Is emailing her mother-in-law, back and forth, because we like each other...

needs to get someone mowing the lawn... probably for the last time this year...

Is waiting for her hubby to come home so she can give him a big kiss!

Shoot...

Today we are off to shoot a family of 4... their baby is just a few weeks old and adorable.

I will hopefully be sharing a few of the pics with you once they are edited.

I love babies... and am looking forward to holding him again... even if I have to say it is just to position him better!

Wants It All...

Some kids are quiet.

Some are little chatterboxes.

Some read and contemplate the world.

Some take the world by its shoulders and give it a good shake... just to see what will happen.

Some kids give hugs and kisses.

Some kids just want a smile.

This kids wants it all!

...and she gets it, too!

Love...

Sometimes we're loud.

Sometimes we're crazy.

Sometimes we smile, cry, or act lazy...

But, We are always full of LOVE!

The Young Girl...

Once upon a time...

There was a young girl, newly married...

who wanted to be a mommy more than anything!

God gave her this desire... and she longed, deeply to fulfill it.

One day, that miracle came true.

Into this world came a beautiful little girl.

That little girl made her young mother feel so many new emotions...

Pleasure, confusion, happiness, frustration...

But, above all....

A indescribable love.

This girl grew and grew.

Each and every day she taught her mother something new.

She taught her how to care for others.

She taught her how to put someone else first.

She taught her that it can be hard to forgive yourself when you make mistakes.

She taught her mother how to love.

Every day was not easy.  Some days were a struggle. 

As this young girl started becoming a young lady, the mother didn't always know what to do or how to respond.

The mother made a lot of mistakes...

But, she always loved this young girl.  She would give her life for this girl.

The mother struggled to find the right way to help her young daughter grow up.

Somehow, together... they figured out what worked for them.

And, the young girl became a woman.

This woman made her mother very proud.  She had a servants heart and loved the Lord with her whole being.

When the mother looked back over the years...

she realized that there were times when the young girl had been her reason for going on.

As a baby, the young girl had placed her hand in the mother's hand...

and they had made this journey together.

Two hearts...

becoming one.

Happy 20th Birthday!

You are a young woman any mother would be proud to call their daughter!

Thank you for making me better, stronger and worthy of your love.

I love you!

Whatever...

Philippians 4:8

"Finally, brethren,

whatever things are true,

whatever things are noble,

whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure,

whatever things are lovely,

 whatever things are of good report,

 if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy

—meditate on these things."

And Don't Ever Forget...

Remember that a little love goes a long way.

Remember that a lot... goes forever.

Remember that friendship is a wise investment.

Life's treasures are people... together.

Realize that it's never too late.

Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.

Have health and hope and happiness.

Take the time to wish upon a star.

And don't ever forget... for even a day...

How very special you are.

~Douglas Pagels Collection

I Will Praise You In This Storm...

Just Needed A Reminder...

Mostly Independence...

Have you ever known those kind of people who can do it all?

I mean REALLY  Do It All!  They have no fear, no thought in the back of their mind that just maybe... just maybe this isn't going to work out...

This girl is one of "those people".

She does it all and doesn't EVER look back.

She is going to be one of those women who has been skydiving, racecare driving, bungi jumping, multple degree holding, many children having (thank you Lord), public speaking, looking beautiful... always, kind of gals!

She is a ball of energy and independence...

mostly independence, I think.

She is amazing!

She makes her mother want to try new things.

She will probably convince me, in twenty years, to tie a big rubber band to my ankles and jump off a bridge!

...And I will do it, because she will convince me that I am capable of ANYTHING.

Love, Teach and Protect...

Our job as parents is to love, teach and protect our children. 

We all try to do our best.  Whether you send your child to public school, private school, charter or homeschool... you do what you think is best.  You, hopefully, bring them up in the knowledge of the Lord... which in my opinion is the most important thing we could EVER do.

Then there is this whole "protection" thing.  We protect them from the cold, extreme heat, sickness and cars.  We protect them from the monsters in the closet when they are little.  We protect them from as much of the "world" as we can.  We try to do our best to ALWAYS keep them from harm.

However, there are times when the "monsters" are real.  They aren't always hiding in the closet.  They aren't always dispelled with a story or a prayer.  Sometimes the world comes walking into your life and despite your best efforts... someone gets hurt.

My first reaction (contrary to a lot of people who think I am immune to this kind of thought) is to hurt the offender.  Track them down and destroy everything they know and love.  I would smash them into the ground and laugh while they twisted in pain and shame... It would be dirty and bloody and very painful!

Without the Lord, I would probably do this.  I would be a mess, I tell ya!

The last few days, I have been so overwhelmed by Christ's love for me and my family.  He has been by my side and walked me through some dark shadowy places.  He has whispered his words of love, understanding and comfort in my ear... and I have never been so thankful.

In the same way that I love my children and long to love, teach and protect them... He loves, teaches and protects me.

Thank you, Lord...

For knowing what is best for us at all times and in all places...

and in ALL situations.

**The picture has nothing to do with this post... I just love it!

Dig In Deeper...

I was thinking today...

I know..

Very Dangerous!

I was thinking about the future.

What does it hold for us?  What will it look like?  Should we be afraid?

I know that in this world there are some very undesirable people... You know the ones I'm talking about.  You walk down the street and you steer your children in the other direction because you just don't feel safe... something just doesn't seem right.

Our family has been touched by some of these people... touched in ways that changes you.  In these times, we have a choice... 

We can crawl into a hole and hide... fearing everything and everyone... you know, basically give all of our power away to the "dark side".  Or... We can dig in deeper to God's promises.  We can give it all to Him who holds the universe in the palm of His hand.  We can seek the comfort and peace that only comes from the Savior.

When I look at my children and some of my friend's children, I am not afraid.  I can imagine the wonderful people they are going to become.  They will be wonderful parents and citizens.  They will love the Lord and teach their children to love the Lord.

Besides...

With God on my side...

What is there to fear?!

Drinking Coffee...

Lack of sleep is catching up with me... BIG TIME!

I have not slept well in 20 years...

You know, since I became a mother.

Now, I just seem to struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep.  I frequently end up waking up and reading or some thing for a couple of hours and then falling back asleep for an hour or so before I need to be up and at 'em.

I do fine most of the time.  I have just gotten used to it.  Today, however, I am really tired... really, really tired.

I look around the house and there is so much I should be doing, but all I want to do is close my eyes.

The kids are running around like maniacs and the laundry is growing by the minute...the kitchen needs a good scrubbing, the kids need one too, and I need to make dinner, clean up and get everyone out the door for church tonight... oh, yeah... I also need to get Miranda over to her drivers ed class.

 Maybe I should start drinking coffee!

I'm Home...

Yep... I am home from the women's retreat.  We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the most beautiful setting!  It is always so nice to climb into your own bed, though... can I get a witness?!!  Anyone?  Hello?...

Is this thing on????

I took a few pictures, but I will post them later.  Right now, I just need to get back into the groove with my wonderful peeps.  I sure missed them.

My sweet husband neglected to tell me... in one of our many phone conversations over the weekend... that my son had come up to him on saturday and said, "I miss my mommy!  I want her to come home."

That husband of mine is a smart man... because if I had heard about that, I would have jumped in the car and been home so fast, that boy would have had his mommy!

We spent the afternoon cuddling with each other yesterday when I got home.  It was... well, all you mommies can understand... it was perfect!

Weekend Plans...

Miranda and I are attending a women's retreat that our church is putting on.  It is being held about an hour and a half away up in the mountains...

I am playing piano and singing worship, as well as a special.

This has me a little freaked out... only because my throat still hasn't quite healed from my sickness of a few weeks ago...  But... I will persevere!

I just don't like going away from the family...

I know that sounds pathetic.  However, I really don't like leaving them.  I miss them and think about them non stop when I am away.  I worry that something will go wrong.  I worry that they will think I have abandoned them.  I know, I know... don't leave me comments about how it is good for me and all that jazz.  You have your things, I have mine...

Anyway, I will be gone for the next 3 days... so, hopefully when we get home we will have lots of pictures to share with you.

Have a great weekend!  I plan to...

Are You Kidding Me?...

47 degrees for a high... on the last day of September?

Are you kidding Me?

We shouldn't see these temperatures for another 2 months!

Happy Birthday...

Shelly and Shannon...

Happy Birthday to you...
Happy Birthday to you...
Happy Birthday Dear Shelly and Shannon...
Happy Birthday to you!

...and many more!

I was going to post some cute baby photos I have of the two of you, but the computer is not cooperating... so I will save them for another day.

A Soft Place...

So...

Daughter # 3 started drivers ed on Monday...

It kills me when this happens...

It reminds me that they are growing up and moving on...

...moving away from me.

I know that some parents do the dance of joy when their kids get old enough to move on... and I do find joy in watching them grow and become wonderful adults... but I also miss them. 

I miss watching them learn and I miss having them near me all of the time.

With that important document, comes a job and less time with the family...

Even though I have no real worries for this daughter, I still know that the world can be a cruel place.

So... I guess I will prepare to be that soft spot for her to land when things don't go quite the way she planned... when people don't behave the way they should... and when someone breaks her heart.

Afterall, that is one of the jobs of a mother...

...to be a soft place to land.

Great Hands...

If this is the future...

We are in GREAT hands!