Today in Pictures

We had a great day dying eggs and adventuring with "the cousins". Enjoy a peek into our day, jammies, crazy antics and all.

The "ugly egg" (dipped in every color) wasn't even close to ugly this year.

Who could bring the biggest rock up the hill.

Rock rolling contests ensued.

Everyone competed.

Some of us preferred being spectators

Venturing down the hill...

further...

and further...

and further still.

Now for a throw back from a few years ago...

2009 (I believe?)

2014

Desperation and Meeting

Today wasn't a great day. It's been just over a year since my mom was diagnosed with ALS (March 27th) and just over 2 months since she passed. My grandmother is in hospice care with a limited time left with which to draw breath. I didn't plan for or prepare a healthy dinner. I didn't tackle the mountain of laundry that needs attention. I was in a desperate place today. A place I've become very familiar with. Today wasn't a great day.

Today was a great day. I volunteered my time to help save someone else time. I went for a walk in the beautiful spring air. I enjoyed a refreshing shower. I took my girls to the park and my husband joined us for some family time. I spoke with my dad and we were able to encourage one another and speak life to the grieving places in our hearts. Today, God met me in my desperate places. Today was a great day.

Today is a day the Lord has made. He is there in both the good and the bad. I recently shared with someone that being in a desperate place doesn't have to be a bad thing. That desperation can force me to recognize that I am not in control. If I'm not in control, I'd better learn to be O.K. with that. And so I learn to be O.K. O.K. with the hot dogs and goldfish I served for dinner. O.K. with the tears I've shed. O.K. with the waves of emotion that surge at unexpected moments. I learn to be O.K. with desperation because there is not a day that goes by when the reality of what I need is not met by a God who understands me and loves me. God sees, He knows and He meets. He meets my needs and draws me close. And that provides hope in my desperate places. The meeting with God in that place.

"The Angel of the Lord found her (Hagar) by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. ...  So she named the Lord who spoke to her: The God Who Sees, for she said, "Have I really seen here the One Who Sees Me?" (Gen. 16:7,13 HCSB, emphasis mine)

Pictures from last Easter, definitely a joy to remember.

Lately....

Here's a peek into how our family is growing together in the Lord this year:

Memorization wall: Each week we review verses that we are working on or already know. Each new verse memorized means the clothes pin moves up the chart.  I converted this beautiful free printable growth chart by covering the growth marks with scrapbook paper, stickers and borders.  I love how it is great motivation to the girls and to me.

I had it on my heart this year to teach the girls a solid foundations of hymns. There are so many I love and find inspiring and I believe my kids should grow up with that heritage. As I began to look, I found this website that had compiled quite a few of the hymns that I desire to teach this year. I have made my own printables to go with them and am amazed how much the girls are enjoying it.

Each day our family has been reading scripture from The One Minute Bible.  This is a copy I've had since I was in High School. I know there are so many great devotional resources and children's Bibles available. In fact, there are so many I find it overwhelming at times. For now, this is working beautifully. Each day the girls are asking questions about what they are hearing and I pray this is whetting their appetite to want more of the scriptures.

Along with our scripture readings every night, we are writing down what we are grateful for in our gratitude journal.  We've talked about how as a family it is easy to rattle off things that we grateful for in general but it's my desire to practice more specific gratitude.  What specifically happened each day that we are thankful for.  I believe that there is incredible benefit in counting the small daily blessings as every good and perfect gift comes from above. (James 1:17)


One aspect of faith that is of greater struggle for our family is prayer. I always pray with the girls individually before bed but getting to "heart prayers" is still something we are growing in. Due to several "heavy" life circumstances going on in our family right now, I can sense that the girls are truly sincere, but it is my prayer that they would learn how to truly let their hearts come before God and bare their souls.  Personally, I am slowly journalling and praying through the Psalms and am finding such great peace, conviction and passion in my prayer life. As a family, I hope that we can all learn to live our lives in unending prayer. One tool I do have are these JOY cards, but I am not consistent in using them. I guess maybe this post will serve as a form of accountability to begin using them more.


I pray that you are finding ways to grow in the Lord with your loved ones. Please feel free to share any resources you have found helpful in your family's spiritual walk. And if anyone is interested in what I come up with over the year with our hymn study just let me know.

Blessings!

All in a snow days work....

Here are some recent pictures of how we have been spending our time.

 Playing in the snow after church on Sunday:

 Snow Day game of Carcassone: Lydia was the victor over Mommy and Emma!

 I didn't take any pictures of the girls playing in our 7 inch snow but I brought some in today for indoor snow fun. The girls played happily while listening to the soundtrack of Disney's Frozen.

Painting the snow with food coloring.

We've also read books, watched TV, played games, computer/wii time and thrown an argument or two into the mix just for kicks! Anyway, just trying to document the real moments of life as they happen.

Be blessed!

Christmas 2013 Pictures

Well, December has both blown by and drug on. Everyone of us have been sick at some point this month and some of us have had multiple different kinds of sickness. From heaving to hives and all around yucky colds our December has been rather bleak.  Despite that we had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebration and are enjoying the down time this week is providing us.  Here are some snapshots of our Christmas.

Christmas Eve sister gift exchange (the rule is they can't open till after bath)

The Mystery

Pee Wee Pillow Pets!

After church the girls open their new pajamas

 Christmas Morning!

Presents at grandma and grandad's

After Christmas crash

 Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you!

Christmas Plan 2013

No, I didn't get tired of counting my many blessings and reasons to be thankful in November, I just wasn't diligent in continuing with the daily posting! That being said, I had an incredible time with God on the journey to discover His blessings in the everyday happenings of life. A journey that I wish to continue as we prepare to celebrate Christmas.

Christmas around our house has always been a time of connecting and focusing our attention on the reason for the season, Jesus.  I have been sharing our advent activities on my blog for the past couple years and am doing it again this year.  For sure you will see repeats from years past but I do try to change things up a little each year.

We've already begun our Jesse Tree readings for this year. We will light our first advent candle tonight as it is the first Sunday in the month.


 

Our daily countdown activities for this December are as follows:

1. Celebrate Christmas Past (look through old pictures)
2. Coloring book fun
3. Plan RACK (Light 'em up) activities
4. Shape Tracers
5. Spaghetti Dinner and Lights
6. Family Movie Night
7. PJ Book Day (take library staff treats)
8. Christmas Card Day
9. Homemade Hot Cocoa
10. Snowman craft
11. Christmas Tree Game
12. Paper Snoflakes
13. Carol at nursing home
14. Carol and celebrate birthday
15. Family Movie Night
16. Snowman Door Hanger
17. Candy Cane Craft
18. Christmas Puzzles
19. Bake and deliver neighbor treats
20. Legend of St. Nick with craft
21. Nativity Craft and activities
22. At home pedicure
23. Gingerbread day
24. Bake Jesus a birthday cake (attend Christmas Eve Service)
25. Christmas Day Celebration!

As far as gifts go, our family keeps it pretty simple and small.  The girls exchange gifts on Christmas Eve so they have something to occupy them during rehearsals for church. The kids get new pajamas after church on Christmas Eve and then wake up to a few presents under the tree. While I've always loved the idea of three gifts per child (just as Jesus received 3 gifts) we fall much more in line with this way of presenting gifts.

One new advent happening I am adding this year is marriage countdown activities. I've always done this with the kids but this year Justin and I will be counting down the days too.  I downloaded the marriage advent activities from The Generous Wife (on the right hand side of her site). I read her blog daily and am always encouraged in my walk as a wife.  Happy Home fairy has some cute ideas to keep your marriage fun, light and spicy during the holiday season. Check out her site for a ton of other great ideas too!

I would love to know what wonderful things you have planned or what traditions your family has for Christmas.  Please share so we can all gain new ideas and learn from one another.  Be blessed and be a blessing this Christmas season!