Retro Fun!!

Who would've guessed, some 20+ YEARS ago :), that some day, some where, some very special someone would be playing with my toys!!

 

These winter days, with not a lot of outdoor play, can feel very long! Little M has discovered a fun way to pass her quiet time - by playing with my old barbie dolls!!! It was a blast from the past as I carefully unpacked little shoes, do-dads, office pieces, etc. And she is thrilled with setting them up over and over and over again :).

And hey, if it buys me some PAQ mid-afternoon, I'm allll for it!!!

The Road To Easter Sunday...

Over the past few years, one faith tradition that has been regaining meaning and value for me is the season of Lent. A couple of years ago, we had the opportunity to spend time in Florida in springtime, and ended up celebrating Easter Sunday there. We attended a small church in a classroom in a school where every one knew every one and it was really quite fun :). However, there was no special joy, no distinct gratitude in me regarding the Easter festival, and I examined these feelings of hollow shallowness.
How can I honor so little the One who has given such a great grace?
How can my gratitude be so thin toward the LORD who continues to save, redeem, heal me?
How can I move towards "thank you"?


Each year that goes by, I "experiment" with Lent, refraining from certain activities, engaging in others. And each year I learn more than my heart can handle, more than I can pour out in my journal, more than I can ever give back. And come Easter morning, I find myself more ready to step out in thanksgiving and grace. What once seemed like an empty, dismal practice has flourished into a teachable tradition.

This year, my focus is drawn to the sin of complacency; finding myself too content to care. Too busy, too distracted, to focused on other (usually important!!) things or people, too divided. Things get ugly sometimes :), but the wrestle is worth it, as I search out issues of compassion, justice, care-filled responses to life's difficulties, the desire to live faith-filled.

And as I repent and lament, I remember that all we do is birthed out of a context of His great love. A few weeks ago, when the girlies were engaged in their valentines craft, I decided to do one of my own. It is a symbol to me for this Lent - no matter what service we offer, sins we confess, repentances and reconciliations are made, all is done within the context of how He has already loved us. It is astounding and humbling, as we move toward the cross and resurrection with faith and awe, rather than with shame and guilt and fear. It is a journey that invites me to die a thousand deaths to self, but in doing so, reveals abundant Life!

I swore to myself I wouldn't, but I caved :)....

I said I wouldn't.

How could I, with a baby on the way and all :)?

After all, planting season will coincide with due date, and let's just face it, gardening at 9 months pregnant is less fun than weeding for 10 hours straight!!! Not to mention that it might bring on labor, which I'm hoping will be a slower-and-steadier experience than the last sprint!!!

But I was looking for something mindless to read, and my latest seed catalogue was lying there, just begging to be read!!!

And now, instead of visions of sugar-plums dancing in my head, I have big dreams of fresh veggies, sweet fruits and big blooms. Sigh. 

I even caved in and made a "seed wish list." I haven't ordered anything yet. Yet. But I know I will. What's summer without a garden!?!

Allow me to clarify :) - I am not a hard-core gardener. I'm not detailed, nor a perfectionist, and I prefer to live by the philosophy of live-and-let-live, meaning that once it's been planted and somewhat established, I don't tend to do a lot of fussing. :). This also applies to weeds, which can get pretty big, but they add color, don't they :)? Ever since Jon lovingly installed a network of soaker hoses, and I have not had the burden joy of lugging around a sprinkler that never put water in the right place (usually all over me or my freshly cleaned windows, leaving them all spotty and gross!!), our plants have gotten significantly more moisture than usual :). And last year, since the sun rarely actually shone, it wasn't really a concern!

But I enjoy the dreaming. I LOVE looking at all the pictures, figuring out what to order, drawing up a little "plan" and seeing where it'll go. I love stickin' things here and there and wonderin' what'll happen next. I'm slowly starting to figure out what I like, what I don't, what works, what doesn't. And it's fun. And it's an excuse to get outside. And it's fun to show the kids. And hey, loads of fresh veggies that are just off the deck are well worth it!!

And these days, with my perennials and my little garden pots under 7 feet of snow, it's easy to wonder if it'll ever come. But it will. And when it does :), somehow or other I guess I'm getting out there and sticking a few seeds in the ground!!

Of course, I could be entirely sleep-deprived by the time that will come, and plant everything in all the wrong spots, and it could be quite the conversation piece :)!! Guess we'll have to wait and see!

Insurmountable...

This is the delightful snow hill that is piling up outside our front window. As you can see, there is a well-worn path leading from the bottom to the top. For Little M, at the oh-so-old age of four (sometimes it feels like fourteen!!), this is actually the first winter that she's enjoyed being outside. She has discovered the joy of hill-climbing and could do it for long periods of time (if her mama had the patience to stay out in the cold ;)...).

What was more surprising to me, however, was that Sweet K wanted to trek up there after her sister!! Normally she assesses challenges and finds many too overwhelming to tackle. However, this time, I could sense that with a little prompting from mama, she'd follow in Big Sister's footsteps. I was thrilled and up we went :).

It was a bit of a process, but with a little encouragement and support, her confidence grew with every step. And before we knew it, we were queens at the top of our castle :). And what a view ;). Hey, on these flat prairie-lands, even a mole-hill offers quite the panorama :).

As I watched my girlies play, it reminded me that there is nothing that is truly insurmountable when you have someone who believes in you, who'll walk with you that extra mile, who'll greet you with arms wide open, and with faith in the One who has already carved out the path.

You have made known to me the path of life; 

 you will fill me with joy in your presence,
 with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

More gratitudes....

The thanksgivings continue...

#107 - For medical issues that end well! One week we had four medical appointments in four days. PLUS a trip to the walk-in on the weekend. There was a fair amount of stress involved, but by Friday, with all four appointments behind us, I was so grateful for health and all around general well-being! I just could not stop saying Thank you God Thank you God Thank you God. 


#108 ... For opportunities to connect - whether it is a lovely, lengthy conversation, or a short-but-sweet talk on the run, I am always grateful when I've had the chance to chat meaningfully with someone. The things I learn always seem to come at just the right time, the boost of encouragement or just the general sense of having an identity outside the home.

#109 - For my family. Not just my cozy growing family, but the family where I have my roots. We're a ruffian bunch sometimes, and there's always enough melodrama to create a small made-for-tv miniseries :). But we love each other, we're fiercely devoted to each other, and we're there for each other. And that's what counts :).

#110 - For finished projects. Lately I've been able to cross some biggies off my list, and it feels so good :)! It's hard for me to see a project all the way through to the end, and so when the end is not only in sight, but has come and gone :), I feel like celebrating! More posts on those to follow ;).

Why supper sometimes comes out of a box....

Some days, I'd like to think an entire thought without an interruption. We're not talking like save-the-world ideas, complex mathematical equation solutions, or anything that is deep, meaningful and profound! We're talking - something simple. Like the attempt to formulate a plan for dinner ... which sounds something like this:
Me: It's close to...
M: MOOOMMMMMY!!!
Me: 4
M: AHHHHHH! MOMMY SHE'S GOT MY TOY! GIVE IT BACK!! One kid whizzes past.
Me: o
K: MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE The other one follows closely behind. Along with the pooch. Who is barking hysterically. I'm not sure if it's because he thinks it's a game or if something of his was taken too!!
Me: clock
Sounds of shrieks and cries of despair are coming from the back room. Must investigate. Discussion about sharing, respect and threats of discipline ensue. 
Problem solved. 
SIGH.
Me: I should get...
M: MOMMY CAN WE PLAY THE RUN GAME AGAIN!!?
For the next 3 minutes I am calling out random places around the house and Little M is running to each one. It's a grand game.  Really!!!
Me: supper...
K: EASE EASE EASE EASE EASE - she says, dangling from the fridge door. It's her way of asking for her milk cup. However, speech therapy is encouraging us to introduce a "card communication system" which is all great in theory but a pain in the butt to implement, and so I praise Sweet K for her words, remind her to use her milk card, get out the milk cup, wait until she's done so she doesn't stash her milk cup in the toy bin again and it gets all stinky.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
Me: Hmmm. Now it's 4:15. Better get....
M: CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES?
Me: No.

M: CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES?

Me: NO!!

M: CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES?

Me: AHHHHHH! NO! I will tell you when it is time to play games. (Little M is allowed a few minutes - we aim to keep it to 15-20 min. - to play some FREE online computer games right before supper. Usually when "the little hand is almost at the 6 and the big hand is touching the 9." She has been known to sit and stare at the clock until the proper timing has arrived!!!)

The next 15-20 minutes are filled with noise - Diggy barking at something, which is frustrating, repeating myself ten times over, even, stupidly, the radio is sometimes playing, which just adds to the "angst-filled ambience" !!!! I turn OFF the radio once I figure out what is making the extra noise.

Me: Oh boy. Now it's close to 5. Better start thinking about ...
M: Can you read me a story?
Me: No. I'm trying to make supper.
M: OHHHH! CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES?
Me: DON'T ASK ME AGAIN OR YOU WON'T GET GAMES TILL TOMORROW!!!
K: not saying much, but dangles around my leg, looking for a squeeze :).
Me: All I want to do is make something for supper. Mentally, I go through the meats we have in the freezer that are, by now, quick enough to defrost and prepare for supper. Ground beef.... chicken.... chicken..... beef :)..... SHOOT! I was gonna do a roast for supper! Better luck tomorrow!!
Of course, I'm saying this all out loud, because I cannot even hear myself THINK, (which is a phrase my mom ALWAYS said, and I swore I NEVER WOULD, but here I am and wouldn't you know....).
M: Mom, I don't like that.
Me: Don't like what, honey?
M: Chicken. Beef. Supper.
Guess she's been eavesdroppin' on my one-sided conversation....
Me: Listen here, little lady. There are many people in this world who don't have food to eat. If you complain about dinner (again!), you'll have to go out of the room, come back into the room, and say "thank you for making dinner, mommy."
Silence. We end up practicing this just to make sure it sticks.
By this time it has disintegrated into a mac 'n cheese night. With ground beef.
We will try again. Tomorrow.
For now, I take a tylenol and get ready for the bedtime routine!!!

Usually I use my electronic calendar to help me plan my meals ahead of time. Because I don't enjoy  cooking a whole lot, it is easier to look ahead, make sure I use up stuff in the freezer, get things defrosting early, etc. But even this is not a fail-proof method. Because sometimes, just sometimes, I forget to look at the calendar too!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

When browsing through one of my favorite crafty blog-stops :), I came across this fun little project and couldn't resist involving the girlies in a little "crafting."

Now, we've attempted painted crafts before, and the result was a bit ... chaotic. So, when I planned to do this one, I actually ran through the entire procedure mentally the night before (and the morning of) to ensure proper ... paint-crafting execution!!! I'm a bit of a control freak that way :). 

Anyway! It went well! Armed with plenty of paper towel, Sweet K strapped into her chair and a full-cooperation agreement from Little M, we hand-stamped love shaped valentines to give to grandmas, grandpas and daddy ;). What fun we had! And afterwards, it was a trip to the tub :).

I've become a bit of a cynic when it comes to holidays, I might add. Before we had kids, I didn't focus on them (meaning the holidays, not kids!!) too much. I loved (and still do) decorating for Christmas, but something ... essential, yet something I had not yet found words for ... was lacking. It all seemed a bit commercialistic and consumeristic to me.  Yet, I didn't want to completely abandon the yearly celebrations that make things festive either. I just needed to rediscover their value and seek out traditions with meaning that resonated with me.

And so, I've been on the search :). Just recently I snagged a book from our church library. Originally penned in the '80s (oh the decade of bad hair, bad jeans and biiiig glasses!!!), Ann Hibbard writes a book that catches my attention years later!!

"Yet people still crave the secuity and joy that come from the timeless family traditions, rooted in Biblical Christianity. [However] they long for something deeper than a "Hallmark card holiday." " Family Celebrations: Meeting Christ in Your Holidays and Special Occasions, p. 2.

She discusses the joy of the anticipation leading up to a holiday, and discusses how we can use these opportunities to impart spiritual and moral lessons to our wee ones (and to learn and grow ourselves ;)...).  I turned to the section on Valentines Day, only to learn of the martyrdom of St. Valentine and how we can use this time in the year to underscore the value of friendship, loyalty, faithfulness and commitment. Some examples of biblical stories that Hibbard recommends for the weeks leading up to 'ole Feb 14 are Ruth & Naomi, David & Jonathan and the love of the Father for the prodigal son. This book is full of good ideas (and I'm sure even more creativity can be added with quick www search :)...). And since it was published, she has since written a whole series of books, one for each major holiday.

This reading has provided food for thought as I reconsider how our little family will celebrate various festivities throughout the year. Moving beyond the gift-giving extravaganza (which is a lot of fun - especially when the gifts are for me :P!!) to include more intentional times of teaching. It's exciting and a bit overwhelming :). Lots of room for creativity to be sure :). But worth the effort, I think, as we seek forge meaningful traditions and habits that connect us as a family and as a culture.

What fun traditions have you adopted as a family :)?
What have you let go of because it just didn't seem to fit?
Which celebrations are most meaningful :)? Why?
Send me a note! I'd love to learn more!!

Oh yeah - and Happy Valentines Day!

Everybody needs a hero....

This morning started out like most others.
Dear Jon, glancing at the clock, grabbing his jacket, announcing, "I'm gonna be late!"

There are a few conversations under our roof that take place sooooo often, that you know what's comin' before it's said! These parting words are often part of our farewells ;).

"Daddy, make sure you bonk the horn..." Little M calls out behind him.
"I will." And, if it's true-to-Jon form, when he agrees to something, consider it done!!

However, this morning, with the hustle and bustle, Jon forgot to "bonk" the horn before leaving for the day! Tragedy of tragedies! Suddenly I clue in that there are TEARS somewhere, and Little M is sobbing. Sob.bing. "Daddy forgot. to. bonk. the. horn!!"

"Bonking" the horn typically consists of two "toots" in the garage, followed by two more "toots" and a wild wave from the road. I'm sure our neighbors LOVE us!!!


With a flash of sudden inspiration, I decide to call Jon on the cell. "Uh, hon. We have a girlie in tears over here. You forgot to bonk the horn."

"Put her on the phone, I'll be right there."

No. Kidding. The dear man is running late, but meeting the needs of his daughter takes precedence over meeting the expectations of colleagues! 

Not only did he drive by and honk, but he pulled INTO the garage, came INSIDE, apologized!!!, gave Little M one more last hug and kiss, bonked the horn appropriately and was off for the day.

Every one needs a hero like this!!!!

In addition to his sensitivity towards his children, working with teenagers has made Jon very aware of the importance of parenting and the indescribable role of fathers. It's a job he takes very seriously. And does very very well.

There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.  ~John Gregory Brown

Work

Sometimes (all the time? any time? every time :)?) I think the most important work we can engage in is not 

loving...

parenting...

creating...

giving...

doing...

it is simply discovering God in the moment

you find yourself in.

Sometimes it's hard

because there is so much that 

clamors 

for attention.

Demands.

Responsibilities.

Fears.

Insecurities.

Uncertainties.

Noise.

Entertainment.
Guilt.
Shame.

"Be still, and know that I am God;

       I will be exalted among the nations,

       I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10

This is the work of worship.

And it is beautiful.

Image link

Mama said there'd be days like this!

Oh yes. She did. My mama said a lot of things :) ...
like...
one day you'll have one just. like. you. this usually wasn't during a very good moment ;)
this too shall pass. sometimes it does. sometimes it doesn't!
if you scowl too long your face will stay that way. well, i'm not yet caught in a perma-frown, however there are some deep lines forming between my eyes :)...


... but mostly she just listens :). She's a very good listener.

Well, today was filled with some serious negotiation situations.
And lots of time outs. :)

But we ended off on a high note.
Little M got into a particularly goofy mood, got a little carried away with her little red heart stickers and stuck one to my bottom :).
I feel like a Care Bear :).

Wow. They look so little!! Almost TWO years ago!!

Here's to a brighter tomorrow!!!

Here's to a good read!!

I've been in the process of updating the books link above.
Stop by if you love to read!!
I'm always lookin' for suggestions ;)... just send me a note with the title, author and what you loved about it!
Oh yeah - parenting books too! I'm working with a four-year-old and a 2.5-year-old. Some days are easy. Some aren't. Any recommendations :)?

Grateful + Attitude = Gratitude

I may have mentioned my .... ahem ... mild moderate obsession with the fact that I am very glad I am not a pioneer! This past week, I said it again and again.

We had fever-ville at our place. Nothing dramatic, really, for which I am truly grateful. But really, anything medical, involving fever and the possibility of visiting the doctor with my children usually ups my angst a little!! I'm sure with practice and confidence I'll become more comfortable with this, and it's getting better, but really, I don't like it much at all ;).

SO. I am VERY VERY GRATEFUL for these things :)....

#101. My trusty ear thermometer. No more wrestling with a thermometer in the armpit. No more waiting a torturous 30 seconds to find out whether or not the tylenol has kicked in. You can even sneak in when they are sleeping, get a temp reading, and administer tylenol accordingly with a little syringe ALL WITHOUT WAKING THE BABY. Have I mentioned I really appreciate this gadget :)!?

#102. We went through at least a bottle of this since Wednesday. With two little ones under the weather, it sure helped A LOT!! There are a variety of products out there, but this has been our stand-by drug of choice.









#103. Walk-ins. This time around, we paid a visit to the local walk-in. Sweet K broke out in hives twice, and it was time to get that checked out. Thankfully it was simply a reaction to her virus and nothing more.

#104. Safety for myself and the Little One. I hadn't thought of this before, but there are certain viruses that are not safe for pregnant women to be exposed to. Yikes! Nothing like discovering this after it would be too late!! However, we were not faced with those stresses this time around, and I am so grateful. Nor did I get the fever/flu that was going around. At least not yet ;).

#105. Sweet times in the rocking chair. Ohhhh.  It was 2am. Sweet K was shivering and shaking in her bed from being hot and cold at the same time. YUCK!! My mother-heart just melted. I don't get to hold her very often when she's sleeping (especially considering I used to have to hold her ALL the time to get her into dreamland!!), and this was a rare ... treat. Yes. Even in the middle of the night. Who cares!? I wasn't sleeping anyway!! So, to the rocker we went, to snuggle, sing hymns and enjoy the quiet together. It wasn't long before her body regulated and her breathing sounded fine, but I just couldn't put her down. Not yet. These days are going so fast, and she's growing so quickly, I found myself prolonging this time.

#106. Sleep. Can't run on adrenaline forever! I have dealt with insomnia and a variety of sleep issues for the past four years. I know the preciousness of rest! Yesterday night, when I could tuck myself in, fevers gone, I breathed a sigh of relief and enjoyed the break :).

Baking 1-0-1...

I started this day like most others.
Carefully trying to ease my body out of bed :). Getting more and more pregnant every day (well, that's misguided. I've been 100% prego the whole time, but my belly is getting bigger, bigger BIGGER all the time!) this is becoming more of an olympic challenge. Especially when I need to step AROUND the sleeping sick child on our floor. Or need to move nimbly down the hall as to NOT DISTURB the toddler who is finally sleeping. Or when I tend to walk into more door FRAMES than door WAYS (ouch. it hurts. stop laughing :P).

I digress.

But, I didn't spend this day like most others.
I spent this lovely day... baking.
I even wore an apron, just to keep in the spirit of things :).
AND I kept these words close to my heart :)...


May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
       be pleasing in your sight,
       O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

For some, baking and cooking up a storm is simply no challenge at all. Even in my own family. Somehow, I received the genetically modified gene in this camp, and though I can assemble a decent meal, and maybe even a nice sweet, it doesn't come a) naturally or b) joyfully :).

Then again, we don't get cable OR satellite, so maybe I'm just not as inspired by Rachel Ray as I could be :).

However, some cookie-commitments kept me bound to this task at hand, and so I decided to tackle it with ENTHUSIASM. GREAT MUSIC. NO LITTLE HELPERS :P.

First up. As a care group, we've decided to arrange meals for a couple in our church who've had a really tough year. This is a timely reminder to me that though the crisis may pass, the care and concern, expressed in a variety of ways, is essential to character and community. I am grateful for this lesson, and have looked forward to assembling this food gift for a while. Next. Cookies. Lots of 'em. Required for a local mom's group (which I so much enjoyed being a part of for so long!!!) and another couple whose whole family is also going through a serious time.

1. I had already selected my recipes and had MOST of the ingredients at hand. That's the toughest part! I even pulled out all my margarine squares, lined them up according to recipes, to ENSURE that I would NOT RUN INTO A MARGARINE SHORTAGE SITUATION!!!

2. I decided to use my new handy dandy cuisinart bad-boy to process the doughs for the various recipes. I actually took time to review the manual, FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS (probably one reason why I find baking so difficult :P), and figure it all out. I was a little ... concerned ... that the dough looked a bit over-processed, but the cinn buns turned out spank-tacular, so here's to hopin' that the cookies will be soft, fluffy, and perfectly circle (or heart-shaped, as is the case). (I HATE it when my cookies turn out flat and wafer thin. It makes me hoppin' M.A.D!!).

3. I keep my messes tidy. Weird, but true. Argh. Clutter eckles me. SO. If I can keep my workspace clean (or at least organized!) I am a much happier .... cook :). Plus it helps me keep the flour separate from the sugar (nothing like swappin' ingredients to really screw it all up!!).

4. I realize that I simply don't like baking (as opposed to vacuuming the floor, one of my favorite chores :P, or cleaning the washrooms, not enjoyable but the shiny white surfaces are worth the scrub!!!) is because of a lack of PLANNING and PRACTICE. Sigh. It's irritating when you realize you've run out of the most essential ingredient OR you spend time, money and serious patience-control putting it all together and it turns out ultra-crispy, under-baked (can't always blame that on the funky oven, sometimes I forget to set the timer!!), or so hockey-puck-like the NHL would love 'em !!! I don't take colossal failure very well ;).

But today I actually had FUN! I blame it on the apron, really. Not only did I look the part, it accentuated the prego belly, which makes me feel all maternal and nesting-like :).

Here are a few recipes I whipped out today. Enjoy!!

Vanilla Cinnamon Buns

3.5 c. flour (I used almost 4)

1 Tbsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 package vanilla pudding mix (turns out to be 1/4 c. of the crystals)

2 Tbsp. yeast

Blend well :).

Add liquids:

1/4 c. warm water

1/4 c. melted marg

1 c. warm milk

1 egg

Mix and knead until dough is smooth and a nice consistency.

I let my dough rise for 45 min. or so.

Roll out dough into a big rectangle. 

Cover with melted marg., brown sugar, cinnamon and raisins!

The more the merrier :).

Roll into log and cut into 12 equal portions. 

I used waxed dental floss to make a nice, neat cut.

(Place string under roll, bring up on either side, cross over and pull. SNIP! VOILA!)

Set into greased 9x13 pan and let rise again.

Bake at 350 for 15-20min. 

Take remaining pudding mix (approx. 1/4 c.), add 1 c. of milk, and drizzle it over warm buns.

YUM!

Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cookies

1 c. marg

1.5 c. sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

Mix separately then add, mixing very well :)...

2 c. flour

2/3 c. cocoa

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix mix mix mix mix.

Add 1 package of chipits peanut butter chips.

OK. Set aside a few for the kids and a small handful for yourself :).

More mixing!!

Drop by tsp. (or the infamous Pampered Chef cookie scooper :P) onto greased cookie sheet.

Sometimes I press mine with a fork, other times I don't. 

I haven't figured out the science to this yet (any pointers :P?).

Bake at 350 for 8-10 min.

YUM YUM YUM

There were a few more recipes I polished off, but I'll save those for a different day.

in.a.funk.

i knew even before my feet touched the floor this morning that it was going to be that kinda day.
sigh.
after a fitful night's sleep (when sweet k LET me sleep!!), my spirit was full of angst and discouragement.
thunder clouds loomed large.
stormy clouds of frustration and heaviness.
"i'm not sure we're going to get there from here."
"i'm not sure i've got what it takes."
"i'm just not sure..."


sigh again.

i'd like to say it got better throughout the day.
it hasn't.
or that it will be "all better" tomorrow.
it won't.
my spirit may feel lighter and brighter but life's peculiar issues don't disappear so quickly!

in the midst of it all, i am thankful. for a husband who loves me. for healthy, happy kids and a warm, safe home. for family and friends who share this journey of life with me :). and so much more.

and for a LORD who continues to whisper even through life's chaos...
"...See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..." Isaiah 49:16a.

Gratitudes

Well, when I joined the Gratitude Community, the goal was to log in 1000 gratitudes over the course of the year :). I don't think I've met my "yearly target" yet :), but here are a few more to add to the bunch!!

#96 - Mixing up yummy-ness together! Sweet K has just discovered

the joy of grabbing her own chair, dragging it to the counter, and finding all SORTS of things to get into :). This is one of the better tasting ;).

#97 - Manitoba Winter Wonderlands, snow angels, and a great dad who plays with his kids!

#98 - Early morning wrestle-fests ;).

Sometimes I have the energy for this, other times....not!!

#99

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 

 that calls me from a world of care, 
 and bids me at my Father's throne 
 make all my wants and wishes known. 
 In seasons of distress and grief, 
 my soul has often found relief, 
 and oft escaped the tempter's snare 
 by thy return, sweet hour of prayer! 

2. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 
 the joys I feel, the bliss I share 
 of those whose anxious spirits burn 
 with strong desires for thy return! 
 With such I hasten to the place 
 where God my Savior shows his face, 
 and gladly take my station there, 
 and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer! 

3. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 
 thy wings shall my petition bear 
 to him whose truth and faithfulness 
 engage the waiting soul to bless. 
 And since he bids me seek his face, 
 believe his word, and trust his grace, 
 I'll cast on him my every care, 
 and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

#100. A little place called home.

Gotta love it!