Family + Document Your Weekend

This and the coming weeks have been and will be spent enjoying family....parents, grandparents, GREAT-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins...and we'll be eatin' it up! Can't wait to hug some necks!

Mom and Dad hung out with the kiddos and I this week...*sigh* I love them. Even though I'm a grown woman now... having them here, in my home, gives me a peaceful and contented feeling, down deep inside. Comfort. Safety. Thankful. We played, talked, laughed, ate good food, laughed, ate good food...good times!

Looking forward to a super-busy weekend ahead, getting ready for a big giant road-trip plus preparing to add NINE family-type folks in our nest for a few days, and the grand finale-my man is coming HOMEEEEE! Lots to look forward to!

Hoping try this project-if I can keep the trusty camera at arms-reach to capture the chaos of this weekend. Something about the idea of photographing daily life and then turning it into something creative makes it feel just a tad more exciting. Join me?

*Added* So my little project got a headstart tonight. Went around after posting to check the doors and do my night-time momma thing-and caught a glimpse of this:

my daddy's slippers sitting next to the nightlight in our living room-make me smile...

The comfort of a Familiar Face

I was so happy to hear from my friend, Ms. Katie, who would be traveling to NC to visit her grandchildren for the week. We had a wonderful time visiting together while the kids played in the awesome playroom. Hannah Reece LOVED riding the big 'ol pony! Lately, she is showing an affinity for all things equine. Graham had a ball on the Big Wheel outside-that brought back a flood of memories of the neighborhood Big Wheel races when I was a little girl!

Look at these rose bushes in the yard! So, so pretty, and the clouds actually cleared for a while, we've had a lot of rain around these parts.

This move has been an adventure. As much as I look forward to meeting new people and scouting out new places-building relationships does take plenty of time and effort. During this season, nothing is as comforting as a hug around the neck from a dear, familiar friend-one who knows me well. It's as refreshing and enjoyable as a tall glass of sweet tea on a warm Carolina day! I'm so grateful for you, Ms. Katie!

Speaking of familiar faces....my momma and daddy (aka Nana and Papa) will be here tomorrow...WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU! The question of the day around here: "Is it Wednesday, now?"

Rock Bottom and a Road Trip

Last week, my body was screamin' at me about how old and outta shape I'm getting, so I got up the gumption to head over to the Y for a Zumba class...and I do enjoy some bootie-shake-in-the-name-of-fitness. Well, I walked in and saw people dragging these dumbell things out, plus steps and mats....not the Zumba I remembered? I quickly realized I got the times all wrong...so instead I experienced, firsthand, this instrument of torture, otherwise known as a kettlebell. This sweet lady next to me with a super-tight bootie informed me that this class is called "Rock Bottom". Well thank you very much! So, thinking I might achieve the same results as my my new friend, I decided to stick with it. Can you say....mybunsaburnin?! I can't even remember the last time I was this sore from a workout! Next time, when I see eight 16-year-olds lined up in the front...I'll remember to take a cue and walk out the door! Don't worry though, the soreness wore off on the 5th day and I'm happy to say that I can walk properly again.

An unexpected road trip....my dear hubby has many wonderful qualities and one that makes me happy and drives me crazy-all at the same time-is his ability to come up with a spontaneous travel plan. Here's how it went last Tuesday at breakfast:

Me: How's your yogurt, babe?

Dan: Good...hey, you wanna go to Disney today?

Me: Um........

Dan: You know our passes are about to end for the summer and I've got class next week, and then back to Bonita for a week....this might be our last chance for a while....

Me: Hmmmm.... (and chewing my breakfast)....really? What about a hotel?

(He gets up to go call and check on hotels, finds a super-steal-of-a-deal rate)

Dan: Ok, we're all set! Let's get packed up!

With that said, the kids ran into their rooms and started packing toys into their little backpacks, it was hilarious! They're such great little travelers, rarely complaining or asking to stop. So this time, the packing and travel was self-inflicted, but worth it! It took about 8 hours to get to Orlando and we had a great time playing together. Here we are having a ball on the teacups.

And Graham rode the Star Wars ride for the first time...have I mentioned that he is ALL about Star Wars these days??

Our-late-night-sugar-induced-antics (for your viewing pleasure!)

Daddy's Baby Girl

Sarah: I love you, Hannah Reece.
Hannah Reece: I Daddy's girl...I love Daddy on-wee.

Spring is in the Air!

Pictured: 1) Our neighbor has Iris', aren't they gorgeous? 2) Graham calls these little pods on the huge tree in the front yard, "wigglers". 3) Thanks to the T*rg*t $1 section we scored some fun kid-sized garden tools and wildflower seeds to replace the weeds in our pots out front. Hopefully I'll have pictures of those later his summer! 4) Caterpillar examination 5) Reecie in her "pink fwowas". They are her favorite, our flower beds are full of them...anyone know their name?

Spring has sprung! Hannah Reece and Graham prefer to be outside in the yard or going for a walk or a bike ride on the sidewalk. And when we're in...they'd rather be out! I'll admit, being able to just walk out the back door without descending 3 flights of stairs or an elevator ride down is pretty wonderful! The weather is cool in the morning and just right all day long. Graham's favorite outdoor activities include his auto-pitch t-ball thingy, playing lightsabers on the deck, digging in the dirt, riding the scooter and playing hopscotch. Hannah Reece prefers picking flowers, playing baseball, laying in the grass on a blanket, "playing princess" (spinning around in her dress in the grass) and riding her tricycle. These days, Roly-polys and caterpillars are our favorite source of entertainment!

On being sick and taking stock...

On our way out of town last week, we stopped by my parents house to pick up a few things. Hannah Reece and I were VERY ill that day. Between the fever, exhaustion and anticipation of the 12 hour drive ahead, I felt absolutely overwhelmed. And then my sweet momma opened the door for us....just the sight of her, the smell of my parents home...it felt so GOOD to be held by the one who has cared for my needs so many times before.....I just wept. One of those big, long, ugly boo-hooin' cries.

I am so often filled with feelings of inadequacy in my role as mom....and having such a wonderful example of a kind, godly, loving mother......I'll think "how in the world did my mom do all of these things for us?" Like so many of us, I try to do it all. And thanks to a week in bed sick with lots of time to think and pray and reflect(instead of running around like a chicken with my head cut off)...I've come back to this familiar realization...I can't. God did not give me these children so that I alone could be everything and bag of chips for them! That's God's gig! My job is to be a conduit of GRACE, LOVE and TRUTH in their lives. To help them realize their need for a Savior. How will they ever see their heart's need if they think I'm the giver of every good thing? I'm not the giver of these good things....I too, am a fellow receiver. In my weaknesses, I pray that our children will see God's immense love and forgiveness flow and cover over my cracks and flaws, and give him thanks for the strength he provides to do the best that I can.

Also, what's really necessary? I'm sincerely asking the Lord to show and help me get rid of things/activities that are not beneficial or honoring to him, things that take time away from the relationships that are most precious. Even seemingly "good" things in life can take precedence and take over our resources of time, energy, etc. that could be used for the "best" things. How sad that it's taken a week of being sick for me to stop and take stock!


I awoke this morning feeling slightly more energetic than I have previously in the last week. The kids and I played on the floor for a while and I decided to do a little tidying up in the kitchen. There, outside, sat this momma bird with a big juicy worm in her mouth. She was such a patient momma waiting for me to run and grab my camera and snap her picture! She even posed, bless her heart! Oh God, you are so good. Thank you for reminding me through the smallest of creation that you are the giver AND sustainer of life....you provide for the needs of the baby birds....you are able to provide everything we need! Help me to be patient, to wait and take pleasure in allowing you to provide for the needs of our family...and help me to keep my eyes fixed on you, that these little ones could see your love for them in me.

And while I was in bed this week, look what my precious husband and kiddos were up to (I got up and spied on them).....

showing God's love...to me!

Matthew 6:25-34
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.