Blessed

Friday, January 17, 2014

Flashback Friday ~ Sisters

Awww...these two!! Four months and 21 months, I'm guessing. I can almost still smell Amanda and hear Avery's squeaky little voice. LOVED these days!

Sister

The best friend I was born to have.

Sharing laughter, tears & secrets our whole lives through.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

I've wrestled with my 2014 goals for the past couple weeks (and been working on this post about that same amount!). I set out some areas I wanted to work on, things I wanted to accomplish, personal growth I wanted to see. I wrote and crossed out and thought some more.

Finally I had something that was ok but I still wasn't settled with it. So I ran it by Shaun and asked for his feedback. He is so very wise and so very honest....always.

He read through the list, told me the ones he liked and said the problem with the remaining ones was they were about me and my own personal enrichment.

And just like that he articulated what it was that'd been nagging me. The list of things, though "good" by definition, was not reflective of the way we want to live our lives.

As soon as Shaun finished talking, I knew what my revised 2014 goals would look like. I knew immediately because it'd been rolling around in my head but I discounted it, wanting more "traditional" goals.

And so, I have just two things for 2014.

I know so many who have chosen just one word for the year and are making that their focus. I love that idea! It was easy to come up with mine, since God has been stirring things in my heart. My one word is SURRENDER.

So I'll stand

With arms high and heart abandoned

In awe of the one who gave it all

So I'll stand

My soul Lord to you surrendered

All I am is yours

I believe God is going to call us to bigger and harder and scarier things in the coming year. In our pursuit of a life of significance, I want my knee-jerk response to be "all I am is yours". I want to lose myself and the human-sized plans I have for my life and exchange them for God-sized, world-changing plans.

The second thing was easy to settle on, too. Back in early December when we attended the TobyMac concert, he shared a quote from Brennan Manning, who I've read and enjoyed.

For Christmas, my BIL made me a mug with that very quote on it, along with a couple pictures. Its very special to me and is a daily reminder that I have the power to positively impact people and give life to them.

In every encounter we either give life or we drain it; there is no neutral exchange.

When I was looking up the quote, I found this related list that I love:

Smile more.
Hug more.
Give more compliments.
Write more love notes.
Offer more forgiveness.
Ask more follow-up questions.
Show more interest.
Have more compassion.
Talk to more children.
Remember more names.
Leave bigger tips.
Use kinder words.
Laugh at more jokes.
Make more eye contact.
Treat others to more coffee.
Listen more intently.
Give more time.
Stop to catch-up longer.
Promote others more often.
Be more optimistic.
Be more sympathetic.
Be more patient.
Celebrate more successes.
Ask to pray more often.
Dream bigger dreams for others.
Cook more meals.
Ask elders for more advice.
Spend more time reminiscing with old friends.
Donate more to charity.
Remember more details.
Sing more songs.
Display more affection.
Give more apologies.
Focus less on differences.
Invite more to come along.
Read more books to your child.
Offer to help more often.
Trust more.
Give more responsibility.
Say more thank-you’s.

This year, I want to surrender my life to God's plans and give life to others.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Project 365, Week 2

This week we had single-digit temps, near-record high temps, snow and thunder and lightning. I feel like we've already "put in our time" with the cold, so I'm expecting the remainder of the winter to be mild. We'll see! :)

We eased back into tax season and the kids had their first full week back at school after Christmas break.

We had some setbacks but also had front row seats to God's faithfulness.

January 5

The kids were enjoying some Uncle Nathan time now because he'll be scarce during tax season.

Lots of "wars" going on. I think these two were on the hunt for R.

January 6
Love these next two with Great-Grandpa.

January 7
Yay for morning snuggles!

The kids and I experienced our first track & field event. It was overwhelming and confusing at first, but fun. R had a personal best for pole vault height so I'm glad we got to witness it.

January 8
Not the scene you want to see when you pull up to your house. Thankfully, our old house is just two blocks from the fire department and they were able to put out the chimney fire without any damage to the house.

We are getting anxious to see what God has planned for that house as part of the grand scheme of us buying this new house. Trusting!

January 9
When we signed her up, we didn't realize that Amanda would have basketball practice each week at this level, but I'm sure it will be helpful in developing skills.

January 10
The kids enjoyed their 90-minute school delay with a tiny bit of snow.

January 11
Both girls had basketball games. Avery had a fire in her eyes this day...she's getting it!

Saturday, January 11, 2014

January's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month!

{Document a snapshot of your life & find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

6 AM

It was snowing pretty good when I left the gym parking lot. Thankful for a car that's really good in the snow!

7 AM
When we got this chalkboard, I pictured having a pretty verse or quote penned on it, but its actually been a great place to put daily "to-do's" for the kids, so I'm not having to remind three times.

8 AM
Batman made an appearance, all smiles.

9 AM
Enjoying the 90-minute school delay, Avery made cinnamon rolls, all on her own.

9:30 AM
They thought there was plenty of snow to play in.

11 AM
School time.

12 AM
Lunch time. The standard fare lately is a Nutella and butter sandwich. At this moment, the sandwich has magically turned into a snowmobile.

3 PM
The girls were home and changed into matching outfits.

4 PM
Dance party in the kitchen.

5 PM
Love Creative Live and all the free live streaming photography courses they offer.

7 PM
R was at a track meet and the kids were at Awana's so I got to sit across the table from this handsome guy on a date! He's one in a million!

Friday, January 10, 2014

Captivating Conversations

Momma, did you know that when Jesus was little he was talking to the religious leaders (love watching his mouth form when he says "religious leaders")? And a couple days after that when he was old, the religious leaders told Governor Pilate that Jesus was dangerous because he wanted to be king....

TobyMac's CD has been playing here a lot lately. A couple weeks ago, Amanda was wishing Daddy could be a singer like TobyMac. I told her that TobyMac wouldn't be able to sing without someone like Daddy to make the sound work. :) Then a week later...

Avery: Daddy should be a singer. How much money does TobyMac make? Thousands?
Me: No, millions.
Avery: What?!? Yeah, Daddy should sing and then he'd be rich! Plus, that would be cool.
Me: Well...if Daddy was a singer, he wouldn't make much money.
Avery & Amanda (incredulous): Why??
Me: Daddy likes to sing but he's really bad at it and people wouldn't pay money to listen to him sing.
Amanda: (shrugs shoulders) Yeah, some dads just aren't very sing-y.

Avery: Mom, guess what? We have two more days of multiplication and then we'll be starting division!
Me: Really?? Wow! I didn't learn division until 3rd grade.
Avery: (after a pause): Uh, Mom....I'M in 3rd grade.
Me: Oh, right. (How, when did that happen??)

Amanda: Mom, I would like to cheer for a president.
Avery: What do you mean?
(I'm thinking her school is doing a pep rally and will be deciding on members of the student counsel)
Amanda: I wish I could cheer for a president.
Avery: Do you mean vote?
Amanda: Yes! Vote! But you have to be 18 years old.....Daddy is WAY far old enough to do that.
If I could cheer for a president, I would cheer for George Washington.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Feelings

Stumbled upon this little gem yesterday by Lysa TerKeurst:

Your feelings can indicate there is a problem to address, but shouldn't dictate how you react to a situation.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Project 365, Week 1

I was at the gym this morning and got SLAMMED with a migraine. Not the kind where you post on facebook, UGH...I have a migraine! but the kind where you have to lay still in darkness, except when you're walking to the bathroom to be sick to your stomach.

Its only my fourth one ever (they are ALL very memorable!). Thankfully Shaun was home to handle the five kids while I slept for four hours and then relaxed the rest of the day.

Makes me so very thankful for good health!

Anyway, Happy New Year!! I just love the freshness of a new year and all the possibilities it holds!

December 29

Its not enough that these girls share the same room...whenever allowed (like non-school nights), they also like to share the same (twin) bed, even though there's a full on the other side of the room.

December 30

Aiden wanted to use the bubble bath he got in his stocking. My kids have all done showers pretty much as soon as they could stand on their own, so it was a special treat.

December 31
A FREEZING cold day and these two were out playing baseball.

Avery helped Shaun organize some of his tools....he's been working steadily on the car.

This private residence puts a light show to music...pretty impressive!

We let the older three stay up to watch the ball drop. At 11:50, we flipped the TV on and were shocked and appalled by the awful, inappropriate, vulgar things we saw. Shaun couldn't flip through the major networks fast enough, particularly with our kids sitting there. In case I needed a reminder of one of the many reasons I don't turn that thing on...

January 1

Uncle Tony helped Aiden get his new lego set opened up and put together. We did our annual New Year's Day visit at Grandpa's house, only this time without Grandpa. We had a nice time, but he certainly leaves a hole.

January 2
First day back to school and it was an early dismissal because of snow. The kids got right out in it. Remarkably, R taught all three kids how to snowboard.

I hope this doesn't mean we have to spend winters at a ski lodge. ;)

We also welcomed "D" for the weekend for respite...13 going on 30. She bears the signs of a tough life, but has such a good heart and fit in well with our family.