Doing the Next Thing

20/30

2012-02-13T16:56:00.006-05:00

Chocolate-dipped S'mores. I made these for youth group snacks and they were a big hit! (though it was kind of tedious, made a big mess i still haven't cleaned up, and didn't turn out AT ALL like what i pictured in my mind. but i think the teens felt loved, and that's all that matters.)

19/30

2012-02-13T11:18:00.003-05:00

we took our Durer-inspired animal drawings and made "woodcuts" out of them (carved styrofoam plates and practiced making prints.)

18/30

2012-02-12T11:16:00.000-05:00

a student's interpretation of me. much thinner and cuter than the original. ;)

17/30

2012-02-11T23:14:00.000-05:00

another snapshot of art class: Nativity Triptych

16/30

2012-02-10T09:11:00.000-05:00

owl sketch by one of my art students. we studied Albrecht Durer's animal drawings as inspiration.

15/30

2012-02-09T11:03:00.000-05:00

Note from my sweet hubby. Found in my lunchbox one day at art class.

14/30

2012-02-03T09:41:00.002-05:00

In a little over a month, she'll be a teenager. Every now and then I get a glimpse of that. It happened in a blink!

13/30

2012-01-25T17:13:00.005-05:00

playing around with tangerine

12/30

2012-01-24T10:03:00.003-05:00

Homework

(about 90 seconds before a battle royale erupted with nerf darts and paper airplanes)

11/30

2012-01-23T07:59:00.000-05:00

Monday Morning

10/30

2012-01-21T18:20:00.003-05:00

Beautiful sky on my Thursday run. So many shades of blue - the photo just doesn't do it justice.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork - Psalm 19:1

9/30

2012-01-19T10:35:00.004-05:00

Post-run breakfast (ran 3 miles in 32 degrees. brrrr!)

(egg scramble {b/c i stink at omlettes} with shallots, tomatoes, and crumbled goat cheese - cooked in coconut oil and real butter; green tea with coconut oil and raw local honey. yummy.)

8/30

2012-01-14T20:46:00.004-05:00

Finished Product. Cost: Free - DIY'd from objects around the house! Now, to find some other white plates (or maybe empty white frames...?) and hang them on the wall with the turkey platter for a nice collage effect. I think. Any ideas?

(Look here and here to see where I got inspiration / instruction. Then I just googled a lot and got creative.)

7/30

2012-01-13T23:35:00.000-05:00

Sock Monkey Shower

(sick kids + forgetful mom + running late = not-so-fantastic photos taken with my phone instead of my Nikon. /)

The Sick Room

2012-01-12T12:48:00.005-05:00

We've had a stomach virus moving through the family for about a week now. Anytime children are ill, mothering can be a challenge. But in large families, when the illness lasts 5-7 days per person, and no one gets sick at the same time ... it can drag on for what seems like eternity and a mom can grow very weary by the end.

The first couple of days, when only my littlest K (5) and the hubby were sick, kind of felt like a mini vacation. I was rested and cheerful, and in between checking on and helping out the two sickies, I worked on my wreath from Pinterest. But as the days went on, K became sicker and one by one the other children joined in. We haven't slept through the night since last Friday. The laundry has been going round the clock, and the house I got in order before the start of school is now a disaster area.

I'm pleased to report (and very grateful) that we've turned the corner and everyone is improving. However, as even more time passes, the little ones feel just well enough to be up and around, but not well enough to go to school. It's not as easy for mama to be cheerful. The ministry of the sick room now is less about cuddling and nursing, and more about constant work preparing foods that appeal to appetites in various stages of healing, helping with make-up schoolwork, cleaning all the sick rooms, and distracting not-quite-well children who have cabin fever.

As I've been going through the day, I keep thinking about a passage Nancy Wilson wrote about caring for sick children. It took some scrounging around to find the right passage, but I finally did. It's from Praise Her in the Gates, p. 34. Nancy says:

"When children are ill, it is a wonderful opportunity for teaching. You can model patience and cheerfulness to them when you get up in the night to comfort and minister to them. ... Mothers do have the capacity to make illness a happy memory"

She then goes on to talk about specific times when her children were sick and they read a whole book, or drank pop in the middle of the night, or watched old movies when the whole family was sick at the same time. I think back to when I was a child and being sick meant that my Mom made us cinnamon toast and we drank Sprite with a straw.

Hubby remembers his mom crushing ice with a hammer (no auto-ice dispensers back then, lol) and drinking Coke. I remember the time I had a terrible fever and was so miserable I couldn't sleep - my Mom sat by my bed reading aloud to me until I drifted off. What a blessing!

So I'm prayerfully "doing the next thing" in the sick room as I wipe bottoms, wash blankets and pillows, read aloud, watch cartoons, and of course,

make cinnamon toast. I pray that it will be a blessing to my children and a fond memory for them, too.

6/30

2012-01-11T10:50:00.002-05:00

Party Planning

gathering things for a friends' baby shower

5/30

2012-01-10T15:47:00.000-05:00

sick day

4/30

2012-01-08T19:34:00.002-05:00

Christus Mansionem Benedicat - "May Christ Bless This House"

Happy Epiphany Sunday!

3/30

2012-01-07T10:27:00.001-05:00

2/30

2012-01-06T07:23:00.000-05:00

"Real Food" Fried Chicken & Waffles with Mashed Taters & Gravy

1/30

2012-01-05T19:10:00.001-05:00

It's January, so that means it's time for the 3rd Annual "Thirty Pictures" series.

a work in progress ... trying to actually *use* some of the great ideas on Pinterest.

Christmas Books

2012-01-04T09:30:00.006-05:00

I'm excitedly making my way through the books I received this Christmas:

Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman -- I used to read a blog by that name - now Brenneman has gathered her ideas into a book full of practical tips on being a faithful home manager. I've already read about half the book, and most of the suggestions here would work for any size family.

Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide -- I'm ever-determined to exercise dominion over my camera and learn to take better photos!

Running With Joy by Ryan Hall -- I continue to be impressed with Hall, a US Olympic marathoner and committed Christian. Hoping to gain inspiration and motivation from this easy read.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - I bought this one for myself, to tell the truth. Merry Christmas to me! It's just that I read The Hunger Games so quickly, and loved it .... I couldn't wait to get my hands on book 2. Looking forward to the movie in March.

The Bible or the Axe by William O. Levi -- True story of a Sudanese Christian's escape from jihad that led to the foundation of Operation Nehemiah -- a ministry dedicated to rebuilding Sudan, aiding the persecuted Church there, and sharing the gospel.

Building Her House by Nancy Wilson -- From my hubby, because he knows I love to read anything by Mrs. Wilson. This one is a collection of essays on various topics from relationships to fighting the blues to the secret of good mac n cheese. :) I've already nearly finished it -- and though I've read some of the entries elsewhere before, the wisdom found in this accessible book has been a tremendous blessing already.

Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills by Raleigh Briggs -- From my beautiful sister. xo The first thing I love about this book is the aesthetic -- it's hand-lettered and charmingly illustrated by the author. But it's a keeper for the bounty of natural home-making, first-aid, and gardening information it contains. A fun, helpful little book.

Thinking Biblically About Technology

2011-12-31T11:45:00.006-05:00

If you're like me, navigating the ever-growing ocean of technology can be a daunting task. Computers, smart phones, ipods, oh my! Especially when it comes to setting boundaries for ourselves and our children regarding social media and gaming.

Technology itself is not only not inherently evil, it can be a tremendous blessing -- who hasn't searched google for a last-minute recipe, reconnected with a long lost friend on facebook, shared photos with family online, or simplified Christmas by shopping websites? It would be foolish to scorn these blessings by avoiding technology altogether. And as the Socialnomics video below points out ... whether you like it or not, you *can't* avoid it. Technology is part of our world and we can't escape it.

My dear friend Wendy has shared her family's new Technology Policy as a guest post on Daily On My Way to Heaven. As Wendy says, we do our children a disservice by sheltering them from technology, rather than train them to think Biblically and be wise in their use of it. But I'm stealing her thunder -- you should just go read her post here:

Sensing FamilyTechnology Policy

While you're there, take time to enjoy the other lovely posts Daily On My Way to Heaven has to offer.

And when you're done reading, come back and watch this video for some perspective on life in the 21st century. We need a plan. Avoidance is not an option!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

2011-12-23T16:54:00.001-05:00

Keepin it real

2011-12-10T11:04:00.003-05:00

I love this post from the Femina blog. So familiar. We are in the midst of our own festive happy chaos. Decorating & redecorating (after kids/cats un-decorate.) Baking cookies instead of dinner. Too many events. But rejoicing - the King of Heaven humbled himself to be born a poor, human baby, live in our broken world, and die for the forgiveness of sins. So ... let's whoop it up and embrace the chaos!

Dressing up a t-shirt...

2011-10-19T11:02:00.011-04:00

A friend on Facebook posted this brilliant video on 25 ways to tie a scarf. At the end, you can click the thumbnail of your favorite and get a tutorial. Love! (If you're like me, you have a bunch of scarves folks have given you as gifts. Now go grab one, put on your fave plain black tee, and get to work!)

Now, anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I'm NOT a fashionista. Like every mom, I'm busy - comfort and practicality determine most of my wardrobe. That doesn't mean I don't want to look pretty and feminine. I like to think of my style as cute-chubby-feminine-casual. ;-) By taking advantage of the pretty scarves I've collected, I can wear the comfy white tee AND look "put together." How easy is THAT?

Here I am sporting the "DIY Infinity" (photo creds to 17yo son S)

Since it's rainy, my go-to cute flannel flats are out. And clearance boots from Tarjay are in. (a size bigger b/c they didn't have my size in the clearance style. Fabulous AND Frugal.)

Completed with the "messy ponytail" picked up from this cute blog. (yikes! pardon the gray hairs - I don't usually see my own head from this point of view. :-o )

Now... off to homeschool and carpool, but with my own little dash of sunshine and a merry heart!

More Than Conquerors

2011-10-11T17:58:00.003-04:00

Ran across this jewel from my favorite Amy Carmichael Devotional today and was so encouraged:

Rom. 8:37 - 'more than conquerors'

James 1:2 R.V. - 'Count it all joy...when ye fall into manifold temptations.'

Amy says, "Sometimes when we read the words of those who have been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. 'I shall never be like that,' we feel. But they won through, step by step, by little acts of will, little denials of self, little inward victories, by faithfulness in very little things they became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps, they only see the accomplishment; but even so, those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph, no spiritual maturity that is the work of a moment. So let us all take courage; not one of us is too weak to be made more than a conqueror."

She goes on to compare God's sanctifying us through trials to the physical training of "lifting heavy burdens" -- weight training. To put it in a modern way: some of us grow by bench-pressing very heavy burdens slowly; others of us grow by lifting lighter weights, but over and over, day by day. Nevertheless, each of us grows. "There is something in trial which God uses to perfect strength. Let us leave God to do His own work. He will not allow us to suffer in vain."

How Did We Get Here So Fast?

2011-09-25T20:28:00.004-04:00

Celebrated two birthdays this week: C (left) turned 15 and got his learner's permit; and my firstborn, S, (right) turned 17. Hard to believe he'll be voting in the next presidential election!

Random Thoughts on Cutting With the Grain

2011-08-22T18:00:00.005-04:00

I don't have time to blog - I shouldn't be sitting here at the computer. School is in full swing and my time is not my own. I feel led to share something, however, on the chance that it might just resonate with someone out there.

I heard Nancy Wilson speak this summer about "cutting with the grain" when raising kids - allowing them to explore and pursue what naturally interests them. For example, one of her daughters was always buying fabric and sewing as a teenager...yet with few finished products to show for it. That same daughter now has her own clothing line and is designer of some really beautiful textiles.

"Cutting with the grain" ... even when it seems like more trouble than it's worth, makes a big mess, and takes up precious time.

One child spends his free time poking around the computer and "writing code" for seemingly silly programs. Yet when he used Flash to compose a program that makes a rocket ship dance around the screen with the arrow keys ... I had to admit I was impressed.
One child has spent hours this week editing stock photos and discovering what happens when you alter hue, contrast, saturation, etc.
One child can't stop building pillow forts and obstacle courses - out of anything and everything. In every.single.room of the house.
One child enjoys cooking and when she "plays," she plays with real ingredients and makes real recipes. She's quite good, actually. It's just that I don't always want a strawberry lassi right before lasagne for dinner.

It's so tempting to dismiss these things as mess-makers and time-wasters. (Not to mention a whole container of orange juice!) But I step out in faith, trusting that all this "exploring" will nourish their young souls. Hopeful that even if nothing else comes of it, at least my kids will know that their Mom is their encourager.

That's it for now. My 7yo "box man" has just delivered his fifth package in half an hour. I must go unwrap and see which of my own belongings is my gift .... ;)

{It was a roll of toilet paper, btw. Signed with the initials of the deliverer. I knew something was up when I heard a sibling yell, "What are you doing?!? Why are you writing on toilet paper!? LOL}

Yes Yes YESSS!

2011-08-08T22:04:00.013-04:00

Desiring God has a great post up about C.S. Lewis and how "Narnia helps us live better here." Perfect timing for some transforming thoughts going on inside my head and within our family - what we've been calling our "Hobbit Revolution." Not the blissfully ignorant, always cheery Hobbits of The Shire that know nothing of the evils of the world beyond their borders. But Hobbits like Frodo, Samwise, Merry, and Pippin - the ones who went on a great adventure, suffered terrible evils, grew stronger (and taller ;) in ways they didn't know they could, and returned to the beloved Shire with a deeper understanding of its simple joys and sweet fellowship. Longing for the Grey Havens, but whole-heartedly enjoying the good things this life has to offer in the meantime.

We are like those Hobbits - the walking wounded who know our citizenship is in Heaven. Yet we also know that every good and perfect gift comes from our Father (James 1:17) and that there is much joy to be had on our earthly journey. To live is Christ, to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21) So, as C.S. Lewis says, "As long as we live in merry middle earth, it is necessary to have merry middle things. " We've been broken by grief, suffering, sickness, stress, and heartache. Even so, by God's grace, we still enjoy 'merry middle things' like the sweet fellowship of friendship and hospitality, or the transport of corporate worship. We whoop it up at Christmas and birthdays. We let the kids make pillowforts and lick the spoon. We stay up past bedtime and catch fireflies in a jar. We wonder at bumblebees and bubble baths. We take delight in the satisfaction of hard work and breaking a good sweat; almost-burnt cookies and the laughter of our children; frail hugs from grandparents ... and roller coasters, both real and metaphorical. Like Hobbits. Deeper joy because of the pain we've suffered. Deeper joy because of the pain HE suffered.

oops! I've been rambling -- it's too late to be blogging! I meant to link you to Deisring God's post, not tire you out reading mine! So follow this link to read the whole post, and in the meantime I leave you this tease:

By creating Narnia, Lewis invites us out of our own skin and into that of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy (and later Caspian, Eustace, Jill, Shasta, and the rest). The challenges we face are Narnian challenges. The victories we win are Narnian victories. But our time in Narnia is not an end in itself. We go there so that we can then live better here. By taking us out of this world, Lewis enables us to become something that we weren’t before, something greater and grander, so that, when we return out of the wardrobe, we face our own Giants of Despair differently. We face them as true Narnians.

Or Hobbits. Either one works. Gnostics, may we never be!

Let's Review

2011-08-06T13:47:00.011-04:00

Tuesday: 1.5mi. very very hot. legs like lead

Wednesday: 2.2mi. very very hot. awful migraine. did i learn my lesson?

Thursday: crosstrain indoors - 5.2 mi on stationary bike with my book. aaaahhh :)

Saturday: 4mi. moderate heat/partly cloudy. first decent 'long run' all summer. encouraged and motivated by waves & nods from other runners, going the opposite direction, as we passed on our loops. offered broken prayers and recited verses in my head when my brain didn't have to stop & remind my lungs to breathe or my legs to take the next step. Philippians 4:13!

Not the most impressive week, but the first one in a long time with anything resembling consistency.

(this cheery vine gave me motivation for another mile...)

I think I can...I think I can... I think I can...

2011-08-04T09:01:00.007-04:00

I wrote an eloquent blog post in my head yesterday about running, as I ... ran. But the heat must have evaporated it right out and left in its place jumbled thoughts and rambling words. Oh well! :)

My blogging/running friend, Wendy, once encouraged me that 'the hardest part of running is getting out the door.' (see her repeat that encouragement in this cute, motivational post.) That's certainly been true this summer! So many days I don't make it out until the heat is unbearable and running isn't fun.

Yesterday, I tried to beat the heat. It was only 77 when I decided to run, but 86 by the time I fed the kids, found all my gear, and hit the trail. It was 91 before I was done. (and approaching triple digits by the end of the day - yowza!) Makes a huge difference when this sun-beaten, windy, 1/4 mile uphill section of the trail is in your loop! (the pic doesn't do it justice - it's a beast and I felt a sense of accomplishment when I conquered it twice yesterday!)

It is a small victory - only hashed out 2.5 miles with a disappointing time - but I'm proud of myself for hanging in there. And I'm thankful for so many things: that I'm healthy enough to run, for strong legs to run with, beautiful park trails, teenagers that babysit, and even for the heat. Yes, the heat. As another friend (also named Wendy :) reminded me this morning, the seasons are a blessing - one that God promises will continue until the Lord comes (see Gen 8). And the heat of summer reminds us to be thankful for the refreshing cold of winter, and vice versa. "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." I Thessalonians 5:18

(I found a race. It's a 5k, and sooner than I'd like. But my husband has some business that will take him to my hometown over Labor Day, and it's for a great cause, so I signed up! Still shopping for a late-fall/ cooler temps road race close to home.)

(Oh, another funny side note - yesterday was a first for me: I spat on the trail! [not on the trail of course, ha ha] I'm always amused by the evidence of spitting runners - never thought I'd be one!)

I Need a Race!

2011-08-01T09:50:00.002-04:00

It's been very hard to find time to run this summer, even though I enjoy it. I'm getting squishy. Turning into Garfield! I need the motivation and accountability that training for a race provides. 10k would be nice. Maybe a half. Long about October or November. Affordable, fun. Close to home. Any thoughts?

A Good Walk

2011-07-28T18:16:00.002-04:00

Never be within doors when you can rightly be without -- Charlotte Mason

Small Lesson

2011-07-15T10:38:00.003-04:00

"New" bike found after weeks of praying and searching thrift stores: $15.15

6yo boy learning to wait for God's perfect timing and provision: Priceless

His joy & gratitude were genuine and overflowing.

How Do We Represent the Gospel to Our Children?

2011-07-15T09:21:00.002-04:00

"The question here is not whether you are representing the gospel, it is how you are representing it. Have you given your life to your children resentfully? Do you tally every thing you do for them like a loan shark tallies debts? Or do you give them life the way God gave it to us—freely?"

"Live the gospel in the things that no one sees. Sacrifice for your children in places that only they will know about. Put their value ahead of yours. Grow them up in the clean air of gospel living. Your testimony to the gospel in the little details of your life is more valuable to them than you can imagine." -- Rachel Jankovic

Read more in this article at Desiring God.

Glimpses of a Summer Day

2011-07-13T09:28:00.013-04:00

We haven't had as many of these sweet days at home as I had hoped for. But when they come, they are very welcome!

Nothing says "fun breakfast snack" like Easy Cheese on Triscuits. Yep, breakfast. That's her pj shirt there. Only in summertime. There are special rules for summertime.

M (12) spent some time sketching. And because she takes after her mama, the little shutterbug had to document her efforts on film.

A quick jaunt to Goodwill produced some white treasures. I'm working on a project, and have been collecting pretty white things. More on that in a future post...

What A's (6) room looked like after room time. I wondered what all those crashing sounds were.

The other half of the room. Needless to say, the young man had some regret when he spent much of the afternoon putting that mess back in order!

Out of the blue, M said, "Mom, can I make a pillow?" I saw this as an opportunity to 'say yes' and put aside my afternoon plans for some girl time. Eventually the other two redheads joined the fun. Three hours later, our scraps from the fabric box were transformed into "look what I did" treasures.

Since we spent so much time on our pillows, I enlisted every free hand to help prepare dinner. A & K (5) gave each ear of corn a name. When we were eating, A proclaimed, "I got Hairy Bob!"

A Woman of Understanding

2011-07-11T09:02:00.009-04:00

"A man of understanding remains silent." -- Proverbs 11:12 b

I've been thinking about journaling lately. Mainly because I've recently read an article by Nancy Wilson on the subject, and also heard her mention it in a workshop she gave at the ACCS Conference on "Raising a Writer." Nancy admonished us to "not write anything down that we wouldn't want everyone to read." That's a tall order! A challenge to be careful what we put in emails or on the web ... you never know when you might hit the wrong button (or how someone else may share or forward your words); and to be careful about what/how you journal.

I'll link Nancy's original article below. But first, I wanted to highlight her daughter Rebekah's post on the topic. Rebekah mentions the pitfall of using a journal as a form of venting. She writes (emphasis mine):

The thing is, writing it down is NOT the same thing as confessing it. But it can give a sort of counterfeit feeling of relief. It’s not the relief of having your sins washed away, erased, and removed as far as the east is from the west. It’s the relief of having vented and gotten something off your chest – and that’s not the same thing, although it could be mistaken for it. ---Rebekah Merkle on Femina blog

(This fits well with Elisabeth Elliot's 'Rule of Contentment' #1: Allow yourself to complain of nothing, not even the weather.)

Read Rebekah's post here; then go back and read Nancy's original post. Thanks, Femina gals, for this bit of wisdom. May we all strive to be women of understanding, who have the discernment to know when & what to share with others, and when to keep our confidence and pray instead.

***update***Nancy just posted a great follow-up article. Check it out here!

Homecoming

2011-07-07T22:21:00.011-04:00

We traveled up to see my family for the holiday weekend. Though I've made a couple of trips up there with the kids, this was the first time in at least 18 months that all seven of us went as a family. We had a glorious time! When it's just me and a couple kids, and my husband stays here at home, I get homesick for my Georgia nest and love to flutter back to it. This time was different. Maybe because my husband was with me and I wasn't missing him. Maybe because we had the chance to do some classic Franklin/Nashville things. Maybe it was the precious time with family. Maybe it was the unforgettable experience of seeing U2 together. Maybe it was the gorgeous weather, highlighting the beauty of the land around the West Harpeth River. Whatever the cause, we suddenly became a little homesick for Tennessee.

As Psalm 16 (my favorite Psalm) says, the lines have fallen in pleasant places for us here in Georgia. We are very attached to the covenant community we've found here at church and at school. We're content and not going anywhere anytime soon. But in my heart, I'll always be a Tennessean.

Some of my favorite moments:

Working with hubby & my boys as they helped my Mom do some landscaping on her hill. My parents have 3 acres, situated in the woods on a steep hill that can prove a challenge to cars, lawnmowers, and growing things. It was fun to see their hard work bring beauty.
Eating a black bean salad at one of our favorite Nashville cafes. One we've not visited in over five years. Yummy!
Strolling the Franklin Farmers Market with dh, my Mom, and a couple kids. Goat cheese samples, italian ice, kettle corn, and yes, live music.
Going to the U2 360 concert, not only with my favorite U2 fan (whom I happen to be married to ;), but also my sister and brother. It was an amazing show - I think the guys knew they needed to show Music City a good time. They paid a little homage to Johnny Cash, and even gave away Bono's Ireland-green guitar to a blind guy that they pulled on stage for the encore to play 'All I Want is You' with them. U2 was the music of our courtship, and seeing those songs performed live & holding my baby's hand was very special. Unforgettable.
Running 2 miles along the Harpeth River with my little man, A. (almost 7yo) It was HOT and he was a trooper. It was kind of a run/walk/talk -- every now and then he'd stop, drink some water, and say, "I need to go over here and discover!" He kept hoping a cave would pop up along the river, but alas, not many caves in Franklin. ;)
Lots and lots and lots of cousin time! There are 12 of them, and they are all close friends.
Sitting on my brother's deck, all us grown-ups, talking late into the night while children scampered all over the house and yard.
Celebrating Independence Day with the whole family. We had a glorious feast, prepared by my sweet parents, managed to get a family photo with the camera timer, and shot off a zillion fireworks at the bottom of my parents' hill. The dads & teen boys did the pyrotechnics, and the rest of us sat in lawn chairs eating popsicles and spectating. Bliss! (Except for the mosquito bites - we're all covered!)

Poetic Wisdom

2011-06-27T09:36:00.010-04:00

Wisdom gleaned from Father Tim this morning.

"Life" by Paul Laurence Dunbar.

A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in,

A minute to smile and an hour to weep in,

A pint of joy to a peck of trouble,

And never a laugh but the moans come double.

And that is life.

A crust and a corner that love makes precious,

With a smile to warm and tears to refresh us,

And joy seems sweeter when cares come after,

And a moan is the finest of foils for laughter.

And that is life.

Wisely paired (by Father Tim) with this quote from Samuel Rutherford:

"Whenever I find myself in the cellar of affliction, I always look about for the wine."

Running Update

2011-06-25T14:24:00.008-04:00

A few weeks ago, I posed the question, "Am I a warrior?" I forgot to mention that yes, yes I am a Warrior! Back in May, my brother and I completed the Warrior Dash together. It

was fun. It was hard. It challenged me in ways I didn't expect (like when I almost chickened out of going over the extremely vertical, quite daunting, 12-foot 'Warrior Wall' with nothing but a knotted rope to help me. I didn't let that wall win, though - on 'take two' I was up and over.) My bro and I had a great, sweaty, muddy day in the North Georgia Mountains.

Here's the rundown for this week. :)

Monday: 1.5 miles w/ S (16). Like Kate, we keep going out too close to noon. It was hot and we struggled to catch our breath.

Tuesday-Friday: life. Someone once said the hardest part of running is getting out the door. Definitely true this week. Focusing more on being a home-keeper than a runner.

Saturday: 3.5 miles alone at the park. Did two miles on the hilly off-road trail, and the rest on the pavement. All hilly, though - and once again too close to noon!

Total: 5 miles. and that's ok. :)

On the Mission Field

2011-06-24T09:36:00.018-04:00

So far summer break has been surprisingly busy. There seems to be no end to the duties required to wrap up the school year we just finished, as well as prepare for the one ahead. Yesterday was no exception - I put a lot of miles on the car, juggled many things, and fell in the bed exhausted. Definitely "must be Thursday." The turn-around time between things like VBS, summer trips, and summer visitors seems to be short - and makes me fiercely protect the quiet family times we have in the middle.

By God's grace, this week we've found time to enjoy the pleasure of each other's company and even slow down a little bit. A (6) has become quite the reader, and I've had fun sitting down with him each afternoon with a pile of library books. We both were fascinated by Roly-Poly Pillbugs and had to go on a hunt around our woods to find some. The girls and I finally planted the impatiens that have been sitting on the deck since I bought them in May (and miraculously survived!). We made playdough, did yard work, went swimming, and mopped the kitchen

(yes - that was fun family time, perhaps only b/c it was such a novelty. ;) I've shared alone time with each of my young men -had some good chats. Glad I took the time to listen to the new guitar tab S (16) has been learning -- he was so proud.

Even still, most of the house remains a mess, my time seems to run out too fast, there is a seemingly constant need to correct for character issues and sibling conflicts, and I wonder if I'll ever get around to all those projects I put off

during the school year thinking I'll have more time in the summer.

Below is a link to a great post on Desiring God to put it all in perspective. (By Rachel Jankovic, author of Loving the Little Years. Again, I tell you, a must-read!)

read the article here:

Motherhood As A Mission Field

Chapter 297, In Which We Enjoy God's Creation and Work on Relationship and a Good Sweat

2011-06-16T21:18:00.016-04:00

Well, I recently said that I would like to build up my weekly mileage base and work on increasing my speed. But in the weeks since school let out, I've noticed that some of my kiddo's emotional tanks are running a wee bit low. So for now, I'm putting aside building mileage and instead I'm building relationships. I've been taking one child with me on my weekday runs, and have enjoyed the rare one-on-one time.

This week is VBS week at our church, and my exercise routine is limited to marching like penguins with 4-year-olds while reciting memory verses. But here is how the new plan went last week:

Monday - said 'Godspeed' to my sister and her family after a great weekend visit. Started reading Heidi with 12yo M. My heart has been burdened to find a way to build her up and enjoy her company. She looks up to me so much - even has her own matching

pair of Nike Tempos. She was the inspiration for the new Mom Time Running Plan.

Tuesday - 1.5 HOT miles with M at the park. About half & half running/walking. Nice mother-daughter chat at Smoothie King afterward.

Wednesday - 1.5 miles with A (6) at a different park. We didn't run as far, but when we ran we went all out! That boy holds nothing back. Chatted the whole time, too. I was very thankful for time to answer his questions on every topic under the sun and join in his sense of wonder. We visited the creek and surprised 2 water moccasins - and they surprised us! No real danger, but just enough of a thrill to make for a good tale.

Later Wednesday - My time with A was fun, but I was itching for a bigger run. So I hit the Greenway for another 3 miles. I was surprised at how deserted it was -- I guess there aren't many crazies willing to run in

the humid 93+ degrees at 3pm! The solitude was nice, however - left my ipod in the car and enjoyed nature's playlist instead.

Thursday - pool day with some friends, so no running. Just lots of splashing, laughing, and good fellowship.

Friday - another hot 1.5 miles. This time with KL (5.) Took the jog stroller just in case. Walked a little, rode a little, ran a little- and so on. Isn't she a cutie?

Saturday - 2.5 miles at the park -my "long run" turned out to be much shorter than I had plann

ed. I just didn't have it in me. Maybe the late night before. Maybe the heat -even at 9am it was getting hot, especially doing hills in the sun.

With my disappointing Saturday run, I was surprised that my weekly total made it to 10 miles! That's my mini-goal for now: consistently hit 10mi/week for a while, then try to build up to 15 by the end of the summer.

(My feet were extra happy on these runs, because I used some more of my gift card to get a cute new pair of NB 860s. I feel so much lighter on my feet - hadn't realized how heavy the old ones had gotten!)

30/30 RIP Odysseus

2011-06-12T22:03:00.007-04:00

We had to say good-bye to a friend this week. We adopted Odysseus 3 1/2 years ago and he's been a good kitty. We all miss him very much.

Thoughts on Mothering for Mother's Day

2011-05-07T18:48:00.006-04:00

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

We find those instructions on nearly every bottle of shampoo. I don’t know about you, but I rarely follow those instructions. It occurred to me recently, however, that it is a good description of motherhood. No matter how many times a day you nurse the baby, he will still need to be fed tomorrow. There is no such thing as a ‘once for all’ diaper change in which you wipe the bottom, clean up the mess, and poof! You’re done with that one. Check it off the list!

As children grow up, it’s more of the same – disciplining for the same offense over and over, washing the same clothes, sweeping the same kitchen floor, teaching the same lessons to child number 4 that you’ve already been through at least three times. And as the number of children increases, the tasks and challenges seem to increase exponentially along with them. Rachel Jankovic, in Loving the Little Years, calls this “Motherhood in the Trenches.”

But while we’re in the trenches, let’s be encouraged and challenged by this: Galatians 6:9 reads “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Mothering IS hard work. At times wearisome. Often repetitive. Mothering draws on all our skills and resources as we not only nourish our babies with milk, but nourish the fat souls of our children with wisdom, training, and love. Yet the sacrifice and work is minute compared to the blessings and joy we reap if we do not give up.

God did not leave us to do this on our own. What He calls us to do, He will equip us to do. Not by our own strength, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit working in us can we love our children as we ought. That is an encouraging thought – the moment I surrender my own will, my own plans, my own ideas of the perfect home --- that’s the moment I begin to truly be used by God in the lives of my children. Only when we ask Him for the grace that He promises is sufficient will we be able to supernaturally love and serve our families.

On a practical level, this means dying to ourselves every day and asking the Lord to show us what He wants us to do with this day. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Mothering is not only a life of sacrifice, but a life of interruptions. Only, we realize at some point, that the ‘interruptions’ are not interruptions at all, but the very deeds our Sovereign Lord has ordained for us to do this day.

I was a pretty organized and ‘put-together’ Mom a few years back. When I only had 3 children. To some degree, even after baby number 4 arrived, but was still too young to cause much trouble. I think I had become a bit puffed up in my own ability to keep it all under control. I had a good working schedule for the homeschooling and housework, a master grocery list, and a home-cooked meal most nights.

And then there were five. I think the Lord knew I needed some humbling and had some growing to do. Because five children has brought me to the very limit of myself and my own ability to cope without that supernatural grace. I have had to learn that sometimes meeting God’s standard for mothering my children actually means lowering my own. I have had to learn that the atmosphere of our home – and my attitude in it – are more important than the messes made there as a troupe of seven goes about daily life. I have had to learn to throw myself at the foot of the cross daily and ask for grace and energy and wisdom needed. I’ve learned to prioritize and when I feel overwhelmed, to just do the next thing.

While the challenges abound, the blessings abound even more. Nights around our dinner table can be quite the circus, and though we make a glorious mess, we have a great time. And the good thing about having seven folks to make a mess, is that you have seven folks to work together to clean it up! I’ve had the joy of watching my older children read to the younger ones, play with them, and after many years of ‘sowing’ am now reaping the fruit of built-in babysitters! A noteworthy bonus to a large family!

I also have the privilege of watching the Lord bless our efforts and take five eternal souls, with five different personalities, grow and mature, and occasionally surprise me with their humor and insight. I’m beginning to enjoy the journey from childhood to adulthood as my relationship with my older children increasingly resembles a friendship.

And I am reminded, daily, as I look around and count my blessings, that mothering is a privilege that is worth every bit of it!

Proverbs 31:28 says that our children will rise up and call us blessed. I’m convinced that when we rely on God’s grace to not grow weary in well-doing, we will reap a harvest of blessing in the days to come.

Happy Mother's Day!

29/30

2011-05-06T17:44:00.003-04:00

28/30

2011-05-05T21:01:00.002-04:00

Still trying to get the hang of it...

2011-05-05T20:01:00.006-04:00

"Must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays." - Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

For some reason, that has been the case many a Thursday this school year. I think I'm still learning to adapt my homebody temperament to the day-school lifestyle, while still juggling two homeschoolers and one preschooler. By Thursday, the treadmill seems to speed up, just as my reserves feel depleted. This week is no different. But as end-of-year things begin to pile on, and my strength wavers, God, who is rich in mercy, sends a reminder that His "grace all-sufficient shall be my supply."

Our solitary, neglected climbing rose bloomed this week, and the Little Ones delighted themselves by plucking nearly every bloom and presenting them to me. As I placed them in the kitchen window, my courage returned and I felt I had just enough in me to do the next thing. (The dirty window in the photo above provides humility and protection from the Martha Stewart Pedestal of Perfection.)

Now ... onward and upward to science fair projects, elementary art galleries, Shakespeare showcase, baby showers, out-of-town company, field day, family birthdays, ballet recital, and so on....

Random Thoughts on Doing the Next Thing when it's the "Same Old Thing."

2011-04-26T12:18:00.014-04:00

We enjoyed a glorious Easter celebrating the Risen Lord with family and friends. We worked hard for days to prepare. Some unexpected things popped up, needing attention in the beginning of the week, so I again found myself with a longer-than-I-wished To Do list at the end of Holy Week. But it was ok, because the anticipation of the joyful event pushed me on with a cheerful heart.

Each of the five kiddos were assigned their own zones in the house in which to become a 'cleaning tornado,' and they all met the challenge. We cleaned, we cooked, we decorated. And then, on Easter Sunday, we celebrated! (Or as I like to say, we 'feasted like Hobbits.')

Of course, in spite of my 4yo's proclamation that "I wish it could be Easter every day!" ... it's not. Monday was a school day, and I had art class to prepare for and teach. Which meant, for the time being, ignoring the fact that the house looked like this:

Today was my first real day to have a chance to tackle the "after." It was tempting to groan inwardly and think, "boy! I just cleaned all these very same rooms and now they're an atrocious mess!" I reminded myself that 1. I have limits. I'm not omnipotent. Only God gets His entire to-do list done; and 2. I need to prioritize - what needs to be done in order to shuffle the family through the basic activities of a school week? The rest can be done "line upon line, here a little, there a little." (Is 28:10)

I also found this little nugget from Above Rubies, and I thought it summed up the challenge most moms face at some point or another:

I caught myself getting tired of doing the same old chores again. The Lord reminded me that He too does the same old things for me, over and over again. He forgives me the same sins over and over again, He hears my pleas and answers me over and over again, He comforts me over and over again, He is patient with me over and over again.

Isn't that so true? And encouraging? Cleaning up after a holiday IS a big challenge. But what about cleaning up after everyday? How can we cheerfully clean the bathroom for the third time in a day when the potty-training toddler does his thing? How can we read The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck - again - when our brains feel like mush? Or help the high-schooler finish his debate rebuttal when it's well after 10pm and all we want to do is s.l.e.e.p? How can we fold four loads of laundry, sweep the kitchen, make another PB & J, pick up the toys on the family room floor -- when we know we will just have to do it all again tomorrow? By remembering the simple fact of our Heavenly Father's love for us and how every small, messy, repetitive job we do brings glory to Him, when done with a right spirit!

But what if we don't have the right spirit? Ask for it! "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." (Matt. 7:7-8) Obviously, we have to ask humbly and according to His will - in this case, the grace and strength to walk in the good works God has planned for us this day.

Jesus - this same Jesus who died on the cross as an Atonement for our sins; who raised from the dead; ascended into Heaven; and will come again -- this Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Do we believe that? If so, then we need to live like we believe it! Ask Him to equip you for the task. Repent of any resentment that *this* is your job. And then ... do the next thing! :)

27/30

2011-04-26T12:14:00.003-04:00

Any guesses where this pic was taken?

Am I A Warrior?

2011-03-19T15:15:00.008-04:00

My brother and I have had a momentary lapse of sanity and registered for the Warrior Dash. Actually, it looks like a lot of fun and we're not taking it too seriously. But ... since my money has been paid, the frugal side of myself is insisting the lazy side of myself get busy training!

So today I went to my favorite local park for a "long run." (That's in quotes, because since it's been over 2 weeks since my last run of any kind, 'long' is a relative thing.) I did three miles.

I know that's not a very impressive long run for someone who 15 months ago completed a half marathon. But that was 15 months ago, and a lot of life has happened in between and I'm a little de-conditioned. So three miles was good for me today. And it was three hard-working miles.

I did the big 1.38mi outer loop first, for a good, slow warm-up. Walked much of it, ran the last bit. Then I hit the "soft surface" loop in the middle. This one is just over a mile long and undulates beautifully through the woods and around the disc golf course. The trail is crushed gravel, some of it packed and hard; some fresher and looser. I thought the squishy surface and the short, steep hills would be good practice for these 40-year-old legs to prepare for whatever kind of crazy trail the Dash will be on. I did the loop in just under 13 min, which is not bad considering the steep hills and turns and the short walk break I took to drink my water. (Don't know about you, but I can't drink while running. ;)

I finished the run on the paved trail, and had a good stretch afterward. It was a great workout and really burned off some stress. I'm thankful for the sunshine, for nice parks, and my family's cheerful attitude about my running. And for the gift of being healthy enough to run.

As for the race - My bro is going to kick my butt! He can already run 3mi in 26min! And he's five years younger. But we're going to have a great time enjoying each other's company in what a friend calls a "random act of fitness."

Next up: keep running the soft trail once a week; do some speed drills to try to shave some time off my 3 miles; find some things to practice climbing over; lots and lots of push ups so I don't embarrass myself going over the vertical obstacles. :o

**my 6yo son just read some of this over my shoulder and said, "you gotta speed up, man!" thanks for the vote of confidence, son.

*** i forgot to mention that the run was even.more.fun b/c i was wearing my new Nike tempo shorts (in vivid pink), thanks to a gift cert. to my fave running store. woo hoo!

26/30 Date Night!

2011-03-19T15:06:00.002-04:00

25/30

2011-03-16T23:59:00.002-04:00

3 days

2011-03-12T15:04:00.010-05:00

Three days. I would love three days. In my house. Alone.

Day 1 - decompression. literally just sitting still and staring off in to space and letting my brain and body rest. it is not an exaggeration for me to say that i'm experiencing a level of weariness deeper than any i've felt in nearly 17 years of being a mom. don't judge. ;) i'm being vulnerable here, and hoping that perhaps my honesty will encourage someone that they're not alone in their struggles.

Day 2 - work like a mad dog getting some unfinished projects done - like purging toys, sewing pillows, organizing school papers, and putting photos in albums.
**wait. who am i kidding? i'm so behind on home-managing at this point that it would take me an entire day just to get caught up on the ordinary cleaning and meal-planning.**

Day 3 - do something i *enjoy* doing, like read a book, take a long run, meet a friend for lunch, or go shopping when i'm not in a hurry, with 5 kids in tow.

BUT ..... "not my will, but Thine be done."

The Lord knows I'm an introvert. And he gave me 5 amazing kids and a house that's rarely quiet. ;) The Lord knows that it is a challenge for me to be 'on' as a parent from early in the morning until late at night. (and soemtimes beyond!) He knows that I struggle to maintain balance and margin in our schedule, while striving to find ways to serve and still fit in the opportunities that come with schools and church. He knows that teens need mommy, too - and often late at night, no matter if I must be up at the crack of dark to make lunches and get the middle two off to school. The Lord knows that the issues that come with parenting teens are so much weightier than with little ones. And yet I still have little ones. The Lord knows that just when I think my brain can't produce one.more.sane.thought, that my sweet 4yo will crawl in my lap and ask for a story. And the Lord knows the load I am able to bear. This is the job He gave me, because He knows that He will equip me to do it. It is only for me to submit and repent of my despair and 'do the next thing.'

And truthfully, I love it all. Every messy, exhausting, stressful, anguishing, repetitive part. I love that my 14yo still wants to listen to me read aloud; that my 16yo always wants to discuss something deep, like the ramifications of a communist world-view; that my precious nearly-12yo dd loves to cook with me every day, even when it would be easier to do it all myself; that my 6yo tells me, "Mom - I love it when you tell me all about things. I love learning all the things there are to know" and when he says, "Can you tell me all about school zones and how they work?" I love that my 4yo tells me every day how pretty I am and blows me kisses each time she sees me - even when it's only been five minutes. What a life! How BLESSED I am to be living it!

And yet, the struggles are real. It would be foolish to deny them. And meals in the crock pot are not the answer. (tongue firmly planted in cheek here - but seriously, i'm full of all sorts of organizational hints and handy tips. but sometimes life is bursting at the seams so that the answer is bigger than a new chore chart. and ultimately, those 'tips' can be turned into the tools of legalism and pride -if they work, or despair -if they don't. again, just keepin it real. the first thing people tend to do when someone says they're stressed is offer a new way of making a grocery list, LOL. ok. sarcasm over now.)

I have found some mesure of encouragement from brief chats with 2 other moms in a similar state -high school to preschool and everything in between. They both shared similar struggles. That helped, at least to know I'm not crazy. So what is a tired, stressed mommy to do?

I recently read Loving the Little Years. What a great book - even if yours are not so little anymore! The insights are ageless. I'm planning to write a full review when I have the time, just because I think every Mom should read it! At one point, the author says she realized (when she had 5 kids 4 and under) that she needed to strike the word "overwhelmed" from her vocabulary. That this is the job God called her to do, and she'd better quit whining about it and do it! I think that's where I am.

Jesus said, "without Me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5) The Lord has led me to a place where I can't do it - I can't possibly be faithful to everything I must do ... without Him. I tend to be a perfectionist, maybe even a bit of a legalist. But life has me over the edge right now so that I could know beyond a shadow of a doubt that His strength is made perfect in weakness, and that His grace IS sufficient! If I could manage all this on my own - I would be puffed up like a peacock and no help to anybody.

But because I can't do it - then I can be a clay pot, ready to be used by God for His purpose, and according to His strength. Philippians 4:13 for goodness sake! "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

That verse in John 15, it says: "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." That's the secret. The key to our fruitfulness as moms lies in abiding in Jesus! And that is what we must do - it's the only thing we can do - if we are to serve our families and grow in grace.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9. So I'm not giving up. I'm abiding in Jesus. And I'm stiking overwhelmed from my vocabulary.

What about you?

(PS - I could have titled this post "24 Hours Without Questions," an event which would also make me exceedingly happy. *wink)

24/30 Feet of Clay

2011-03-08T09:52:00.002-05:00

Ya'll know I'm not perfect, right? I'm deeply flawed. I'm the chief of sinners. I'm NOTHING save for the grace of God and the fact that my life is hidden with Christ in God.
Just checkin.
I'm not sure why I blog - I'm wrestling with that question right now, and considering closing DTNT. It's certainly not because I think the world is missing something if not graced by my foolish words and pictures. It's definitely not to make money. I think perhaps in part it's because I hope that someone else struggling with the same things I do will take comfort in knowing they're not the only one. And if there is any spiritual light I feel led to share, it's only because I need to hear the very same lesson myself.
Feet of clay.

23/30

2011-03-05T10:26:00.005-05:00

I was blessed by reading this post, and inspired to continue in my efforts to raise my daughters to be artful in their homes, to the glory of God.

***I do feel the need to note that our home doesn't always look this neat. In fact, rarely does it even come close! We live in it, after all. All seven of us. Some days, when life is at it's busiest, I feel like our house is just a shell - a place where we make messes in all our comings and goings, only stopping to eat and make another mess. Perfection in home-keeping is not my goal. Ever. But blessing the inhabitants of this home and doing my best to make it a haven for them is. Not that it's a goal I've attained, but one to keep striving for.

22/30

2011-03-04T17:59:00.005-05:00

Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity. ~John Ruskin

21/30

2011-03-02T18:09:00.002-05:00

20/30

2011-02-18T20:34:00.002-05:00

My husband and I had one of our first dates under a sky like this on Lookout Mountain.

19/30

2011-02-16T12:18:00.004-05:00

just stopped by for a visit

18/30

2011-02-14T18:26:00.005-05:00

big girl fixed her own snack

Read this great article by Nancy Wilson. Here's a tease: Finding fault is the easiest thing in the world, as the old Puritan says. Encouragement requires discipline, but has far better results.

17/30 & Ironing with Prayer

2011-02-09T08:12:00.007-05:00

I have four men in my life. With three sons and a dh, that adds up to a lot of ironing. Two of my sons are man-sized with the shirts to prove it. Admittedly, my hubby does a lot of his own ironing -- he enjoys it and actually does a better job. But I still end up with a revolving pile of wrinkles that must be tamed.

In truth, however, I don't mind the task. Perhaps it's because I'm usually alone in the laundry room, with the hum of the dryer masking the chatter of a busy family elsewhere in the house. A small oasis alone with my thoughts for a few precious minutes.

Many years ago, I heard my hero-in-the-faith Elisabeth Elliot say on her radio program that we should spend the moments we're doing menial household tasks (like ironing, washing dishes, or scrubbing a tub) praying. I began doing just that when my man-sized boys were more pint-sized, and it's been one of the most soulful times of prayer this busy mama gets to have.

I especially try to pray for the person whose garment is on my ironing board. I pray the God of hope would fill them with peace in believing and that they would find their salvation in Christ alone. I pray for godly character, for good health, and in the case of my sons - for their future wives. I pray they would be men who serve God faithfully in whatever vocation He calls them to.

I pray for other things on my heart as well. Whatever needs we may have at the moment. It's been such a blessing to me through the years, that sometimes I'm sad to run out of shirts!

13, 14, 15, & 16/30

2011-02-05T12:46:00.003-05:00

12/30

2011-02-02T20:43:00.001-05:00

box seats

11/30

2011-01-30T23:02:00.002-05:00

10/30

2011-01-29T13:28:00.005-05:00

happiness is...a Saturday morning run with my sis on a 40th birthday getaway

9/30

2011-01-27T11:08:00.003-05:00

thrift store finds: all this for around $54!

16yo oldest son attending TeenPact next week and needed some appropriate clothes

8/30 and Baseball

2011-01-25T10:51:00.013-05:00

Firehole River, Yellowstone National Park

I took this pic on our Make-A-Wish trip last summer. I think it's my fave landscape photo from Yellowstone. I love the contrast of the cool flowing river with the hot springs right next to it. Plus, the dead tree in the foreground reminds me of the cypress in Starry Night.

"I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me." Funny huh? My Dad sent that, and a dozen or so other puns in an email, but this one made me laugh the hardest. Then I realized it's a good metaphor for my life this week. The baseball represents the humble realization that my teenagers, much to my horror and suprise -haha, lack the ability to self-parent. self-parent. And yes it did hit me - squarely in the face. Our too-distracted lifestyle over the last few months has taken a toll and it's time for me to circle the wagons, radically protect my schedule and my family time, and remember that teenage boys need mothering, too.

I'm still very grateful for the day-school M & A are attending. We've been blessed in so many ways, and I'm confident we are where we're supposed to be in our educational choices this year. But it's still work. Hard work. I'm homeschool mom and dayschool mom all at once. Parenting five children takes time. Lots of it. There is simply no way to have several kids, take Deuteronomy 6 and Proverbs 22:6 seriously, and have much free time. Yes, it's the truth that the life of a mother is a life of sacrifice - but one that is 100% worth it! As a friend recently encouraged me, if we by God's grace are faithful, our children will rise up and call us blessed.

In the meantime we press on. What the Lord calls us to do, He equips us to do - so I repent, put my trust in Him, and ask Him for the strength to be faithful.

7/30

2011-01-23T14:17:00.004-05:00

Starry Night Study in Pencil (with 6B pencil)

6/30

2011-01-16T20:51:00.003-05:00

waffle dogs for Sunday breakfast!

5/30

2011-01-11T18:38:00.003-05:00

4/30

2011-01-10T21:36:00.003-05:00

measured at least 6 1/2 inches on the deck!

3/30

2011-01-08T11:03:00.005-05:00

dh replacing a broken relay switch on the fridge.

2/30

2011-01-05T23:16:00.004-05:00

40th Birthday self-portrait

1/30

2011-01-04T22:12:00.009-05:00

Resurrecting my Thirty Pictures series for the new year...

My little corner of the world.

I find myself here surrounded by art books with ideas fluttering around, begging to be organized into a syllabus and cohesive lessons. I'm teaching art! The opportuinity has taken me completely by surprise, yet somehow the Lord had prepared my heart for it. A small, simple class. An elective at M & A's school.

It's exciting and intimidating at the same time. I pray that the Lord can use me to inspire the children to love art, learn the grammar of drawing and painting, and imitate masters as image-bearers of a creative God.

Our new school situation has brought many challenges and many blessings. I had hoped for a "break," but that didn't really materialize. Juggling time in the car, homework, and lunches for the 2 in school with supervising two teenagers and the work their tutorial demands, plus the needs of an active four-year-old and a husband and a home ... it's just flat-out a lot of work. The life of a mother is a life of sacrifice, and I'm learning more and more to give my plans over to the Lord, to find my strength in Him, and - as always- just do the next thing.

So while I'm doing the next thing, why not teach art? A need arose at school, and I had been doing some thinking about being more involved and contributing to that community in some way. Art class is not something I went looking for, but when I was discussing the possibility with the headmaster, my head started to spin with ideas and my excitement grew.

So here I am, in my little nook, pouring over Mona Brookes, shopping for supplies, and choosing which masters we will try to imitate this semester. Here goes nothing!

Woman of the Year?

2010-12-29T21:24:00.011-05:00

I was in and out in five. The grocery store, that is. Just needed a few necessities to round out the Christmas leftovers. As I stood at the checkout, I noticed the cover of People Magazine. The current issue declares Sandra Bullock to be "Woman of the Year." Hmmm... I thought, I get that. She's had a year in which heartache and joy, success and defeat have all been intertwined. I don't know her personally, but she seems to be keeping a stiff upper lip. I find her to be likable and decently talented. I have nothing at all against Sandra Bullock.

But Woman of the Year? Really? Another sad side-effect of our celebrity-obsessed culture.

What about the young mother, diagnosed with cancer after giving birth to her 3rd child, finding joy and strength in the Lord as she walks through cancer treatment, struggling to care for her family? Or the devoted mother, still grieving the loss of a son, caring for the special medical needs of another son with the same disease - yet keeping her sense of humor amid the ups and downs of 24-hour nursing care? Or the single mother of four, barely scraping by on a teacher's salary, committed to raising her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? These, my friends, are Women of the Year! Yet no one puts their faces on a magazine cover and celebrates their faithfulness.

What about Christian mothers everywhere, with no serious trials to walk through, but who faithfully perform the duties the Lord has given them each day - even when discouragement, stress, and isolation knock at their doors? As they 'give thanks in everything' and do the next thing by Christ's strength, are they, too, not Women of the Year?

What about the single women? Married women longing to bear children? Widows? Empty nesters finding new ways to share their gifts? Grandmothers and great-grandmothers? Women from all walks of life serving the Body of Christ tirelessly in myriad ways? As they contentedly work in the vocation - the calling - the Lord has on their lives at this moment, trusting that His will for them is perfect -- they are Women of the Year!

So while Ms. Bullock may be a beautiful face, an award-winning actress, and all-American nice gal, I think it may be a slight exaggeration to label her Woman of the Year.

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

Just my two cents. And now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T09:52:00.000-05:00

Counting Blessings

2010-09-04T17:44:00.014-04:00

The Balm of Gilead for me today....

A lovely 3.5mi jog on this trail was the perfect way to reset my mood and my energy level after a busy week. School is in full swing, and we are all still adapting to the new lifestyle. Part homeschool / part classical dayschool ... all making me feel a little bit like I'm perpetually in fast forward . But blessings abound: A(6yo) and M(11yo) are thriving at their new school - a fact that is evident each afternoon at carpool when they hop in the car chatting away, eyes bright and hearts merry. We've had our struggles - A somtimes is a bit teary in the mornings for drop-off; and M is adapting to a rigorous workload and nightly homework. These are very light afflictions, however, when compared to the joy and blessing of having them in such a godly, like-minded school!

(gotta love the dead plant in the background. sign o' the times.)

Who do you write like?

2010-07-21T09:49:00.001-04:00

I write like
Dan Brown

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Uniforms

2010-06-17T08:45:00.014-04:00

As I've hinted before, my homeschool journey is taking a new turn. Lord-willing, if all the details (like financial assistance!) continue to work out, M (11) and A (5) will be attending a classical Christian school next year. The Big Boys will attend the same tutorial they did last year: in class one full day, working from home on the other days. And little miss K (4) will be home with me full-time.

I'm not kidding myself into thinking this will be an easy year - I know better. It will be a time of transition for us all: getting out the door on time, doing homework, making lunches ... a different kind of stress. But my burden will be lifted, and that's huge. I've been stretched so thin these last couple of years, juggling so many ages & stages, managing our home, and being a helper to a hubby busy running his own business. There are cracks. Big ones. Stuff is falling through. I'm looking forward to knowing, for all four of my students, that education will be moving forward for them even when life is crazy for me.

I've been down this road before - Christian school - and had somewhat of an identity crisis. When M was 4, she was very sick with her blood disorder and the boys went to school for a year and a half. It was a very big blessing to our family, but a confusing time for my psyche. I had only ever been a "homeschool mom" and felt a bit like a failure.

This time is different. I don't really think of myself merely in terms of "homeschool mom" anymore. And if I did, I'd be sorely disappointed at my performance, lol! No, my dh and I really feel the Lord leading us to go in a different direction, to remove some of the load off my back so that I can more faithfully attend to ALL the duties the Lord has given me, not just school. I'm ready to be a happy mom again. I'm ready to have the margin in my life that allows me to minister to others in need. I'm ready to breathe.

(This by no means implies that I don't still love teaching - and homeschooling. I can see myself teaching again in the future, one way or another. And I'll never be able to shut off the part of me that loves pouring over catalogs and analyzing curricula.)

On Tuesday, A, M, and I set out to the school for placement testing - Lord-willing they'll be in 1st and 6th grades. (I'm sure we'll have some catching up to do over the summer to get there.) We are so excited about the people and vision of this sweet school and I know A & M will thrive there. After testing, we hit the uniform store for the summer sale. Even with the 20% off, I was shocked at our bill! But they will look SO stinkin adorable come next year! That makes the cost worth it, right?

A Good Run

2010-06-07T21:28:00.002-04:00

This is VBS week for us. I'm spending my time with a cute bunch of 2- and 3-year-olds. It's a different pace than I'm used to at VBS, a more physically demanding class, but what a blessing! I'm enjoying it so far. My Mom is here cooking and cleaning for us this week, and I'm so thankful for her servant's heart and cheerfulness. I took little miss KL (4) out in the jog stroller for a short run this afternoon, to work out the kinks and burn off some of my Mom's yummy cooking! It was a sweaty run, and the hills were hard in the 5 o'clock sun with a toddler. But it felt goooood to be back out there. GOTTA find time to run more often! Got in 2.5 miles in just under 30 min. Not a great time, but did I mention that it was hot? And that I was pushing a stroller? Uphill?

Quote for the Day

2010-06-02T10:00:00.004-04:00

Helpful thought for this frustrated perfectionist:

If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.
-- G. K. Chesterton

Overheard

2010-05-25T08:59:00.000-04:00

Little Miss K just turned 4. Here's a collection of her funny chatter:

"Be kind, one and another, peacemakers, and your parents." her answer when I asked her "what does the Bible say about how you should treat your brother?"

"When I cry, Jesus cries. And when i don't cry, he doesn't cry, too."

"Mommy, if you put my jammies in the washing macleaner, the will get aaaaall clean!"

"Mommy! Mommy! My balloon -- it went all the way up to the... sk... sk... sss... the roof!" trying so hard to remember the word "ceiling" in her excitement.

Now go visit Not Before 7 for more Tiny Talk Tuesday!

Finished with School! (well...almost)

2010-05-20T08:49:00.009-04:00

The boys' tutorial ended this week, and I can't even TELL you what a relief it is to have our last assignment sheets for Veritas behind us! Mind you, it's a wonderful program, and their Daddy and I have been very pleased with what they've learned, with the amazing teachers, and with the great group of kids they've made friends with. It's just that it's a lot of work - for them and for me - and we're glad to be able to put it behind us.

I say almost finished, because everyone still has math to work on over the summer, and the boys need to finish their science curricula for the year. But we're taking the rest of this week off (except for summer reading) and enjoying being free.

Daddy offered to take the kids out last night and let me have some 'alone time' at the house. But I really wanted - no, needed - a run, so we all went to the park together. We grabbed $5 pizzas and had a goofy dinner together, then he watched them on the playground while I ran. The run was balm for my soul... 2 1/2 miles of uninterrupted thought (and a little prayer.) I saw a glorious pink sunset, heard some owls, and even Peter Rabbit hopped out and ran beside me for 100 yards or so.

It gave me time to reflect on my heart struggles recently. I've been feeling pretty stressed, and pretty disappointed in myself for feeling stressed. Vicious cycle. But last night, I gave it all to the Lord, remembering again that I can do nothing on my own, but can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Can I get an Amen!? Anyone else feeling this way at the end of a long school year?

What's in store for summer, you ask? (or maybe you didn't. then it's just a bonus.) June is pretty full. There's VBS at church, #2 son's (13yo) youth group trip to Mission Adventure Camp, and the grand finale, our Make A Wish trip. Remember how I told you that our daughter has a rare blood disorder? Well, Praise the Lord she is still doing well, but in the meantime the Make A Wish Foundation granted her a wish, so we're heading to the mountains of Wyoming for a week at a Dude Ranch! yeee haaa! Should be tons of fun.

I'm hoping for a quieter July and some time to enjoy the lazy days of summer, sipping lemonade by the pool . We'll see. Think I've said that before.

Before I go, I wanted to share an article called "Joyful Parenting" by Peter Leithart. A friend shared it with me, and it was both convicting and encouraging. Here's a tease:

Joy in parenting is a gift of God. It doesn't come naturally. It is not a product of the flesh. Wherever you find a joyful Mom, you can be sure you're seeing the Spirit at work.

I'm praying the Lord will help me be a more joyful mom. Find the rest of the article here.

Random

2010-05-13T21:31:00.010-04:00

Nothing exciting to blog about today. Hit library storytime and then spent the day running errands with the redheads while the big boys did school work at the office with dad. One of these days I'll write a post about our experience being in Nashville during the historic flooding.
But for now, here are some photos that I've taken recently, just playing around and trying to improve my mad photography skillz. ;)

just hangin' around

2010-04-26T20:35:00.003-04:00

The weekly contest theme over at iheartfaces is "Smiles." I like the wry smile on K's (3yo) face in this photo. She knows she's cute and she's proud of her amazing upside-down feat. It makes *me* smile.

Go visit iheartfaces to see more adorable smiles!

Schedule, Routine, Legalism, Grace, Self-Discipline

2010-04-22T09:46:00.011-04:00

What do those words have in common? They're all floating around in my head as I try to sort out some of the discouragement I feel and adopt a strategy for finishing this school year on a positive note.

I think the problem is that I'm legalistic by nature. I'm wired to like organization, schedules, and order. That was pretty easy to accomplish when I only had 2 or 3 kids, and only preschoolers. Wait - let me rephrase that. It wasn't "easy" - it was a lot of work. But you know what I mean - it was more, shall we say, "doable." It was also very tempting to be proud of my accomplishments, of my skills - and forget that it was only God's grace, blessing my feeble efforts.

Fast forward a few years - and 2 more kids. Life is far busier. The hyper-organized, scheduled-to-the-minute lifestyle just doesn't work as well. I'm frustrated, burned out. I decide (this was back in 07 or 08, I think) that schedules are out and we'll just have a 'routine' and fly by the seat of our pants. I won't worry about the house being all clean. I won't stress about the little things. Let's lighten up & chill out.

The problem with that was it went counter to my own personality and I can only handle being laid back for so long before I completely lose it and go on a cleaning rampage and turn our house into military school, lol. I believe my God-given temperament towards being orderly is corrupted by sin and pushes me into legalism. I need to show myself grace in this area. But I'm coming to realize that, though corrupted, it IS a God-given temperament. It's foolish of me to try to operate counter to my personality, warts and all.

That brings me to the present. I work the best, and am the most at peace, in a somewhat ordered atmosphere. I obviously need to pray for the grace to be flexible and adaptable to the unexpected (something that admittedly has challenged me.) However, not only does my personality gravitate toward order, but God is a God of order, not confusion. In the past, I may have taken that to an unhealthy place. But I (hope) am a little more mature now, and can use order as a principle and not a taskmaster.

To that end, I'm eagerly anticipating the arrival on my doorstep of a new book: A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul by Holly Pierlot. My childhood friend and blogger over at St. Theophan's has recommended it often. Now, I'm not Orthodox or Catholic, but I believe as sisters in Christ we have much to share in order to encourage and be encouraged. I've not read the book yet (obviously, duh! just ordered it today with a B & N gift card left from Christmas), but my understanding is that the author applies some of the principles of Managers of Their Homes with a more spiritual focus -and I think, more grace in understanding how a schedule serves a higher purpose, and serves US - not the other way around. Applying a 'rule' of regular times of prayer and praise and Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "for everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven."

Charlotte Mason put a lot of emphasis on developing good habits. Like laying the tracks for the trains to run on, she said. I think applying some of the principles in A Mother's Rule will help me develop a habit of praise and prayer, not only in myself, but in my children. Hopefully at this point, I will have the discernment to apply the principles as a blessing, and not allow them to become drudgery and rote.

Motherhood is our vocation, as Luther would say, our calling. Whether we homeschool or not, we have a big job. We each bring different gifts, skills, and personalities to our roles as mothers. I think that perhaps this book will fit well with me. It's probably not for everyone, and that's ok. But I'm feeling a lack of focus in our home and our homeschool and could use a little encouragement to get back on the track. I'll let you know what I think!

Random Thoughts

2010-04-15T14:55:00.012-04:00

-My azaleas are finally blooming! And they're beautiful, if asymetrical due to the fact that a couple of bushes died a few years ago. A(5), pictured above with the prolific blooms, was hesitant to smile the day I took the pic. Just before snapping the photo, I had released our eight-legged friend into the woods next to the azaleas.

-Spring has sprung! It's finally warm enough in the daytime for popsicles and sprinklers and caterpillars. I found some BPA-free plastic popsicle molds on amazon - by Tovolo. We've had fun filling them with diluted 100% juice and with smoothies. I should've bought a second set - may yet do that...

-We spent most of spring break hanging out around home. I needed that kind of break soooo badly! But we wanted to do something fun for the kiddos - something frugal and doable on a weekend. So we went camping in the North Georgia mountains. Of course, the above-average, summer-like temps disappeared the day before we left, and we had freezing temps overnight! It was a long, cold night. We had great adventures during the daytime, though. Including a visit to a section of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Georgia. A personal favorite memory for me.

-This has been a hard school year. I mean hard. I love teaching and I love homeschooling. But it doesn't happen in a vacuum. There is a husband to love & care for. There is a home to keep. There are the myriad needs small children (and teenage children) have, out side of just being educated. For most of this school year, I've lived at a point near burnout. I'm not afraid of hard work. I'm certainly not a quitter. But I think a wise person can recognize when they need a little help. My dh and I have always believed that homeschooling is a wonderful educational choice, but not the only one. We feel led to at least pursue a more traditional school setting for M (11-rising 6th grade) and A (5-rising 1st grade) for next year.

There is a wonderful, small classical Christian school nearby that I never thought we could afford, but have always been interested in. God, in his Providence, has allowed us to have several conversations with folks involved there that indicate we may be able to get enough financial aid to make it work. We feel led at this time to at least pursue it.

The older two boys, rising 10th & 8th grades, will continue to go to their one-day tutorial, as well as take online math classes and biology at a local co-op. So I'll technically still be homescholing them. But I'll primarily be overseeing their work, and be relieved of the burden of planning, teaching, and grading - which can be so time-consuming!

These decisions will mean more time in the car, and more money. But they will also relieve a great deal of the burden that is weighing me down so heavily right now and making it very hard for me to have joy in 'doing the next thing.' I don't know, at this point, if all these things will actually work out - we're praying the Lord will either clearly open or clearly close the doors. But I know that I'm overwhelmed and spread too thin - not doing any of my jobs very well. And dh and I feel peace about applying, putting the feelers out, and seeing what the Lord can do.

-School may be rough, but life is good and we are very blessed. Our daughter, M (11), was born with a rare blood disorder and has been transfusion-dependent her entire life. I've never blogged about it because it's just one part of hers - and our family's - life, and we don't want to make too big a fuss about it. But it is a serious disease, and once a month, when she goes for blood, we are reminded of how thankful we are. For blood donors, good doctors, technology, and most of all for the Lord's mercy in preserving her to us. But lately we've had amazing news -- she has not needed blood since January 8th! I don't know what's going on inside her body, but I thank the Lord and give him all the glory! When she was a tiny baby, struggling for her life in the NICU, we chose Eph 3:20-21 as a special verse for her. We are humbled as we see God still do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think. We don't know yet if this is remission, or just a long, merciful break. But we'll take it and rejoice!

-Needed to hear THIS today!

Wolf Spider

2010-04-07T12:37:00.003-04:00

We're going camping this weekend, to wrap up spring break. Daddy got our tent out the other day to make sure we have all the parts, and the kiddos have loved playing in it. Until now. A (5yo) came running in to me this morning saying, "Mom! There's a poisonous spider in the tent! It's BIG and BLACK and DANGEROUS!" I told him I'd come check on it, but not before grabbing my camera. If there was a big, black, dangerous spider in my tent, I sure didn't want to miss a chance to grab a picture! One, because I just love spiders; and two, because M (11yo) is studying spiders in her Land Animals class and would love to show and tell.

It wasn't black, or dangerous, really. Just a wolf spider. I snapped a couple of pics, then shooed him into an easter bucket and carried him into the woods, where he and A would both be happier.

I love spiders. Mind you, I’d rather not be bitten and I’ll kill a black widow or recluse on sight. But wolf spiders are so cool – partly because they look like tarantulas and partly b/c they’re very good mothers – they wrap their egg sac up and carry it with them at all times. Then the newborns ride on their backs until they’re big enough to hunt on their own. I just love God’s creatures and how he made each one to provide infant care in its own special way! One time my friend's son caught a mama with an egg sac and walked up to us with it on his arm. Scared her to death. I took a picture of course! (wish i still had it, but it was on a cell phone that died soon after.)

30/30

2010-03-18T16:36:00.003-04:00

salad, anyone?

and we digress...

2010-02-26T15:02:00.009-05:00

After dabbling (very casually) in healthier eating, organics, and a natural lifestyle for 13 years, we recently made some radical - and permanent - changes to the way we buy food, cook, and eat. I'm working out a post with more on that for later.

And I know I'm not done with the photo series. But I just had some

Random Kitchen Thoughts

to share and get them out of my system. As if anyone out there cares. But that's ok. It's called venting. Here goes:

 “traditional”, “nourishing”, “slow”, “whole”, “MOKO” (Meat Of Known Origin) – I don’t care what you call it, cooking this way is all-consuming and makes a BIG mess! Every pan I own, and several appliances are dirty – and the dishwasher is full and running.
 When you’re hungry, and in a hurry, it’s sometimes frustrating to look in the cabinet and only find … ingredients. Yesterday I licked a pinch of kosher salt, right out of my hand b/c there were no quick snacks. (and my tamari almonds were in the car) I kid you not. The new weight-loss plan … don’t eat, just lick salt.
 I *totally do* notice a difference in my children’s health & behavior, though, since starting this experiment, so it’s worth it. I've had fewer migraines, too, which is a big deal.
 It’s been almost 4 weeks since I’ve had a diet coke (or any other soda.) That's HUGE, ya'll! Almost had one the other night –took two sips and couldn't stand the taste! (and felt guilty, lol)
 I’m making stock today. The other night, I did a homemade roasted chicken (free range whole chick from TJs – in my new oven. Yay!) As I pulled the leftovers out of the fridge, I said, “now that’s a beautiful carcass!” C (13) pointed out that those two words should really never be said in the same sentence. He’s so funny.
 Lunch was soup & quesadillas. Took a *whole.block* of raw milk organic cheese! ($6 kaching!) in general, I’ve noticed we’re eating less cheese, though, simply b/c it’s so expensive to buy healthy cheese I can live with going in my kids’ bodies. Quesadillas were good, though – we threw in the leftover roasted chicken meat – yum!
 So … for soup, C found an old can of store-brand chicken noodle. Don’t know how it escaped my cabinet purge. He knew enough to ask if he could eat it. We read the label – MSG (spelled out, right there, they didn’t even TRY to hide it in something like “natural flavor”), soy protein isolate, and a dozen other ingredients with chemical names. Nope. Nu-uh. Not gonna do it – into the “donate” pile it went. So … you know what I did? I spooned some broth out of my stock, put it in a small pan, added some of the leftover chicken, and some broken WW spag noodles. Voila! “instant” chick noodle soup – the boys said it was the best they’d ever had. good stock comes in handy for so many things.
 Speaking of stock – as I was prepping it, K (3) said, “Mommy, are you making soup? I will drink the moth.” (she meant broth. Ha ha) We eat a lot more soup these days, homemade with our stock, and drinking the broth is something our kids are still 'learning' to 'enjoy.' :)
 Summary of my day:
o Got out of bed, threw on sweats & went to publx for milk (we were totally out of my local non-homogenized milk and poor little A (5) had made his cereal yesterday with my farm fresh cream -using nearly all of it and not eating the cereal, of course!) and celery for my stock
o Came home, fixed everyone breakfast, did #1 kitchen cleanup, and started the stock
o Yelled at some kids to get their chores done and get to school work
o Did kitchen clean up #2
o started the dinner - beef tips made with 2 big sirloin steaks from our share of a grass-fed cow. **note to self -if I’m going to be a butcher, I need a better knife!** The process did yield two good “dog bones” that I can use to make beef stock later…. ;)
o Did kitchen clean up #3 (partial – just moving things, really, to make counter space for fixing lunch – the popcorn maker and roasting pans are still sitting on the floor, waiting for me to wash them ;-P )
o With the help of the boys, grated cheese and shredded chicken for the quesadillas, started chick noodle soup
o Cooked lunch
o Ate lunch & read poetry to the kids
o Did kitchen clean up #4 and started the dishwasher. There are still a lot of dirty dishes, though – and the floor is NASty!

The kids are outside for now, and I’m going to get them in a minute and send the big ones back to work and the little ones to a nap. Still on the list for today: making plans for dinners for the next few nights, baking bread, and doing some prep for breakfast goodies and desserts while my mom is here. Not to mention getting the house ready for her visit and getting in a run (NOT optional!)

Man! Seriously – just put me a cot in the kitchen, cause that’s where I’m livin!

I know ya’ll are probably totally NOT interested in this, but I had to vent to somebody. Now it’s out of my system, and I can get back to it!

29/30

2010-02-24T08:18:00.007-05:00

my firstborn, S (15)
i don't know how we got here so fast...

because i still remember this like it was yesterday!

28/30 & Overheard

2010-02-23T09:27:00.005-05:00

"Boys doesn't wear earrings. Only mommys and pirates!" - 3yo K giving authoritative fashion advice.

"Ok, so I need a serious nap this afternoon!" - 5yo A on the way home from church last Sunday.

(in an excited, musical voice) "Ohhhhh, UNd*rwear! Und*rw*ar is soft! I like und*rw*ar!" - K enjoying the warm (and clean, ahem) laundry, fresh from the dryer

"A.C. doesn't like it, but he's persevering." - A (referring to himself in the third person and saying his full name) commenting on my latest smoothie concoction, which went a little overboard on the 'healthy' ingredients, I confess.

For more cutie-pie Tiny Talk, go visit Tiny Talk Tuesday at Not Before 7.

27/30

2010-02-13T01:27:00.005-05:00

snow this lovely is a rare treat in the deep south!

26/30

2010-02-11T22:55:00.003-05:00

got to meet Spot at library storytime today

25/30

2010-02-10T22:42:00.001-05:00

hill i encountered on my run yesterday evening. the park where i usually run was deserted due to the cold & wind, so for safety i ran on the more public roads - with several hills like this one! the only good thing about running up is that you eventually get to run back down!

24/30

2010-02-05T08:20:00.005-05:00

playing dress-up (tied the tie all by himself!)

23/30

2010-02-04T09:12:00.005-05:00

22/30

2010-02-02T09:49:00.006-05:00

A (5) delightfully entertained by our new popcorn maker, a gift from a friend

freshly popped, organic popcorn beats the nuked variety any day!

21/30

2010-02-01T08:44:00.004-05:00

contemplating the big hill