Simple Pleasures

Sometimes it's the simplest of things that bring me the most joy and contentment.

I am finding so many little pleasures throughout these last few days and thought I would just make up a small list of them here to remind me of the peace that can be found in quiet and basic homemaking activities.

-listening to jazz and many other favorites as I putter about my home.

-folding laundry warm from the dryer.

-Exciting conversations with dear friends about all the new things we are learning.

-Lighting a candle while reading to my children.

- Vegetables grown local, purchased at the Farmer's Market.

- Savory, pure steaks from grass fed, organic beef barbecued to perfection... a treat for him on Father's Day.

-Being able to provide whole, real, often organic foods to my family. And having them say, "Mmm... this is GOOD, Mom!"

-Opening the fridge and pantry and seeing them full with nature's gifts, His Provision.

-Seeing the bread dough rise to perfection.

-Kneading that dough by hand.

-The aroma of baking bread that fills the house.

-Eating this again for lunch.

-Preparing a wholesome vegetable soup which now simmers in the crock pot.

-ridding our homes and our bodies of toxins and packaged, processed and refined "foods".

- having the energy to do my work as a mother and housewife and to find excitement in it.

There are so many more things that I could list, I am just so thankful and can think of so many things right now that bring a smile to my face, but I will stop here. What are some of your favorite pleasures today?

Gazing on Beautiful Things...

Is there anything more lovely than the scent of lilacs?

They are such pretty and feminine looking flowers, don't you think?

There is something so old world about them... unlike a petunia or a rhododendron, for example.

Do you know what I mean? ... or have I become intoxicated with the beauty and you find me rambling nonsensically?

Anyway, with all the rain we've been having, I am missing them due to my lack of time outdoors and have decided that I will bring them in to enjoy instead.

Aren't they stunning in the vase on my counter top?
Simply delightful, I think.

What about you? What's your favorite flower at this time of year?



Are you tired of all this floral photography yet?

If not... here are some more... and even some more over at my Capturing the Beauty!



And if you are, well... I'm sorry, but...I just can't help myself!

As Michelangelo once said, and I repeat,

"Gazing on beautiful things acts on my soul, which thirsts for heavenly light."

I just get such joy from it.

Where my Soul is Found...

I found my soul

amongst a carpet of purple
violets down in the little glen

off the side
of that lonely gravel road
where moss and ferns mingled
with dancing rays
drifting through green above.
I plucked a single bloom then
and inhaling scent of wild outdoors
brought it home and placed it
between crisp pages of
life giving words.

It was there is the shadows
amongst the quiet stillness
that I remember feeling
the first faint stirrings
from deep within.
Thoughts of who I was
and who I was created to be
permeated my childlike mind.

There in the solitude
I lay back
and slowly began to appreciate
my surroundings... myself
and all that my loving Creator
had fashioned just for me.

It was from that experience
that I first began to write
childish words strung together
trying to capture
in my own small way
that single moment in time.
I still have those words
tucked away between pages
beside faded bloom.

Reaching back to that day
pulling it out from
recesses of memory
I realize that
this is who I am.
This is where I find my soul.
In the beauty of creation
the joy of creating,
in the beauty of my children
and the love of my beloved,
for me, his bride.

I am created by Beauty,
with beauty and for beauty.
This is who I am.
Here is where my
soul is found.

.....................................................................................................................................................

Related posts:
Seedlings in Stone... L.L's ...Unfolding Imagination
1Adventure... Ben's Find Yourself
This poem was written by me. Please do not copy.

10 Things I Love...

My friend Alicia @ Confessions of a Snowflake gave me the letter "L" for this fun game of "10 things I love". I'm gonna do what she did and add them to my list of things that I'm thankful for, for Thankful Thursday.

1. Light~ especially sunlight as it plays across the faces of my children, candle light, moon light, fire light, and lamp light.

2. Learning~ new ways to do things through books or through watching or listening to others.




3. The Light and Life of the Word of God.

4. Lilacs blooming in the spring... the scent of them is one of my favorites when it comes to flowers.

5. New Life and My Life~ life growing within me and growing without. (*Blush*...Updated to say, "No, I am NOT expecting...
I just love it WHEN I am")



6. Landscapes of every kind. The beauty and majesty of the Rockie mountains and the rolling expanse of the Prairies both take my breath away. Lake Louise, in Banff, Alberta and Leaves budding in the spring and changing to brilliance in the fall.




7. Laundry and my laundry room~ I love the fresh feel and scent of clean laundry as I'm folding it and I love the brightness and size of my laundry room...small and simple.



8. The Love that my beloved gives to me~ this was taken on our 10th wedding anniversary. Now it's already 11 1/2 years since we pledged our love on the 18th of July.



9. Lovely, Little Lads~ so precious to me.



10. Laughter~ especially the kind where your cheeks start to hurt from smiling so much! This happens a lot when all of us sisters are together. Here we are trying to get a good picture on Elizabeth's 30th Birthday (she's the one in the middle) amongst all our laughing and goofing around.

(I'll have you know that I have one more sister as well, who's 9, and was in school during this picture!)

And how could I not mention the absolutely delightful sound of the laughter of a baby?... Love, Love, Love it!

:::

If you would like to do this yourself, let me know as you leave a comment. I'll go check out your blog and give you a letter of my choice!

(1000's gift list # 96-106)

Winter's Sparkle

On my winter walks the last few evenings it has really struck me how beautifully the snow sparkles under the glow of the street lights.

I just can't seem to take my eyes off of it...
it is just so breathtaking.

What is it about sparkle that captures the imagination and makes us so full of wonder? Why do we want so much glitter and light in our lives?

Just look at a child as they gaze in wonder at all the beauty that surrounds them during this season of celebration.

Many of us, as adults, have lost that sense but when we stop in silence and wait and listen and really feel what's deep inside our souls, isn't this what we want? What we were made for?
We were meant to enjoy beauty, just look at all of nature that He so lavishly gave to us to care for.

And we were meant to be beautiful...

Can you think of a time in your life that you felt the most beautiful?

I automatically think of my wedding day and, yes, I felt very beautiful as my father came to take my arm with a gleam of love and admiration in his eye and as I walked down the isle towards my beloved and saw the look of awe on his face, it was every girls dream come true.

But seeing the sparkle of the snow last evening seemed to trigger another memory... one that I haven't thought of in years.

It was on an evening during the Christmas season in my 13th or 14th year, or so, that I took part in a Christmas Production that the choir of our church put on. I was fairly new to the choir but the director asked me to sing a duet with a friend of mine.

I was to be an angel and I felt beautiful as I stood up on the stage in white, with silver garland about my neck, and sang my song. I don't remember, even, what song it was anymore, but I remember the feeling of the floodlight from the balcony shining down on me.

And the best part of this memory is when my grandma came to me later and asked me if the earrings I had been wearing were diamonds because they sparkled so beautifully in the light and that I really did look and sing like an angel. And her words meant the world to me.

I believe that this is what we are meant for and I wonder.... I am full of the wonder of ...

"what will heaven be like".

The Talent of Giving...

"Giving presents is a talent; to know what a person wants,
to know when and how to get it, to give it lovingly and well."
~Pamela Glenconner

Yesterday and this evening I received two wonderful gifts from two beautiful friends.

I so love to receive pretty packaged gifts from people who have put a lot of thought into what I like and would want.

They hit it bang on with these gifts: A package of Raspberry Hot Chocolate, Beautiful Christmas Tree Ornaments, and a Vanilla Scented Candle in the shape of a coffee mug!

Perfect!

Could it be Pent up Feelings?

I sigh.

I sigh when I'm happy, I sigh when I'm sad. Who doesn't, right?

But apparently I sigh when there's no reason in the world that I can think of to sigh. I do it subconsciously and never realized it until my hubby started bringing it to my attention.

"What's wrong?" he'd say.

And I'd look up from whatever I was doing and, surprised, say "Nothing, why do you ask?"

"You sighed" he'd say.

"Really? Oh..." I didn't even know I had done so.

What is it about sighing that makes us do it, even though we don't do it on purpose?

I wonder if it's just our way of letting out pent up feelings... you know, the feelings we aren't letting ourselves feel... the ones that are deep down, the ones that need to escape but we won't let them.

That's probably why I sigh subconsciously. I don't even know I'm doing it because I won't let myself feel what's inside.

No, seriously, there's nothing wrong that I can think of,

but I sigh... do you sigh? ...subconsciously, I mean.

*****

Photo: A silent moment by the wildly rushing river on our 10th Anniversary 2007. When it's nature, somehow even the noise seems like silence because it's just so beautiful.

Maybe it's because I can think my own thoughts and nature doesn't interrupt.

Quiet Days, Stormy Nights... Updated in Comments.

Sorry about another really long post... please bare with me... I'll get this all figured out eventually! : )

So, this is what's been happening this week as a result of this post from last Monday. I'm having a hard time with only being on the computer in the evening. Sometimes I want to post things in the morning, (like yesterday morning or this morning when I took these pictures of the snow from last night) and it's too tough for me to wait 'till evening to type it out and post it. So I'm gonna change things around a bit.

I'm gonna post things through out the day when I get the urge and save my blog visiting and such for the evenings. This may 'cause me to be on the computer more than I had originally said but then at least I'm not trying to blog and visit your blogs all at the same time. The thing that is really working for me is the fact that I am not reading other blogs through out the day... that was just taking up way too much time and is very addicting because I'm sure you all know how,if you let yourself, you can just keep clicking and clicking for hours!


Now about these pictures... aren't they great? I just love freshly fallen snow! Just look at what we found when we opened our front door this morning... and the wreath!... isn't it pretty?We had a crazy windy snow storm last night with fierce winds from the north. The noise kept me half awake all night it seemed. Probably because of the wind chimes and the gazebo almost blowing away right outside our bedroom window! Anyway, enough about that.


There is another thing I've been wondering though and that is, "how many of you go back later to the blog that you commented on in order to see if the blog author has responded to your comment?" I'm just wondering if there is even a point to responding to my comments on my own blog if they never get read again? I know I have done this a few times to blogs were the author does this but I wonder how many of you do it, too? I'm thinking of maybe starting this on my own blog and doing it for every post that I get comments on. What do you think?

*****
Oh, and I also posted a "Moment" over on my other blog, "of books,blocks n' boys".

Appreciations and Confessions... Update at Bottom.

First of all I want to deeply thank all of you for keeping up with my blog, for leaving your kind comments so often and for even "following"! You have all made my life so fun and exciting these last few weeks. I have so enjoyed reading all of your blogs and getting to "know" you. I truly think of you as my friends and am thrilled that you think the same of me! Thank you to those who have put my blog link in the side bars of your own blogs (Rebekah and Kelli!) and whom ever else may have done so. I never dreamed that this could be so much fun or that others would actually want to read my blog! (This sounds a little like an acceptance speech for an award, doesn't it?)
However, this has also been very addicting to me and I find myself using this as a way of escape from life when I'm bored or just don't feel like doing some of the things I know I should be doing... like spending quality time with my boys, house work and even quiet time with my Lord. I want to make a point of reading His Word each day and have been trying to follow along on Prairie Passages (thank you for this, Prairie Chick!) every morning but I get so distracted by everything else, mainly the computer.
Yesterday, at church, we had a message on the Spiritual Discipline of Fasting and how it doesn't always have to be about food but can be about anything that has been put before our time with God in our lives and I immediately thought about the computer. I know that what I am doing is not wrong or sinful in and of itself but, because it is taking away from time with my family and most importantly my Lord, it has become an idol in my life.
I have been convicted of this for a few days now and I know that something needs to be done, so... here is my plan of action. I want to start by taking a break from the computer during the day... and we'll see what happens from there!

I will check my computer to find out what Prairie Chick's Bible Passage is for the day and then read Ann's blog "a holy experience" (her writing is so uplifting and I love to read hers in the early morning hour of each day). Then I won't go on the computer again 'till after the boys are in bed in the evening and then only for an hour and a half max. (This may seem like a lot but it's not near as much time as I have been spending!) I still want to keep posting everyday if possible so I hope you all will still stop by and comment once in a while! : ) Please? I'll still be checking your's too, just not during the day when I should be doing other things!

Now, I know that I could have probably done this all on my own without having bothered you with this LOOONG rambling post, but I guess I felt I needed to for my own sake... sort of like an accountability thing. It makes me more inclined to follow through with my plans if I've told someone else about it... and I want to be honest.

Are you the same way?! Please tell so that at least I don't feel like I'm the only one with blogging addiction! : ) Ultimately, I just want to get to a place where it can be an enjoyable pass time for which I am not obsessed.

I sincerely hope (and also honestly believe) that you won't stop reading and commenting as a result of me baring my heart and revealing my weaknesses. Like I said, I deeply appreciate all of you. Thanks for "listening".

UPDATE: Wow... I am completely floored by all of your heartfelt encouragement and honesty. Thank you all SO much! Today has been wonderful, though hard at times when I was feeling the call of the computer. I didn't go on it at all except for the reasons that I stated and I must say that when I finally sat down after the boys were in bed it was like Christmas with all those wonderful gifts of words from you all waiting to be read! I loved it and am so happy I have gone through with this... you all are so understanding and supportive, I feel that maybe this will work and I'll be able to find some balance in my life again.

Well, I'm off to check out your blogs!

Oh, and BTW I just posted a really cute tidbit on my other blog "Of Books, Blocks n' Boys" about something fun I had Jayden do today and how he fooled me quite thoroughly. :o)
Check it out if you're interested!

Strumming my Guitar

I've been doing a lot of practicing on my guitar lately.
Trying to learn a few Christmas carols.
I have never had lessons by a professional and am finding it quite
difficult to remember the different chords, but I so enjoy it...
even if the tips of my fingers are aching! Jayden wanted to take a few pictures and this is what I found when
I checked out the pictures this afternoon!
Is he a natural, or what???
All I had to do was a tiny bit of cropping and color change,
but that's it. He could work on getting better focus
(especially in the top picture)but after all he's only (almost) 7!
I am so impressed with his photography! I may never need
to get professional photos again! : o)

Learning to "live out loud"

Something about this photo of Tasha Tudor just speaks to me.
I think it's because this is the way I want to be "when I grow up".

I don't want to just stop learning things as I get older.

I want to use everyday of this beautiful life given to me to learn new things and to "live out loud". When I saw this photo in a magazine that did a story on her, I immediately ripped it out for my homemaking journal. I didn't have to even think about whether I really loved it or not. I knew that it was perfect.

One of my goals is to learn to paint with watercolor. I especially want to learn how to do closeups of flowers.

I haven't read up on Tasha Tudor at all but I just think the pictures of her are so inspiring. Take a look here if your interested.

Click on the picture to read the quote about living out loud.

The Way it Is.

I have been wanting to write out something along these lines for quite some time now and just never seemed to be able to put the words together in my head until I came across this quote at the bottom of Prairie Chick's blog, the Prairie Prologue, and when I read it I thought, "that is pretty much exactly what I want to say!" So instead of racking my brain trying to come up with my own thing I am just going to copy... with proper quoting, of course! So here it is:

"Well, first I must just say – because the thought of another Mama out there feeling somehow inadequate just about breaks my heart – that I most certainly do not ‘do it all’. Sometimes the nature of blogs – and particularly the way that I keep mine focused for the most part on the joy - can create a bit of a false illusion. So I hope no one ever forgets that what you might see on a blog is just one paragraph of someone’s day, or what they’ve chosen to focus on from their day."

Amanda Soule from SouleMama

As an example, here is just one short half hour or so from my Friday last week. Not to say that the rest of the day was bad... it was just a regular day. I helped clean my sister's house in the morning, did some babysitting in the afternoon, threw in a bit of schoolwork for Jayden, etc., etc. You know how it goes! : )

Now, the following pictures (by themselves) may seem like I am the type of mom who bakes with my children all the time and lavishes them with yummy goodies fresh from the oven on a daily basis. The reason why I took these pictures for my blog was to remind myself in the future that I did occasionally do this kind of thing. Seriously, it's such a big deal for me to make dough and roll it out that I wanted to capture the moment in case it never happens again. Of course it will, one just can never say when. ; )

Here's how it really went:

Jayden asks me to roll out the dough for some tea biscuits I have decided to make because I am craving something sweet and I can't find anything in the house that falls into that category, not even chocolate chips! ; )

Now, I haven't baked in ages because I am finding it to be a lot easier to buy the 50% off baked goods at the grocery store when I can get there early enough in the mornings. I would love to be like "the mom who bakes bread, etc. everyday", for my kid's sake, 'cause I think it makes for some good memories, but I'm just not. I don't really like the mess and I didn't even really want Jayden to help me, but I did, and I'm happy about that.

Here is the dough sprinkled with cinnamon and coconut. If I had taken a wider shot of this picture you would have seen three pairs of little hands trying to grab a taste. Even wider? Three children. Two up on stools leaning over the counter and one ON the counter! Gasp! I know! Not very sanitary, eh? But I'm sure your kids have done it too! ; )

And here they are fresh from the oven! "Rich Tea Biscuits" from Company's Coming Cookbook, "Muffins and more". You can imagine what I was hearing while taking this picture. "Mom, can I have some? Mom, mom! Can I try some, mom?!" and so on... "Yes, but hold on! Just let me get a picture! It's not everyday that I bake, you know."

You think they're tired of me and my camera yet? I wonder what sort of memory that will make for them. I can just hear them in the future saying, "Mom was always taking pictures of the oddest things!" Hmmm...

So there you have it. My life isn't all roses but it's beautiful in it's own way and I especially wouldn't give up having messy, loud (but joyful) children for the world!

That's just how I FEEL!

My dear sister, Tracy, gave me a "peep behind the scene" as to

all the emotions she felt yesterday and asked if

anyone wanted to join in.

So here is my list of all the feelings I felt today (highlighted in bold).

abandoned adequate admired afraid
amazed amused angry annoyed
anxious apathetic appreciated apprehensive
ashamed awkward bashful betrayed
bitter blessed bored cared for
certain competent concerned conflicted
confused contemptuous content courageous
critical daring defensive degraded
dejected delighted demeaned desperate
detached disappointed discouraged disgraced
disgusted doubtful driven ecstatic
edgy embarrassed empty enthusiastic
envious excited excluded fearful
fed up fortunate fragile frantic
free frustrated gloomy grateful
guilty happy helpless hopeful
hopeless horrified hostile humiliated
hurt ignored impassioned impatient
inadequate included incompetent indifferent
indignant inferior invalidated invisible
irritated jealous joyful lethargic
lonely loved mad manipulated
misunderstood mixed up neglected nervous
oppressed overburdened patient panicky
passionate popular powerless proud
rebellious regretful rejected relaxed
relieved remorseful resentful respected
sad serene shocked shy
strong supported sure suspicious
tender tense terrified threatened
trapped unappreciated uncertain understood
undervalued unhappy unloved unpopular
unsure upset used validated
valued vengeful vulnerable weak
worried worthless worthy

Wow... I had more than I thought. Can all these things go together in one day?

I tried my best to be completely honest... so, I guess so.

I think a big thing about today was that I had a real open and deep heart to heart talk with a really good friend of mine. I love these conversations because they make me feel all these things, both the good and bad.

How 'bout you?

He's just so much like me...

Lately my middle son Marcus(4) has been getting up in the morning and going straight to the bathroom to do this...

Yes. Slick down his hair. I cringe when I see it because I think it looks silly. But really he is just so much like me when I was a little girl (just in a boy sort of way). I have to force myself to not make negative comments about it because he really thinks that it makes him look nice. I did the same things as a little girl... I remember. I shudder now to think of the funny ways I dressed or did my hair... but I was really just trying to look (what I thought was) my best!

Isnt' he cute? I just wouldn't want him to do his hair like that in public. You know where that stems from, right? I feel too often that my children are a reflection of who I am and that if they look or act silly then I must be a silly mom. I know this is wrong thinking. My children are their own person and not my "possessions".

Even though this post is about outward appearance it also has a lot to do with behaviour, as well. I want my children's hearts. I want them to do things for me because they love me and want to please me, not just because "Mom said, and I better obey her, or else...".

Last week, when I was talking about homeschooling I mentioned that I was reading an article (a 26 page article) and that it was really helping me. I wasn't going to bother you with a link but here it is anyway! It's mainly about how to have your children's heart, about not over-sheltering, and about letting them see us have a genuine relationship with our loving Saviour.

This homeshooling father writes that there is no one way to raise our children except to trust in the Lord. We so often are looking for a proven formula and hope to find it through self help or parenting books. Though these may help, they are never the "be all end all". Having a deeply true and right relationship with our Father God (one that shines through to our children in our every day life) and trusting in Him for our children, while still gently guiding them in right decision making, is the only way.

How does this tie into the part about Marcus slicking down his hair? Well, I just feel that if I make an issue about it for my own sake (because I don't want people to think I do his hair funny) that, even though this is a little thing, it could pertain to bigger issues in the long run. I want him to know that he is okay. That I love him and except him for who he is no matter what.

I hope this all makes sense... it seems to me I'm just rambling. But if I've peaked your interest, go read the article and then let me know what you think...

Thinking about babies tonight

and how especially precious newborns are.

I wish I could tell you

that another little one is on the way...

but I can't.

Photo: My newborn Allan.

Just 3 hours after he was born on October 17, 2005

What have I done?

I found this over at Lori's blog, "The Simple Life at

Home", and thought it would be fun...Things that I have done (Highlighted in bold)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (uh, ick!!!)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Only 24??? Wow... looks like I don't get out much!
How 'bout you?

That's Why!

As I was going along today, thinking about a blog post I have been working on, I suddenly had a revelation about something. This is it:

The reason why I like getting "comments" so much is because... I am a "words of affirmation" girl! You know the book, "The Five Love Languages"? Well, I give love and feel love through words of affirmation! I always wondered why it was so important to me. Originally, when I started this blog it was simply for the purpose of keeping a bit of a record of my day to day life. I wasn't even sure whether I would give out my blog address to anyone. So why is it so important to me that people actually read what I write and then let me know if they like it? Well, that's why.... words of affirmation... I feel loved when I get good comments. Does that sound really lame? Probably. But that's just the way it is.

Now no pressure... I don't want you all to stop reading just because you're scared that every time you do I'll be expecting a comment. I understand that some don't think it's too important
because you have a different love language. Either that or you just don't love me! :( Just kidding! ;) I know you love me. So please don't ever leave a negative comment or I just might shut down the whole thing and call it quits!

So, there you have it. That's me!

And about that blog post I've been working on? Hopefully, I'll get it up tomorrow...

Reading Together

Lots of this going on with the new Sonlight Curriculum.... Love it.

Also love memorizing Scripture with them. Our verse for this week:

"Blessed is the man who does not walk

in the council of the wicked,

or stand in the way of sinners,

or sit in the seat of mockers."

Psalm 1:1

My boys (Jayden 6 and Marcus 4) had it memorized completely after I read it to them 4 times. I am so impressed that I wish I had started this a couple of years ago.

Oh well, better late than never. :) I am memorizing right along with them and I think that will help them to keep being excited about it.... they're realizing that I am learning as well.

So in Love

It's been 11 years today. Still, so in love with him.

"There is only one happiness in life,

to love and be loved. "

~ George Sand

Perfectly Pink

My life has been filled with a lot of pink lately. This beauty just bloomed today in my garden.Another daisy... just a darker pink than the first... unveiling the inner beauty of itself.

Playing dressup and tea party with sister, Racheal. Portulaca blooming amongst my lettuce plants.

Tea cup that I picked up at an antique store while shopping with Racheal.

All dressed up for the ball my beloved and I went to on Saturday evening.

Some fun shots at a park before the evening began.





Gifts for my friends... just because I love them.