One Thousand Gifts (41 - 50)

41.  Surprising the kids with a day off of school!

42.  My babysitter came today!

43.  Hanging with my great friend at Starbucks - kid free!

44.  Weekly P.E. class for the kids  (I get adult interaction!  woo-hoo!)

45.  My grand daughter and her sweet, sweet smile!

46.  The flowers (dandelions) my kids bring me every day

47.  Coffee

48.  My extra large crockpot

49.  My garden - I just planted my spring veggies today!

50.  Long, hot showers

P52 "Details" (Week 13)

I've been thinking a lot about details this week in response to the challenge.  I have realized that life is lived in the details.  I spend so much of my time on "top level" things such as getting meals together, schooling the kids, daily chores, etc. that I have missed those all important details.

Yesterday we watched a science documentary on Netflix called "God of Wonders".  I was, once again, struck by the perfect way that God has orchestrated the details of the universe,  plants and animals to work in perfect harmony to sustain and promote life.

Did you know that the type of bird, and where it is on the food chain, determines how it takes off?

Just a few weeks ago, the tree was covered with beautiful white flowers.  Now, in their place, are tiny apricots.  How amazing is that!  

I am working my way through the parenting book "Shepherding a Child's Heart" with a group of ladies from my homeschool group.  What an enlightening and convicting book that is!  Successful parenting lies in the details.  Taking the time to have a long talk with a child who has strayed; and really listening to what the child has to say.  Or, admiring a painting they took so much time to create.  And listening to the story behind the painting.

I need to refocus my attention to the details.  The laundry can wait.  Gourmet meals can wait.  (Okay, I never make gourmet meals!!) For the next few days, school can wait.  I think I will go smell some roses!

Birthday Girl

Birthday season is upon us again.  We have 4 birthdays in the next few months.  Then we take a short break before we celebrate the rest.

Little N just turned 7. God has truly done an amazing work in her life.  She joined our family a little more than two years ago; a troubled little girl.  Her grief was overwhelming.  Her behaviors were witness of  things in her life that she didn't know how to process.

Ever so slowly, almost imperceptibly, she began to heal.  Many times it seemed as though we were going backwards.   As she healed, she would trust us with a small piece of her heart.  Then she would wrestle with fear and feelings of loyalty to others.  She would get scared and take back that fragile piece of heart.  It was a sad little dance that would leave us all, at times joyful, and other times full of sorrow and confusion.

These past few months we have seen tremendous growth in our little girl.  She has been dealing with the lingering grief.  She has entrusted more and more of her heart to us and I've not seen those telltale signs that fear is about to overtake her and insist she repossess her love.  We are so proud of N!

Each of our children has a life song, hand picked by their dad.  This song has special meaning for the child.  N's song is Beautiful by MercyMe.  It could have been written for her.  I pray that she's learning to see how much she is treasured.  Here are some of the lyrics:

Days will come when you don't have the strength
When all you hear is you're not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart
They'd see too much

You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You are made for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His
You're beautiful

and Praying that you have the heart to fight
Cuz you are more than what is hurting you tonight
For all the lies you've held inside so long
and they are nothing in the shadow of the cross

P52 Hungry (Week 12)

God is so good!  I am continually awed at how He cares for the smallest, most insignificant details of our lives!
Once again I wasn't going to post for this week.  Life has been a little difficult lately and my camera just sits on the shelf and gathers dust.  I had an idea for the theme "Hungry".  Actually I had two ideas.  Both required staging.   So, neither happened.  That's okay, I thought.  Its no big deal to miss the week.  But I was disappointed.  Then God stepped in.
B has been studying nutrition in science lately.  He had to do a project where he prepared a healthy snack.  So I gave him a few ideas and turned him loose in the kitchen.  He made a wonderfully healthy snack for everyone - celery with peanut butter and apple and orange slices skewered on toothpicks.  He brought it outside to his brothers and sisters.
They apparently are not as health conscious at their brother.  This is what they did to their celery!

P52 The "eyes" of March (Week 11)

I wasn't going to participate this week.  My creativity seems to be nonexistent lately.  However, tonight, I gave the kids some cookies for dessert.  Hearing lots of giggles, I turned around to see two of my girls looking at the world through cookie colored "glasses".  I thought it would be a perfect shot.  However, being the newbie that I am, the first picture I took was too dark.  The second was just...weird.  Then another which is what you see below.  While I was trying to adjust the camera for a better shot, my subject ate her glasses!

One Thousand Gifts (31-40)

31.  Answered prayer.

32.  For my daughter finally conquering long vowels.  :)

33.  Spontaneous deep and meaningful conversations with my kids.

34.  The privilege of  homeschooling.

35.  My boy, who was willing to give up a cookie for his sister.

36.  Warm weather

37.  Hummingbirds that are stopping by to visit.

38. The laughter of my kids.

39.  All the bumps, bruises, and boo-boos that the kids get.  Because of them, I know the kids are healthy, active and inquisitive.

40.  A soft bed after a hard day's work.

P52 Be Still (Week 10)

 I really had a hard time with this one. Nothing in my life is ever still. My kids are NEVER still. The weather was not still this week either. We has terrible winds. Even my soul was restless this week.

 I had some old pictures that I was tempted to use. My youngest falls asleep in the strangest places and I have at least a half dozen photos of her. Maybe I'll scrapbook them and post later.

 Finally, this afternoon, B was wandering around waiting for his buddy to finish school so they could hang out.  He was bored to death.  Thankfully, he got the long awaited phone call soon after this shot.

P52 A Great Leap (Week 9)

Our trampoline lost a few springs several weeks ago, so Bob and I condemned it.  

The kids have been so sad.  They loved the trampoline.  So, when I told C to go jump so I could get some pictures, she was more than happy to comply!  I didn't even know she could do a flip!! 

One Thousand Gifts (21-30)

 21.  Warm, fuzzy slippers

22.  Warm brownies and cold ice cream...Yum!

23.  Afternoon naps

24.  Roller coasters

25.  Cuddling with my kids

26.  My camera (its so fun!)

27.  My babysitter.  For various reasons, she hasn't been over to watch the kids in about a month.  I miss her!

28.  My crock pot.  I don't know what I would do without that amazing appliance.

29.  My parents.  Only 650 miles away, but it feels like millions.

30.  God's mercies, that are new every day.