Happy First Day of School!

Happy 4th of July!!

Happy Mother’s Day!

As my girls get older, our Mother’s Day celebrations seem to get more elaborate. There was much secret planning and shopping before the big day,and yesterday I was surprised with beautiful decorations, thoughtful gifts,and delicious food that included a scrumptious homemade strawberry cake for dessert. I love how well my family loves me, and am so very blessed to call them mine.

    

Talent Show!

Tonight was the 2nd annual talent show at church. Katie sang “The Sun is Rising” and Francesca sang “Dry Bones” They did a beautiful job, and I was so proud of them both!

    

I’m having some technical difficulties getting the youtube videos to embed here, and I don’t have another minute to spend on this, so we’re going to have to do this the old fashioned way. Click on the links below for a sample of their songs.

Francesca singing Dry Bones

Katie singing The Sun is Rising

Fine Day for a Parade!

Every year our community has a 5K race as well as a canoe race. These are kicked off with a parade, and this year our church and AWANA families joined in the festivities.

      

Katie walked as Sparky.

    

The weather has been unseasonably cold, and it feels like winter may never end, but it was a beautiful sunny day. We had a great turn out of kids and family members representing our church and AWANA programs, and fun was had by all!

Happy Easter!

What a lovely day spent celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus! We started at the sunrise service, Don gave the children’s message during the regular Easter service, and then we spent the rest of the day enjoying the day with family. We were missing Sam as she had to work, but she did get to enjoy dinner with us before heading off.

                   

A few weeks ago, while perusing an Oriental Trading catalog, Francesca decided she desperately needed a bucket full of wind-up chicks. (Years ago I got the girls wind-up chicks, and she was absolutely terrified of them.) She begged and pleaded, and said it would be the best day ever if she got the chicks and nothing else. We decided to do an experiment to see if she meant what she said. She was thrilled! (we had a basket hiding in our room with the usual spring clothes and shoes,too. But she was absolutely grateful, even when she thought there wouldn’t be any chocolate in her future.)

 

                                             

My handsome husband off to preach. He’s given the sermon a handful of times now, and I can see the Holy Spirit working in him as he obediently walks out God’s call on his life. While he can get a little wordy and blatantly throw suggested time frames out the window, his passion and love for the Lord just shine through when he gets up and speaks. This morning was no exception. What better day to passionately proclaim that Jesus is ALIVE?

                                      

                           

                                    

Birthdays.

As they tend to do, the days have gotten away from me. Three birthdays have passed without any sort of documentation here, so welcome to the happy birthday post-slacker mom/wife style.

As we celebrated each of these special days, I found myself taking a close look at the heart of each person we were celebrating. As our kids get older, and us alongside them, I am acutely aware of how fast each season passes.

To my husband, when I look at you I see the strength of our family. You are so many things to us; provider, protector, fixer, adventurer. You show us your love by doing, and you love us well.  You have a true servants heart, and I am continually moved by your selflessness. As you embark on this new path God has called you to, I can already see the power of the Holy Spirit in you as you love on those around you. While I am sad that soon our kids will be grown and off on their own, I am so excited for what that season will mean for us as a couple. I can’t wait to do all the crazy things with you!

Samantha, I don’t know about you-but I’m feeling 22!! (sorry, I couldn’t resist! How cool is it to have a theme song for a whole year?!) As I watch you wrestle with who you are and what your life is going to look like, I have the peace that comes from knowing God has a plan for you. He knew every single one of your days before you were even born, and I know He has great things in store for you. You are all heart; you love your people fiercely, and you have a moral compass well beyond your years. You see and appreciate the people around you, and really seeing someone is such a gift. Your compassion and empathy, your loyalty and your artistic flair; that is what I see when I look at you. Before we all became a family, there was me and you. You made me a mom. You were the first brown-eyed girl to steal my heart, and I loved you with all of my crazy 18 year old intensity from the moment I laid eyes on you. I am because you are. And I love you like crazy still-always have, always will.

Katie, you are such a joy to me. As a newly 14-year old, it’s fascinating watching you become a young woman, while still catching glimpses of that magical chubby-cheeked toddler that charmed everyone around her. You are conscientious and reliable, brilliant and witty. People are drawn to you, because your light shines so brightly. I love how nerdy you are; how happy books make you, and that you write persuasive essays for fun. I love your inquisitive nature and your hunger for knowledge. As we enter a new season in your life where we talk about boys and guarding your heart instead of Littlest Pet Shops and Dinosaur Train, I am both excited to watch you grow and missing my little girl. I adore you, and can’t wait to see you go out there and tackle the world. You will continue to shine wherever God leads you.