Here's what I'm up to...

So, our really decrepit computer and our tax return money landed us with a new computer.  An Apple computer (or Mac... I'm not sure what's "p.c."  HA!  I crack myself up) to be exact.   I can't believe we made the jump.  So, in transferring photos and tagging faces (on i Photo), I have run across so many wonderful pictures of the kids that I forgot about.  Which also has me scrap booking (in my project life album.)  I LOVE my Project Life Album by Becky Higgins, but the actual "project life" part (a photo a day for a year) was a big bust for me.  Are you following all this?  Here's a small sampling of the littleness that is killing me:

(Happy Birthday to my Mama who has a birthday coming up this weekend!)
Like how I snuck that in there?

Many hours have been spent on i Photo.  Obsessed I tell you!

What else...  I'm doing a bible study in the book of James.  It's my first Beth Moore study and it's totally knocked my socks right off.  Wow.  Seriously.  Who knew the Bible could be so riveting?

Thinking about real food/whole foods/super-foods.  Reading the 100 Days of Real Food blog and trying to cut out processed foods (even more than we already had).   And now I'm wanting to buy Planet Box lunch boxes for my kids.  Also, I'm starting to work out using the TRX (Jerry is my trainer... ouch.) 

AND that's what I've been up to these days :)

this and that

It's ironic to me that my last post was titled "finding balance."  It's been a loooong time since I've said anything here... this seems to be a trend.  Perhaps "blogging" is not part of my daily or even weekly balance.  I can't decide if I want to continue to keep up my blog.  My mama likes it - and I actually enjoy it for myself.  But who else is reading?  Maybe I should go private.  While I'm deciding, I'll share Luke's debut into sports.  He says that this is the last time he'll ever play on a team.  Rock climbing, music lessons, karate anyone?  I loved watching and cheering on my left-footed kicker.  But I'll cheer you on in whatever you try, Luke!

Then there was a short season of flag football.  Cole really enjoys just about every sport that he tries.  The afternoons were cold and the shadows were long.  I love this shot of the parents and grandparents on the sidelines.

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and now we're looking forward to this new year.  A new year makes me excited for the things to come.... for all that God has in store.  Happy New Year!

finding balance

Three field trips since school started (just 2 months ago.)  Three kids in school... it's still weird.  But I can get used to weird.  I've got an entire schedule mapped out for each day of the week (complete with free time penciled into my mental calendar.)  Here's something I've learned about myself... I don't do well with too much free time.  I'm a procrastinator and work better under a time limit (there, I said it.)  Summer vacation is nice, but I'm always happy to embrace the school schedule, the cooler weather and believe it or not, I think I get more done with less free time.  If I have too much time, I just might find a book and curl up for a good read.  Oh, I love to do that....  But I have to limit myself. 

My latest time-killer is Pinterest ("Google" it) and before that it was Facebook (still eats up some of my time, but I'm much more aware of how much time and energy that I spend there.)  Words With Friends (iPhone game) -- obsess much?  I do, that I know for sure.  Right now I'm obsessed with making my house look and reflect our family and our values (and what I think looks "cool", of course).  I'm certain that I'm going to have to get my butt off of Pinterest and possibly make some time for some of these projects I have in mind.  Needing to find some balance in my every day.



Our time, our energy, our kids, bible study, field trips, volunteering, youth group, sports, to read a novel or not to read, exercise, TV, caramel and apple donuts... it's all about balance, I suppose.

these moments

When you think of Fall, you might not think of the beach - but around here it's the best time to go.  Beautiful mild weather and not too much wind.  The beach, the Fall weather... sigh....
And while we were there, look who decided they could ride big sister's bike (both boys actually.)  Luke and Cole are ready for big bikes.  Bigger sigh.....  (Didn't he JUST learn to ride his bike without training wheels only 3 months ago?  Why, yes, he did.)

I never get tired of this scene... the smell, the sand, the ocean, the kids running and playing, the digging, the finding of treasures...  thankful for the photos that let me relive these moments.

eucharisteo

eucharisteo - to be thankful, to give thanks

I'm currently reading 'One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are.'  A friend gave me the book and said I had to read it.  This is not a quick read (I've read probably five other books while reading this one.)  I sometimes will read and then go back and reread. 

"If clinging to His goodness is the highest form of prayer, then this seeing His goodness with a pen, with a shutter, with a word of thanks, these really are the most sacred acts conceivable.  The ones anyone can conceive, anywhere, in the midst of anything.  Eucharisteo takes us into His love.  I am struck and I long chime:  Daniel is only a man of prayer because he is a man of thanks, and the only way to be a woman of prayer is to be a woman of thanks."  -One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp



1) small hands that find treasures

I'm retraining my mind to look for things to be thankful for... to find the blessings (sometimes they aren't so obvious.)  Maybe it's just our perspective that needs changing.

"Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world."  -Sarah Ban Breathnach



2) His amazing creation



3) sun on snow covered mountains

4) the cool from a fan

5) baby sleeping while I type

6) the quiet to stop and think

ten today

The 10 Things I Love About You (Gracie) 
1) You love your brothers...
2) Your compassion for other people...
3) Sometimes you still play with dolls...
4) When your given a creative task you dive right in...
5) You are not afraid to dream big...
6) Your smile...
7) You like playing with little kids...
8) You are very giving...
9) A girl with her own style...
10) You have a love for life!

Ten years old and in the fifth grade... I can hardly believe it!  We love you, Ray (that's what Luke used to call you.)  It seems like so long ago.  But then again, it seems like just yesterday.

getting it done

Something I've been doing with my extra time is processing photos... reliving baseball and camping and such.  It feels good to get caught up on something and not have to stay up until midnight doing it. 

But one question I have - when do they ever grow into those baseball pants?!

Have a great weekend!  Do something that makes you happy :)

garden blessings

Look who has so much time on her hand that she's taking pictures of her food now...

I've actually been sick with a bad cold since the second day of school.  It's not how I pictured my days, but I'm thankful for the opportunity to "be sick."  When was the last time I could allow myself to rest all day (ten years ago?)  They say that one should "feed a cold" (the only part I like about having a cold!)

Finally our garden has kicked into gear.  It's sure been a nice and mild summer, but the tomatoes sure don't appreciate this weather!  As I look over on my counter, I finally have more tomatoes than I know what to do with. 

This years garden has held a couple surprises for us.  The first is volunteer pumpkins.  It's been a fun treat for the kids.  It's two less pumpkins that we'll have to buy!
And the second is Luke's watermelon plant... it's huge!  Every day he counts his watermelons.  "The King" watermelon is almost ready to harvest, I think.  It's amazing at how much joy comes from growing some of your own food.  We could drive down to the store and buy a watermelon, but it's much more fun to wait and watch the ones in our garden.

school days

My little guy started Kindergarten.  I wanted to say something profound.  But the truth is I haven't really figured it out yet.  It's weird to have all three in school at the same time and at the same place. 

 

Our school moved to a new campus - the kids are excited about things like swings, tether ball, drinking fountains and reading lofts in the classrooms.  Looks like a promising year ahead... I can't believe how fast it's going.  Weren't they just babies yesterday?  Wasn't Cole climbing in Luke's crib last week?  No?
One thing I can say for sure is that I am enjoying this time in our lives right now.  It's actually pretty fun.  Tonight, Jerry and I watched while Cole and Grace set Luke up with rocket balloons in the pool (with the hope that he would jet across the water.)  It didn't work, but we all had a good laugh.

I'm so thankful for this time in our lives and for our little family.  God is so good.

happy monday

Happy Monday... the countdown is on!  Only two more days left of summer vacation.  And our pool pump died, so I guess we'll have to enjoy Grandma and Grandpa's pool.  I'm thankful we made it this far into summer before our pool pump completely stopped working. 

Change is in the air...