a checklist kind of sunday...

On this day six, I am thankful for my church.

I love my Sunday School kids. I am blessed through each child and am thankful for those precious 45 minutes God allows me to minister to them each week. It really is a lot of time when you add it up. 45 minutes. 52 weeks. Three years. I am thankful for my class.

I am thankful that my girls can be lead by spiritual leaders in different ministries on Sundays and Wednesdays. God has placed some incredible workers in the lives of my children.

I am thankful for my pastor. He's exactly what our church needed nearly three years ago. He has provided growth and passion to our church family. His messages are always challenging and I can see the Lord working through him.

I am thankful for my pastor's wife. Her heart of compassion is a reminder of what I lack in my own life. She never turns away a listening ear. She is genuinely concerned with every person that walks through our church doors, even after they've gone home. I love her and the friendship we have only begun to cultivate.

I am thankful for my church family. Unity. That's what a theme was in a message today. I feel our little church embodies that word. Different opinions. Different walks of life. Different circumstances. Yet we all come together in unity. My church family is a constant source of encouragement and love.

Blessed. I am truly blessed . And I am thankful...

though i've said it before...

This is day 5 and I feel oh-so-grateful. So, blog-reader beware. I may get mushy gushy...

I am thankful for family. I love Saturdays with my family. Now that soccer is over, Saturdays are wide open.

Today found us on a bike ride to Grandma's. Me and the hubby and our gaggle of girls biking through the trails on this gorgeous, crisp fall afternoon.

We then spent the next part of the day helping Mom clear up her lawn for the upcoming winter. With Dad gone, the lawn maintenance is quite a chore. We have realized all over again what a hard worker he truly was. So we cleared vines off the trellises and chipped up sticks and leaves. Mass amounts of leaves were raked up and Nora jumped into her first leaf pile. Cousins and an uncle joined us. The kids have pretend forts in Grandma's pine trees. They disappear for long periods of time and have a blast.

Then as we are about to leave in different directions, it happens. That sly grin on her face. "Mom, can so-and-so come over...?" (She doesn't actually say so-and-so, but the name is different each time.) The time spent together with cousins is never long enough. One ends up at our house or we swap kids for an afternoon or a sleepover or they head to another house together. But I love it. I love this family and those cousins!

I am so thankful for family. I am thankful God moved us here so that our kids (and me, too) can grow up near their cousins and uncles and grandparents and aunts. It's a blessing I've addressed before, but, like I warned, I'm feeling a little sentimental about it today...

faith CHRISTIAN academy...

On day four, I am thankful for our school.

I am thankful for a church with a heart for Christian education. Through the many lean years, the Lord has blessed our little school. This is the same school my hubby and his brothers went through all those years ago. Now our own children have the blessing of attending a true Christian school. The teachers are all amazing Christian examples to our daughters. I can be confident that the school is an extension of the principles and truths we are teaching at home.

I am thankful for the friends and families we are able to fellowship with through the school.

I am thankful for the quality of education our girls receive each day as I drop them off say, "I love you. Have a good day," and wave as they enter a new school day. I pray for them and their teachers.

I know this blessing is not to be taken lightly. I am grateful for FCA...

that guy...

On day three I am thankful for that guy.

He is quite the catch. He understands my humor and I get his. He is the detail- oriented yin to my whole-picture yang. He is an example of simple Godly consistency. He likes my cooking and my baking even more. God picked him out for me and I am forever grateful...

soccer mom...

On day two I am thankful for healthy, active girls. This marks season 5 of soccer for our family. This year we had to become even more committed to the sport. Practice during the week and two games on Saturdays. Calla is old enough for the travelling teams now. Truck ourselves across the towns to a fairly frigid soccer field to sit and cheer on our favorite goalie or forward. Then quickly pack it all up to grab a bite of something to eat and head out to do it all again for daughter number two.

So I am thankful.

Thankful that my girls are strong and healthy enough to play soccer week in and week out. Thankful that our schedules are flexible enough that Mom and Dad could attend each weekend game - together. Thankful for the opportunity to socialize with our community and allow the girls to form friendships outside of the church. And thankful that we have a break for several months as the snow threatens to fall. My rear end gets quite cold in those camp chairs...

30 days of thankful me...

November 1st is one my favorite days of the year! Halloween is finally over (I'm not a fan...). All the fun costumes and candy are on sale. And I begin to look toward Thanksgiving.

I love Thanksgiving.

So day one of thankfulness goes to a new season. Not the ghoulish Halloween-type fall, but the crisp-leaved, apple harvest sort of fall...

His grace is sufficient...

I have always been one that mixes Scripture with songs when I am seeking comfort. A verse will almost always lead me to a song. One that has brought me comfort in the past. Lately, my song is from the distant past. Psalty the Songbook days. I only had one video, but I loved it! I was so proud of it that I asked my 3rd grade teacher in the public school if we could show it during rest time. She allowed it and I beamed with pride through every scene. Funny, though, no one else seemed to enjoy it. But the song...

I will cast all my cares upon You.

I lay all of my burdens,

Down at your feet.

And any time

I don't know

Just what to do.

I will cast all my cares upon You.

Here, 25 years later, God has reminded me to leave my burdens at His feet. It is so simple and yet it is a lesson that continues to press on my heart. I am re-learning it today and can go to bed with my burdens at His feet...

well, that's true...

As I chatted with the neighbor about a fainting episode he had experienced yesterday, I encouraged him to call me any time if he ever needed me to come over to help him out. I closed the conversation and hopped into the driver's seat. Amelia, in her oh-so-genuine voice calls out from the backseat, "Mom, if Mr. Ron needs someone to be loud and crazy, he can call me any time, too."

schooldayze...

The first day of school met me with mixed emotions.

I was so ready for school to start at least a month ago. Summer schedules are a blessing and yet a curse. Lazy mornings that gently flow into casual lunches and lots of playtime. But it's a fickle playmate, that summertime. One of those things you enjoy so often that you become almost, dare I say, bored with it.

"Only boring people get bored."

For this reason, I began to look forward to the schedule and challenges a school day brings.

But my Amelia was going to school this year. That, in itself, brought several emotions with it.

Excitement. A whole new world to experience.

Anxiety. Would she adjust well to a new environment of stresses?

Pure glee. I would be home for three full days a week with just my angel of a baby.

So, dad and I dropped them off for their first day. Treats in hand. Pictures taken. And then I said my goodbyes and good lucks. When I began to speak the words, "I'll be praying for you today," into Amelia's ear, I was a goner. I would be praying. And, more than I realized, I would be missing my girls...

the finale...

Our main reason for the trip was the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. Uncle Jim and Aunt Carole wanted to give this experience to the girls. It was amazing. The girls spent an hour being transformed into their favorite Disney princess. Calla chose Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) because "I look the most like her, so I won't need a wig." Amelia wanted Ariel for two weeks leading up to the trip. I was very surprised to hear her choose Belle instead. She was a lovely Belle. They loved the dress up and the shoes. Wands and tiaras. And the pixie dust was everywhere!

Magic Kingdom really does live up to it's name. You feel magical in every part of it.

The teacups.

Dumbo's flying elephants.

Cinderella's Golden Carousel.

The girls' bucket list was completed first. Up next was EVERYTHING else.

It's a Small World. It's still as mesmerizing as I remember it being 20 years ago. Ooh. Ahh. Where are we now? London. Spain. Paris. This was one of Calla's favorites that she passed on to others when asked, "So, what was your favorite part of Disneyworld?"

Amelia lost her lanyard full of trading pins somewhere between Dumbo and It's a Small World. I went to the nearest lost and found store in complete distress. As I relayed my story to the worker, he must have seen my emotion over the situation. I prayed that somehow someone had found the lanyard and was honest and and turned it in. Please. It's a lot of money wasted. I don't want to put a damper on the day. He came back into sight with a look of defeat. I immediately started to feel the tears well up. He told me they did not have it, BUT - Disney would like to offer me a new lanyard and 8, EIGHT, pins as a replacement. My gratitude was obvious. I thanked him none-the-less and he replied, "Have a magical day!" Thanks, I think I will...

Stitch Adventure - Not a favorite amongst the smaller set. Well, amongst the 8-year-old set. It was worse than the airplane ride. Imagine with me, a circular room with seats and large harnesses that fit tightly over your shoulders. The creepy voice of Stitch teasing that you can't capture him. The lights go out for a debilitating 120 seconds as sounds and other surprises come from speakers and holes within the harness. Stitch is right behind you giggling that evil chuckle. He's running back and forth. He spits at you. He scratches at your neck. Calla was begging the people to let her out. Her screams were awful. She was mortified. I couldn't do a thing. We were all trapped. That was not the greatest memory.

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Factory - the perfect way to calm Calla's fears. Nothing else would be scary. Promise.

Peter Pan ride - pure magic.

We went to find some princesses to autograph our books. We had to wait in line. For a very long time. Cinderella even "lost her slipper" and left for a good 25 minutes during our wait. Do we wait? Do we go watch the parade? Calla's response made our decision. "We have parades at home, but the princesses are only here." We stayed and met Ariel, Belle, and Cinderella. It was truly enchanting.

We made it in time for the parade and even found Jim and Carole in the massive crowd. The kind people around us made sure the girls had a front row seat. The sweet lady next to me said, "After all, we're supposed to be here for the kids." The parade was an exciting end to our trip.

The only thing left was to see the fireworks. But more importantly, the girls were tipped off that Tinkerbell made a descent from the castle during the fireworks. That's all they wanted to see from that point on. Cranky, tired kids. Fussing about not being able to see. Maybe we should just leave before this gets ugly. And then...there she was. Tink took her flight down. It was worth the wait. We watched the end of the fireworks from the monorail as we went back to the hotel.

So that was Disneyworld for us. So much packed into 3 days. We loved it and are so grateful for the gift. Thank you Uncle Jim and Aunt Carole.

part duex...

...for those not bored, or on their second visit to the blog...

The girls swam in the amazing pool until their toes were pruned. If we'd have let them, they'd have stayed at the pool all weekend and completely forgone Disney all together.

Bright and early Saturday morning, we took the bus to Magic Kingdom to meet Ms. Mary. She was the amazing lady that gave us blessings and Disney insights galore. After a trip on the ferry and our first view of Cinderella's castle, we had a change of plans. Back onto the ferry, girls, we're off to Hollywood Studios.

Beauty and the Beast - awesome. This is what it's all about. I smiled like a child through the whole thing. I took tons of flip video, even though I knew we already have it on video. It was just too cool.

The Little Mermaid in 4D. Awesome times 2. Ariel is my favorite. I have every line memorized. I had to hold back from singing during the production. "Look at this stuff. Isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think my collection's complete..." Bubbles from the ceiling. Dancing day-glow swimming fish puppeteers under the blacklights. Really a highlight, at least for me!

Honey, I shrunk the Kids playground - nail biter for this mom. Aunt Carole solidified that my fears were justified. Large plastic maze structures that have small kid-sized openings and exits. No way of knowing if that is your child or someone else's that is screaming in complete terror in the dead center of said maze. A large exhale of relief when your child's head emerges from the hole. Hot, red, and sweaty, but with a huge smile.

We spent more time at the hotel pool as a break from the heat. Dinner and then back to the park for the laser light show. It was INCREDIBLE. So worth the walk and the wait. A perfect way to end our first night in Disneyworld.

Sunday morning. Mother's Day. The moms were treated to an IHOP breakfast. Then off to the park. Magic Kingdom gave us each a red carnation. I overheard one mom's reply to Happy Mother's Day, "I wouldn't want to be any where else today." Agreed.

ahh, disney...

...only a month removed...

Our trip was sensational. Memories galore. So many, in fact, that it is a shame I have taken this long to jot them down. Memories seem to fade rather quickly. Even the ones you are certain will remain ingrained for-ev-er.

So here is our trip in a concise, enthusiastic paragraph worthy of a loyal blog reader's five minute visit...

Instead of sleeping the night before the big trip, I decided to lie awake and think of all the things I could possibly forget. I was able to sleep a few hours before we were up and off to our 6:30a.m. flight. We arrived at an impressive 6:00a.m. We were the naughty trio scampering through the end of security because our flight was paging us over the intercom...We all giggle our way to our seats. At the back of the plane. Past some not-so-very-enthused passengers who were waiting for this party of three.

As we sat down, Calla-girl's nerves set in. She was cold and shaking. Her eyes showed her terror of the unknown. She was a wreck. She hated, and I quote, "the pressure I feel on my stomach." This anxiety would follow us to all four flights. That was one of the only downsides, I mean, really. We're going to Disneyworld.

One last flight story. Amelia decided to spill her juice, completely full, down the back of the tray table. I give kuddos to her for completely avoiding any mess on herself. I do not give kuddos to to the flight attendant who gave us ONE napkin to try to start cleaning things up. I am pretty sure the flight attendant is related to my local Subway cashier. She only gives me two napkins, even when I have all three kids with me.

Uncle Jim is waiting with open arms as we depart the terminal. His hugs are a little piece of my dad here on earth. LOVE them!

We find our way to our rental car - that was parked and beeping at us on a different level than the one we were wheeling our suitcases around on.

Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Barb met us in Downtown Disney for some supper and ice cream. Ahh, the magic is already flowing.

a mystery if sorts...

*names have been changed to protect the embarrassed*

As Alice* returned to her hotel room Saturday evening, she prepared for bed. After settling her daughters into their beds, she washed her face and took out her contacts. It had been a fabulous day at Hollywood Studios, Disney. She was tired and tomorrow was an early morning Mother's Day breakfast. As she reached for her glasses case, she found it empty. They must still be on the nightstand from last night.

Thus began the search for the missing frames. She rambled through her routine from the last night.

"I would have either put them on the nightstand or the sink and they are no where to be found. Maybe the they fell into the towels pile and were taken out with the laundry. Maybe they fell into the garbage and are long gone. Maybe the housekeeper thought they were cool and were a perfect match to her own prescription and now she is sporting my glasses through downtown Orlando..."

Alicia, I mean Alice, enlisted the help of her superhero aunt and uncle. Beds were ripped apart. A flashlight shone light into the dark recesses of the room. (fyi - don't shine a flashlight into the dark recesses of a hotel room unless absolutely necessary...) Every inch of the room was checked and rechecked.

Now it was time to check with the front desk. Maybe the laundry room had found the spectacles and turned them in to lost and found. Nope.

Alice was now resigned to think she would just have to replace her glasses when she returned home from her trip. Chalk them up to a loss, whatever the scenario.

Fast forward to the day Alice is unpacking her bags in her bedroom. She gathers up all of the tickets and brochures and other various memories into a pile and places them on her dresser. Right next to her glasses that never made it into her luggage to begin with...

Disneyworld...

We're going to Disneyworld!

My gracious aunt and uncle are taking Calla and Amelia to Disneyworld this weekend. I get to go along for the ride!

We are flying out very early Friday morning. This will be Amelia's first airplane ride and Calla's first that she remembers.

We are staying at an amazing hotel.

We'll take our tour through Magic Kingdom for two days.

There are surprises packed throughout the trip. The girls will be overwhelmed with excitement. I will overwhelmed with excitement. We will try to fill up our memories with as much Disney goodness that we can hold.

The blessings have already begun to overflow. I am thankful. I am excited. I am blessed...

simply confusing...

My little girl has been thinking this afternoon. As we began our trek to pick up the big sister from school, the question was formed.

"Mom, how could Jesus die if He was God?"

My age appropriate answer went something like this...

"You know how when we put water in the freezer it turns into ice? It's still water but now it's frozen water, ice."

Her answer was a simple, "No."

"I know, babe, it is confusing. God will help us understand it someday."

As she sat and pondered for a few seconds, her eyes showed the confusion. I was waiting for her next response. It came, but it wasn't what I was expecting...

"Yea, what's confusing is how ice can become crushed ice..."

The thought process of a five-year-old...

a sewing frenzy...

I have had the bug to sew lately. I think it's because "sewing weekend" is coming up. I always start feeling the urge to sew when I know I'll be visiting Nancy's Notions. The mecca of fabric and all things sewing.

So. On my list of projects...

1. a pillowcase for Calla-girl's (eventually) new room.

2. summer dresses for an upcoming trip.

3. a shoulder bag for same said trip.

4. a thank you gift for the providers of said trip.

Part of Calla's birthday present from me was a box of fabric pieces with the agreement that she and I would sew together. She is forever asking me to sew with her.

I know that the right response would be,

"Absolutely, lovely daughter-of-mine. Let's sit together and sew and bond as mother and daughter over a wonderful hobby to learn."

But, alas, I am not June Cleaver. Or Martha Stewart for that matter.

My response is usually an internal,

"If I have to sit to teach you how to sew, it may drive me bonkers. I am a perfectionist when it comes to crafts. You, my darling 8-year-old, are naturally not going to do it perfectly. This will cause great frustration in your sewing instructor, providing several teachable moments and a great dose of patience."

This internal response is usually verbalized with a simple, "Probably not right now."

But when I give the gift of a sewing lesson, I can't use excuses too long. We finished our pillowcase project in just two lessons. It's not perfect, but she loves it!

I have the thank you gift cut out and ready to sew.

I have the fabric for the dresses in the wash.

I have several bag patterns coming to me tonight to sort through.

I love to sew. The possibilities are endless...

all in 8 minutes...

Sometimes the van rides to and from school spark the most entertaining and memorable conversations. When four people are sequestered to a small space, daily, for any length of time, chatter ensues.

This morning was no exception. Family was the topic of choice.

"Since we have a Mother/Daughter Banquet, I wish we could have a Father/Daughter Banquet." Calla begins. "But, you couldn't go if they had a Mother/Son Banquet, right, Mom? Maybe you could have a Sister/Brother Banquet and ask Uncle Bo to go."

"Mom, do you have a brother?" Amelia asks.

"Yes. Uncle Bo is my brother."

"Are you older or younger than Uncle Bo?"

"I am the oldest."

"No, Amma is the oldest!" Amelia reminds me.

Yes, Amelia, the mom is always older than her children...

arrr...

Avast me harties!

We are working on an 8 year old birthday celebration.

Patch the Pirate is the chosen theme and we are having so much fun planning for the festivities.

Invites go out this week. That means Amma is coming soon! I am not sure which part is the most exciting. The Sissy Seagull cookies. The make-your-own treasure maps. Or the Amma in the house. I'm gonna go with the Amma...

undeserving...

Do you ever think of the Scripture that reminds us of the windows of blessings?

"Bring ye all the tithes into the store house,

that there may be meat in mine house,

and prove me now herewith,

saith the LORD of hosts,

if I will not open you the windows of heaven,

and pour you out a blessing,

that there shall not be

room enough to receive it."

Malachi 3:10

It is one of my favorite things to talk to my 7 and 8 year olds in Sunday School. With full hand motions, we show the closed windows and then we OPEN them to let all of the blessings flow down onto our lives. God has blessings awaiting us. So many "there shall not be room enough..." He continues to love us, even in our sin. But when we are walking in His light, He showers us with more than we could ever imagine.

God is doing this for our family right now.

“But my God shall supply all your need

according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19

And sometimes, even oftentimes, He gives us wants, too. That's just how much He loves us...

spring cleaning...

I have spent the last two weeks feeling cooped up in a cluttered house. This time of the year can feel very defeating. So I have taken some initiative and begun to reorganize. Deep clean.

My list began with a spurt of ambition in the hall closet. It is so fabulous to purge half of the junk in there and be able to - wait for it - step into the closet.

Then I tackled the bathroom, including reorganizing under the sink and dusting above the medicine chest.

Today was the girls' bedrooms. I even went so far as to dig into the recesses of the toy chest and make sure all toys had their pieces.

My next notion is to paint. (fully inspired by Honour and her fabulously renovated rooms!)

All this is done while we wait for the snow to melt and for the temperatures to rise to a high enough degree to take a walk longer than a block before our fingers freeze...