day five...

Wet, rosy cheeks are a sign of a fabulous time outside

making snow forts and shoveling and digging snow tunnels...

day four on day five...

Our teen group was over last night for an activity.

We call them "Finally Friday."

They have been quite sporadic, but we always enjoy ourselves.

Pizza and video games.

As for the love in this photo...

I love our teens.

I love having our teens over to our house.

I love that my girls love being with the teens.

I love that we have teens that enjoy being around my kids.

I love having a "Finally Friday" to end a week. It puts the weekend off to such a great start...

day three...

For the last week, Amelia has wanted to sleep on the top bunk with Calla. After the day is done. After all the bickering. After all of the get-out-of-my space. They want to lay side by side at night.

It reminds me of sleeping in the same bed as my sister. We shared a room and a queen bed until the day I left to get married. I loved sharing a room with my sister. We were two very different people, just like my girls are. But at the end of the day, we wanted to be together. We would giggle and chatter and sing into the night. And now, unbeknown to them, I get to watch my girls reenact my own memories...

always fulfilled...

Ever notice that the times when you think, just for a moment, I would really rather not go to church, are the times when you need to go to church the most. That was me tonight. After a very, oh, let's called it a burden-filled day, I wanted to send my brood off to church so I could revel in the quiet-ness of my house for an hour. But as soon as I think about staying home, thankfully, the Holy Spirit prods me to do the opposite. That still small voice tells me to go and be blessed. And I did.

Psalm 55:22

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

All those little things that I had allowed to rattle me today...

Constant sibling bickering.

Nora's newest version of a tantrum - throwing herself to the ground and letting out one loud wail.

Amelia's insistence on screaming her woes at the top of her lungs. "NORA, NOOOOOO. LET GO OF IT. NORA. NORA. NOOO"

Nora's fascination with all things tiny or messy or dangerous.

They are all my mini-burdens. Burdens I was trying to carry myself. And failing miserably at it, might I add. By the time my hubby came home from work, I was ready to run away screaming, or take Nora's lead and throw myself to the ground...

But God was just waiting. Waiting for me to ask for help. Waiting for me to see that there was more to my day than just those burdens. Waiting to show me His love and His blessings instead of my mini-burdens.

So, tonight I am thankful for my pastor. I am thankful for a heart that is still prompted by the Holy Spirit. I am thankful for a new day to cast at His feet...

day two...

This picture envelops so much thankfulness.

I love a warm house on a super snowy day.

I love a neighbor willing to snow blow our walks for us

so I don't have to take Nora out in the wind and cold.

I love a snow day from school when the call comes the night before! The thought of sleeping in is so wonderful.

I love staying in our pajamas until lunch. Crafts. Sewing projects.

Overall relaxing events throughout the day.

I love living in a town that didn't get the crazy blizzard snow that was forecasted. Our streets are plowed and we are ready to venture out for church later this evening.

day one...

It makes me feel loved.

A string of hand-painted hearts from my girls.

Each one is unique, just like my Calla and Amelia.

Just like each day I have with my girls...

the love month...

A friend's blog has challenged me to find an image of love every day this month. So, for the month of February, I will post a picture every day. I will attempt to find a love of mine, or something that makes me feel loved, in every day. Just 28 days...28 pictures of love in my life...it should be easy, but will it?