sometimes

the mountains you have to climb
feel oh so very big.
And you need to just get away.
and get outside to run and play.

Watching the birds

and dolphins passing by.  I feel Him near.

Breathing it all in I sit and pray, watch and wait.

I'm still waiting.  But feel some clarity dawning.
I've had a couple of days of feeling so very weak.
But I know there is a plan.
There is a purpose.

And I know He will strengthen me.
I think I know where the Holy Spirit is leading.
But it feels very overwhelming.
And I struggle a lot with not wanting to make a mistake.

I keep hearing a whisper.  Even in those twilight moments when you first wake.
Before you're fully conscious.  These are the moments when I know it is Him.
And He is speaking this simple truth.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, 
no mind has conceived what God has 

prepared for those who love him." 
1 Corinthians 2:9

For those who love him.  This child of mine, she finds hearts absolutely everywhere we go. In the shape of a leaf, a fallen flower, a gap in the clouds, and always rocks by the shore.  They find her and she them.  And I don't doubt that they are placed there by the Lord, a message for her, for me.

I do not yet see.  My mind can't conceive.
But God knows.  He doesn't make mistakes.
And I know He is bigger than my mountains.

"I will go before you and will level the mountains;

I will break down gates of bronze

and cut through bars of iron."

Isaiah 45:2

I'm praying for wisdom, for clarity.  I'm doing my due diligence, but
I'm also trying to rest in knowing that the Lord has a plan even though
I do not yet understand.  And he is paving the way.

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, 
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;

I will turn the darkness into light before them 
and make the rough places smooth.  
These are the things I will do for them; 
I will not forsake them.  
Isaiah 42:16

loving gifts

I know it's a bit past Valentine's Day at this point.

I've just been so focused on the next task at hand that the blog has had to go on the back burner lately.

But I was and am still so excited about this gift that would be perfect for Mother's day that I had to share.

Each parent in my son's class takes a turn teaming up to host a holiday party.

Months ago I chose Valentine's day.  It's one of my favorite holidays.

Another mom and I did some fun games (ideas courtesy of one charming party..I LOVE that site!)

She read this book about St. Valentine.  (Also perfect for the 3rd/4th grade age range..and not too long either).  And for the craft, I wanted to do something that was practical, that they could gift to their moms as a Valentine's present.

So they made their very own brown sugar body scrub.

I received an expensive one from Whole Foods for Christmas.  The ingredient list got me thinking,
that it's really not that hard.  And the kids had so much fun measuring and stirring, and choosing their own essential oils for their moms.

Here's the recipe if you're interested.

BROWN SUGAR, COCONUT, ALMOND & ESSENTIAL OIL BODY SCRUB
1 1/4 cup of brown sugar
7 Tablespoons of Almond Oil
3 Tablespoons of melted Coconut Oil
15-20 drops of essential oil (I brought sweet orange, lavender, lemongrass for them to choose...typically the sweet orange was the one they went for, it is a really nice combination).

You mix all the ingredients except the essential oil first, making sure the consistency is nice and moist, you don't want it too dry and crumbly.  Then you add the essential oil and mix well again.  Then you can pack it in to the 8 oz. container.

I wish I had more pictures of the process, but my hands were deep in the oil helping kids measure and mix.  I found the containers online at speciality bottle.  This recipe perfectly fills the 8 oz. container.
I used photoshop to design two inch round labels, printed on a full sheet of label paper and punched them out with a circle punch.

The tag reads: "Dear Mom, For all you do to care for me, 

Now it's time to pamper you."

So a very happy belated Valentine's Day everyone..and perhaps this might inspire some DIY mother's day gifts in May.  It really was easy, so easy my five and seven year olds mixed their own batches at home.  Now everyone is scrubbing away and soft as can be at bath time. :)

happy moments

Lately I'm just struck by how much it's the little things that make you happy.
Make you take a moment to breathe.
To soak in the pretty sun.

do you see her swinging with her head tilted all the way back.  You know that feeling right?  That feeling of freedom.  The picture doesn't do it justice, but I had to try to capture the moment.

Her creative style.

And baking healthy treats with my girls.

(flourless nut butter cookies - recipe found at here.)

Remember what it was like waiting for them to come out of the oven.

Hanging with a friend's baby.

My babysitter from when Audrey was a baby who also happened to be her big sister's preschool teacher
now has a son of her own.  Sometimes she picks Audrey up
from preschool and takes her to her home to hang until I can pick her up.
Audrey absolutely loves it.  And I think would adore being a big sister.

These lemons

and oranges from our own tree inspired my son to start a sale.

Fresh oranges and lemons.
His price seems a bit high in this economy.
But one after another people stopped.

It's amazing how much you can get to know your more distant neighbors this way.

And I was amazed at how many people actually took the time to support them.
It was unexpected, but nice on the start of this beautiful weekend.

I'm busy working away on a number of projects, including a Valentine party
for my son's class (more on that soon) and an editing project that I was literally doing in the front
yard on the laptop while they carried on with their sale.  It's all about the
multi-tasking as a mom isn't it!

Last night after dinner, I quickly had to try my hand at making a vegan, raw, chocolate mint truffle.

My kids said they taste like Mimi's mint bars.  That's about the best compliment ever.
Because we all love Mimi's mint bars.
But these are filled with only healthy, good for you ingredients, including some
fermented spirulina protein powder.  Love that they have no idea. :)

Perfect with a cup of tea!

Here's the recipe in case you're interested.

1 cup cacao powder with maca.
3/4 cup coconut oil
2 Tbsp. peppermint oil
2 cups soaked & pitted dates (soak for a couple of hours, but dump out the water before adding to recipe)
1/4 cup thick raw honey
1/2 cup coconut flour
2 tsp. fermented spirulina powder.  (I get it from a local store, but it can be found here. Scroll down a bit to read about the benefits of fermented spirulina.  It's why I've chosen to use a teaspoon a day in my morning smoothies).
& a pinch of pink sea salt

I used my hand held mixer that I use to puree soups, to mix this.
I must warn when forming the balls it was much more wet than I expected.
Once the balls are done sprinkle them with the cacao powder and put in the refrigerator overnight.


Happy Almost Valentine's Day everyone.

audrey's God songs

I just had to share Miss Audrey and her God songs.  She makes them up ALL THE TIME.  They are part praise and worship song, part bible verses, part of whatever the Lord puts in her sweet little mind.  And I just love them.  Of course I know I'm partial.  But I love that I'm always being serenaded by her with God's word and love.

We had lots of celebrations this past week.  Lots of fun.  Lots of mommy barely making deadlines, but I'm making them and somehow everything is being held together.  Oh yea, that somehow must be God, lots of prayer that He guides my minutes and I use my time wisely.

Here's a look at her celebrations, and the birthday she said was her best yet.  It's an indoor trampoline place with loud loud music from my high school days.  It's enough to make the moms want to get out and jump too.

I loved all these girls in their girly dresses, jumping to their hearts content.

They followed big brother to the big kid section, but see the guy in the orange shirt, he's quickly asking the little ones to head back to the tamer section, so as not to get trampled.  

 My son was in heaven too.

As was her big sister.  

During some assessments for my middle daughter the day of the party I put together these decorations..like I said it was another one of those just in the nick of time things.

The weekend was filled with game playing, especially this favorite gift, an adorable cupcake making game.

And of course the week wouldn't have been complete without a little celebration in her class.

She's counting her blessings..and so am I.

Head on over to A Holy Experience to see more counted gifts...

294. making it in the nick of time
295. a joyful child
296. successful studying
297. learning about how she learns
298. peace in the process
299. pushing past fears
300. sharing something that I hope will bless others
301. a week of celebrations
302. more celebrations to come