oh me, oh my

it has felt very much like the world has stood still the last two weeks.
at least our little world has.
after the girl's bout with the flu
I thought life was resuming as normal, but alas
on Monday my son came home with a fever.
And then by the next afternoon my body finally really caved.
And let me tell you, this thing has been a doozy.
I just like using that word.  It sounds mighty old fashioned.
Like something my grandmother would use.

We're still in recovery mode.
You know it's bad when twice in the last week
I have crawled out of my own bed to discover
a silent home, because my children were all voluntarily napping.
Well, praise God for that.

Because that NEVER, ever happens.

Oh, sigh.

I guess we needed rest.

In the midst of this yuck, my dear sweet youngest child turned six.
And mommy managed to do nothing really very special at all.
But I've promised, soon, very soon we will have a day all about her.
What I did manage, was a food color laced cake boss cake.. the farthest
thing from the healthy versions I usually try to make.  But Ralphs was about
all we could manage in the midst of this flu.

The flowers made her happy, and thankfully she has a forgiving spirit.

She and her sister found ways of entertaining themselves, like making this
dollhouse out of her gift box and wrapping.

And now as it feels prayerfully the fog is lifting.

The girls are decorating for valentines day.

You can't walk around a corner outside without seeing love.

And I love that.

Even Miss Piper echoed our much needed breath of fresh air today.

Happy insta friday everyone.

I covet your prayers for health and healing in this house.

Because we have had enough of the sickies!

Ok..so maybe I'm still not quite clear headed. I kept checking back to see why insta friday hadn't posted yet.  And alas I remembered, today is THURSDAY.  So I'll be all ready for tomorrow then!  Happy almost insta-friday!

it has been

some time since I've done insta-friday 

and even longer since I've shown you these ladies who aren't so little anymore!

We're getting closer to those fresh eggs.  I can't wait.

And nearly every day as I circle around to open their little door to the run area.

Miss Piper frantically runs around barking and whining.

And wishing oh so much she could get in there.

SO not happening.

The chickens are really funny to watch.

They're kind of scared of her, kind of not.

And I still think they're pretty darn cute.

So before the flu took over our home.

We were doing science co-op.

Reviewing the last six chapters of sea animal questions 

with a game of jeopardy.

It was awfully cute and fun. 

And I'm just so thankful to these ladies for welcoming me into their group.

We had a really productive day Monday, but I can't say much for the rest of the week.  

I've been reading to them, but there has been plenty of movie watching lying on the couch with

fevers and coughs and stuffy noses.  I guess sometimes you just have to let it go.

my part tom-boy, part girly-girl has decided she wants to learn 

to ride a skateboard like her brother.

And speaking of brother, before the rain hit here, he was in 

full survival mode, building shelter and making grass tea

in our backyard.

Yes, I let him play with fire.

Maybe that's wrong.

But I want to foster this adventure, survival man stuff cause

it's productive and outdoors and just might come in handy one day.

We spent some time picking out a new glove.

If you're new here, you may not know that his old one (which was

still in very good shape) was the victim of rain leaking into my 

trunk and we discovered it was COVERED with

a gnarly, white, fuzzy, hairy

mess of mold all over it.

There was no chance I was letting him use it again.

With my husband out of town, I of course realized the night

before assessments that we never replaced it.  So to Sport Chalet we went.

And then to the baseball fields.
Where the girls resumed their ways of entertaining themselves by the field.

 I can't believe it's time for the Spring season to begin.

I've been in prep mode for an upcoming mermaid party.

The party that was supposed to happen tomorrow.

Well, the flu + rain, rain, rain means our adventure

to the tide pools has been pushed back.

I know I'm slightly crazy even thinking of doing a beach party in January.

These two decided to dress like twins.  

People are always asking if they are, even though they're 

exactly 25 months apart to the day.

Which means my baby is having a birthday, turning 6 on Monday!

That and perhaps hormones are wreaking havoc on this mama heart.

You know you're in trouble when you see a mom with a toddler 

at a restaurant and your eyes well up with tears.

But the season we're in now is mighty sweet too.

They set up this stuffed animal friend tea party for me as a surprise.

And this one the other night declared washing dishes is fun.

Alrighty then.  There are always new chances for that kind of fun.

Have at it my dear!

So there you go.  The good, the bad & the helpful.

Head on over to Life Rearranged for more insta friday fun!

just because

I want you to know....

I love this verse.  Psalm 139:14

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Do we always talk to ourselves like we know this?

We know God's works are wonderful.
But how often does that little negative voice creep in
and we do not treat ourselves as though we know.

We were made in His image.
Fearfully and wonderfully made.

I say this to my kids almost daily.
I need to hear it too.

Doesn't it make you feel more powerful.

I wanted a pretty way to display it in my kid's bathroom.
I'm dreaming of an idea for a painting.
But in the meantime played around with this.

It's free for you to print and use to remind all who see it
they are fearfully and wonderfully made!

The design is on an 8 1/2 x 11 paper, made to fit in an 8x10 frame.

what is...

the best use of my time?
That is the question I'm repeatedly asking myself throughout the day.
Because quite honestly there's much more on my list than there is time.
Need to do's, want to do's, must do's.
So what comes first.
Usually I want to do something creative.
But I know I need to get dinner started so it's ready later.
Or those thank you notes.  Geesh. Still not finished from Christmas.
I hate how they linger and then it becomes so late I'm embarrassed to even send them.

And then there's the flu.
Yes, the flu has hit in our home.
Two girls down.
And absolutely everything wiped off our plate in terms
of appointments and classes and many of the to-do's.
Yesterday was spent like this.

And even though I did a lot of making soup and homeopathic concoctions
and cleaning dirty dishes.  Always dirty dishes.

The day was all about rest.

And much of the same is slated for today.

And my mind is wondering what is the best use of my time.
I have a couple of projects brewing.  And many to-do's I could tackle.

But sometimes the best use is actually doing none of them.
Just being with them.  Playing that game of life they're requesting.
And catching up on some reading, just because.

This year I've realized has been very methodically mapped out.
Most all of my days are calculated to see what I can squeeze in here
in order to be ready for the next thing on our list.

And in some of that, I have let go some of the things I know are
good for me.

I almost let go of having a chance to get away with girl friends
for a much needed mom break, attending one of Sally Clarkson's
Mom Heart conferences near me.  My husband is scheduled to travel
for work and I thought it's too much to hire a sitter overnight.  But I have
plotted through the schedules of family and sitters and mapped out
time to get away, just with mom friends.  Celebrating this high
calling and being refreshed in community.

Sarah Mae who wrote "Desperate"  with Sally Clarkson will
be speaking too.  I have long admired both of them and remember
from a previous Mom Heart conference I attended, that the book table alone
is worth the trip.

I just have to share real quickly, the irony in this picture.

You see the book is about the chaos in our lives as moms and finding
community and our holy destiny in the midst of what can feel like desperation.

So in the midst of my husband working round the clock, the flu knocking
out my girls, a sink overflowing with dirty dishes I'm ignoring in order
to assist my son with his pile of math work, we discover our puppy Piper
wanted to dig into "Desperate" too.

And I just had to laugh.

I'm always praying for peace in the chaos.
And am always finding opportunity to put it into practice.

"You will keep in perfect peace 

him whose mind is steadfast, 

because he trusts in you."

Isaiah 26:3

I have noticed a couple of themes cropping up for me this year.
This searching for peace that surpasses all understanding.  Knowing that intellectually,
but earlier in the year acknowledging that I don't always feel that way in my heart.
In my bible study journal, when asked what promise from God do you feel you'd really
like to sense in your life.  I knew it was to hold onto that perfect peace that surpasses all understanding.

And you know, I sense it happening.  As I walk through difficult things, things I don't write about here.
Things where the future seems uncertain, that perfect peace, I feel it.

Because I trust in Him.  And the connection He keeps revealing to me in scripture
is the word STEADFAST.  Him whose mind and spirit are steadfast.  Thankfully I can ask Him to help me with this steadfastness when I feel weak.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, 

and renew a steadfast spirit within me."  

Psalm 51:10

If I stay steadfast in my pursuit of Him and His word, His will, His promises in my life, I can walk through the uncertain with confidence.  I don't feel afraid.

And praise God, he's always letting us know we're not alone and that his love is one that is
STEADFAST too.

"How precious is your steadfast love."

Psalm 36:7

stead·fast also sted·fast  (stdfst, -fst)

adj.

1. Fixed or unchanging; steady.

2. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving. 

See Synonyms at faithful.

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

"the LORD is my portion," says my soul,

"therefore I will hope in him."

Lamentations 3:22-24

Therefore I will hope in him.  Amen to that right?  Right!

ten on ten

It's a tad late..but I actually did take these on January 10th.

It's a picture each hour in ten hours showing glimpses of your day.

I hadn't managed to download pictures til today.  

So here you go.  

Ten on ten on the 13th. :)

1. math manipulatives for homeschool

2. pretty bun done by her with new flower bobby pin

3. hanging with Miss Piper..I love their heads both twisting

4. A gift of yummy cheeses straight from Wisconsin from my husband's co-worker

5. throw pillows I love

(unitas in Christi - Latin for United in Christ est. 1996 - our wedding year)

6. running errands

7. trip to the park.  Piper's not happy about no dogs allowed

8. pretty girl

9. driving, driving, driving (picking up my son)

10. beautiful sky

Click the link here to see more ten on ten entries!

shh....

I have a little secret.
There's a sale starting today.
In my shop.
But only if you first head over to
baby be blessed.

The most adorable idea to create dolls
and spread the word of God at the same time.

I think her dolls are so absolutely squeezable.  And sewing in a favorite scripture for your child to know it's there, to hide in their heart, well that's just beautiful.

She does a yea free friday and I was honored she asked if I'd like to participate.

So not only should you head on over today, but visit her regularly to be a part of the giveaway fun in the future!