Leap Day

I love this (the noticing project)...
Inspired, I set out to notice on this 29th day of February. After all, we don't often have a 29th day of February do we?
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24

Seedlings praying for Spring...

Ribbons of sunlight on a masterpiece...

Winter still upon us...

Kitchen fun...

A coffee break...

Hope in the form of a teeny tiny bit of fruit...

I realize now, had I not photo-journaled my day, I may have come to the end of it remembering only the hour of crying that began nap time, or the large hole Maverick dug in the flower bed, or the toilet clogged by an entire roll of tissue, or so many other trivial things. I'm so glad I took the time to notice what mattered. This is the day that the Lord gave me. I am glad.

"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy..." Luke 6:23

frozen morning

I am thankful no one was behind me on the road this morning as I drove past our neighborhood nursery. I hit the brakes, probably a little too hard, for a longer look at the winter scene; excitedly explaining to Tristan why the nursery owner had let his trees ice over for protection. I don’t think I was able to articulate a pre-school level explanation because my son now believes there is such a thing as “warm ice”. We later had to stop for pictures of the sparkling garden and so that Tristan could touch the icicles and feel for himself that they are indeed cold!

Happy Windsday

I love this picture. It was a blustery Wednesday. 

We read Pooh. We hunted nature treasure. It was warm enough for bare toes.

So what if there are no flowers yet: these are my favorite little buds.

should I really tell this story?

In response to Christie's comment on the 'winter' post I feel compelled to tell the story of the day I was possibly the most grossed out EVER by my child. By any child. No, he does not eat the yellow snow, but...
One afternoon he had gone out to the backyard to do what 4 year old boys do. I thought 4 year old boys played in sand boxes and kicked soccer balls and collected rocks in their pockets to show mom later. On this day, not the case. After playing for a short time my dear son came running in the door yelling,
"Mommy! Maverick ate my poop!!"
He was actually a little horrified himself but I think more out of anger that the dog had stolen something he felt proud to have accomplished.
Caution to all you parents of little boys who think it is so convenient to teach them to "pee on a tree", saving the hassle of making a run for the house and not quite making it.
The sad things is, this was not the first incident.
Several weeks earlier I called him in for lunch only to hear him reply,
"OK! but first I gotta shovel my poop!"

A Christian, who realizes he has been made in the image of the Creator and is therefore meant to be creative on a finite level, should certainly have more understanding of his responsibility to treat God's creation with sensitivity, and should develop his talents to do something to beautify his little spot on the world's surface."

-Edith Schaeffer, The Hidden Art of Homemaking

winter

This is the Kansas back yard view that we enjoyed over the holidays at Grandad & Yiayia's house. If winters for us looked like this I might not mind so much. All I can see out my back window today is brown grass and brown trees and brown dog poop.

garden fort!

I'm putting this in the backyard...that is if I can figure out how to keep the wild bunnies from eating through the vines??

my winter temptation

just waiting for "after danger of frost" to get here

a bit about me.

I like to grow things (flowers, kids...) I like to photograph things (flowers, kids...) I like to read (everything). I like talk radio and free podcasts and kids music that doesn't sound like kids music. I like fresh air blowing in through open windows (even if my house feels like an igloo). I like to sew (just learned). I like to crotchet. I like to think one day I'll figure out how to knit. I like mountains. I like color (flowers, walls, photos, sidewalk chalk...) I like coffee (way too much). I like to watch my 13 month old toddle like a tiny drunken sailor. I like to hear my 4 year old pray (God is great, God is good...) I like my husband (a lot). I like it when he's home (which is not a lot). I like being a Marine wife. I like being a mom. I like being a friend. And I like to think that those are important callings.

We live in a yellow house (picket fence and all) with our two kids and 1 dog (Maverick). We love and laugh and learn and grow (like a garden...)

I like my ordinary life and the extraordinary things that God has done in it.