My Day Out

Yesterday was my "day out." After dropping Chris off at church, I headed to Brianna's school to bring her something she forgot. Lucky for her that I wanted to drive all over town today! After visiting with Brianna and her classmates for a while, I decided to surprise Chris at church and bring him lunch so he can eat with the girls and I. Emily was typically talkative. She was trying to make new friends with a sweet older gentleman. She excitedly informed him that she had a "boo-boo." Well, he mistook her for saying, "I have a poo-poo." He was wondering why she was lifting her knee towards him? I wonder what he expected her to lift towards him instead? I digress... Anyway, when I politely informed him that she did not have a "poo poo," rather she wanted him to notice her scraped knee, aka: "boo boo," he laughed and laughed, and tried not to choke on his lunch. Ahhh, Emily. :)

We went home for Emily's nap. I decidedly chose to not do any chores and instead, updated our financial spreadsheets. Soon I was off again to pick up the other kiddos from school. We went straight to the library from there. We had exactly one hour before closing. Summer found a over sized princess embellished with jewels.  Emily found a Dora book which she clutched onto. Paul found a half a dozen Star Wars books. Brianna collected a variety of books. I grabbed a bunch of easy reading books to read out loud to Summer and Emily. I also picked out a few children's literature for myself. (I LOVE children's literature, by the way!) Before closing, we dashed downstairs to the adult section to pick up a book I placed on hold. It was good to be in the library once again. Lots of fun! In case you are wondering, my children are super wonderful at the library. They are respectful, quiet (Emily is a bit loud time to time, but she is corrected well), and a joy to the patrons and staff. The librarians LOVE my kids. They always comment on how kind and obedient they are. Trust me, my kids are the exception, not the norm. You know, I will write more about why my children are a joy to be around in another blog entry, but for now I will only say that godly parenting is easy and the rewards are plentiful!

The day ended with a yummy bean soup (Yay for crock pots that can feed your family four straight days!) and chocolate chip ice cream.

On a bummer note, Zoey is sick again. Boo. And Emily looks like she is getting sick too. Time for zinc, vitamin C, and goldenseal!!

Stir Crazy

Due to Emily's freeky rash and Zoey's pink eye this month, I have been secluding myself from the world and the effect is now beginning to wear on me. I am usually more of a homebody, but I typically do get out of my house at least once a week. Moms should definitely not stay in their homes for a month! We need interaction with other humans outside the confinements of our own walls. So do my children. I did manage to go to church this Sunday, but church is more of a social nightmare for me, so that really doesn't count. I need parks, libraries, museums, friends' homes, and store shopping (without buying junk!). All of the library books are now overdue, I have missed two playgroups, and I haven't had any friends over. So, tomorrow I am getting out!! The excitement is overwhelming!

Girl Scout fun-ness

My oldest daughter is a Girl Scout. This was her first year and she was so happy to participate in it. She is a "Junior". Girls Scouts have six age levels: Daisy, Brownie, and Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador. Every other week during this school year she joined her friends and fellow Girl Scouts for fun and fellowship. In addition to the meetings which they made crafts, ate food, and giggled non-stop, she also participated in community gatherings. She also sang songs for nursing home residents, learned about different cultures, wrote stories, sold a billion cookies, and went to camp. It was a great first year in Girl Scouts! Today was the Bridging Ceremony and the awarding of badges. Girl Scouts move or "bridge" to the next level at the end of the school year. The entire troop and their families were there to support and participate in the festivities. I was so happy for Brianna. She received a green ribbon and a pin. She was so happy and proud. All the girls that were bridging crossed a little bridge and received a badge and a flower. Brianna didn't bridge, but it was fun to watch the other little girls celebrate their moving forward.

It is HOT!

Yay! Today I got out the kiddy pool and turned on the sprinklers for the kiddos. The three oldest bounded outside in their last-year's, too tight, worn out swimsuits to enjoy a few hours of this hot, hot day in the sprinklers. It is in the 80's with a touch of humidity. It feels goooood. Days like these are what gets me through the winter. I look forward to this day during the middle of February. "Just wait, Susie, the sun and warmth will be here soon..." Well, it isn't that soon, but it came and I wish it would not go away. Thank you God for today. You ROCK!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. Ps 127:3-5

My children are the sweetest gift of Heaven to Earth.

Mother's Day couldn't start early enough for my children, so they started celebrating it yesterday. They were all singing, bounding, and brightening up the day with their joyful praises of their love for their mommy. It was quite a day! Yesterday, the gifts began pouring in. I received loads of hand written cards with hearts and rainbows. The messages say how much I am loved. The happy mom and child pictures were the endearing, cute stick figures with arms outstretched and twenty fingers. I even was given a small bite of chocolate from Summer's chocolate candy. Paul gave me a potted Pansie flower and a gorgeous card with a painted blue flower. He used painted leaves to make the pedals. So creative! Brianna made me a picture with dried, pressed flowers and a lovely stamped message that says "Happy Mother's Day!" She framed it, too! Summer made me a flower bouquet out of paper and straws. The flowers were paper cut-outs of her hands. Oh, the happy joys of a being a mom! My children restore joy in me by their merriment, goodness, and purity.

Life is truly grand for me.

This is how I learn the way of thanksgiving.

Happy Mother's Day!

Flower browsing

I just love my kids. Today I stopped by Walmart to buy Paul's birthday party invitations. We like to call our little shopping excursions, "adventures." On our "adventures" to the store, we like to point out fun things, giggle,  hold hands, and discover excitement down each isle. Like always, today we entered the store through the Nursery entrance. We always like to come into Walmart this way. I guess it is the smell of fertilizers, plants and flowers, the openness, the variety of tools, the sprinklers, the ceramic bunnies and bird baths, grills, and outside lawn and seating sets. It speaks happiness and wonderment. So, today, we spent time admiring all the beautiful flowers, plants, saplings, and vegetables. I gave my children a little time to dash in and out of the rows. They giggle and rush past the rows of growing-treasures playing hide and seek. Then, we slowly walk down each row together, admiring all the different species of plants. "Ooh, smell this flower, mommy!"  "Look at this pretty rose (not really a rose, but that's OK)!" "Let's pretend we are in Alice In Wonderland!" "Blueberry bushes!" "Raspberry bushes!" I show them my favorite flower, alyssum. It is a lovely cluster of tiny white flowers that smell delicious. After lingering there for a little while we finally go tend to our shopping. I decided tomorrow we will come back and pick out our favorite plants to plant in our yard this weekend. I can't wait to surprise them!

A great quote

"Our burdens are here, our road is before us, and the longing for goodness and happiness is the guide that leads us through many troubles and mistakes to the peace which is true Celestial City." The Little Women

Cleaning Windows

I discovered a new love today: cleaning the living room windows! I did not realize how much I took for granted the view through a clean window. Over a period of days, weeks, and months I became accustomed to the accumulating dirt and grime that slowly coated the windows and screens. Then, today, I wiped away all the signs of the dirt and then it hit me. This stupid, mindless chore gave me such an amazing dose of peace! I realized that seeing clearly is intoxicating, beautiful, and restful. The accumulating dirt and grime comes silently and steals away the beauty. It creates diversion from true sight. We can almost see..but it isn't perfect. Somehow, I do this to myself repetitively. I slowly allow my life to get filled with all sorts of dirt and grime: jealous, bitterness, pride, fear,  loneliness, and many forms of idolatry. I am restless and unable to manage the pressure of all the stress and hardship. Then, simply, I am once again reminded of my true self. I experience the process of  getting cleaned again. It is not me doing the cleaning, though. It is the miracle grace of my Savior that removes all the hindrances and restores me to my true gorgeous and magnificent form I was created to be! I am His. He perfects me, renews me, and purify all my iniquities and deficiencies. And he does this for me! Hourly, daily, weekly, and year after year. Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus...