Project 52:10 - graceful

I am upfront & honest that on this blog I choose to focus on the fun, positive, sentimental times of life...but that doesn't mean that the "other" times don't exist.  I just feel there's enough complaining-about-children blogs out there claiming to be "real" that I don't want my kids to look back someday and ever think I hated my job of raising them.  Because I never have...and never will...not even for a day.

That said, today was a day God gave me to practice patience...like 200 times I had the opportunity.  And each time, I'm pretty sure I failed.  But at the end of the day, when a lot of us moms look back & think of all the things we wish we would have said differently (the time the enemy loves to remind us of failings), I keep being reminded of God's grace, that each time today was a learning opportunity for the next time and with God's grace I'll do better.  

"Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return..."

Lent starts today, a beautiful reminder of God's bountiful grace.  

(My project 52 is early this week because Friday I am leaving on an epic journey!  Praying for a safe, fun Spring Break for all.)

Conversation with Jack

Jack gets in the car with a whole bag of popcorn & shares some of it (a handful each) with Lily & Ava.  While this is commendable for Jack, Lily asks for more...and more.  I hear Jack saying "If you don't slow down eating that I'm not going to have a whole, whole bunch for me!"

I interject "That's right Jack, that's just what I remember the bible saying.  Jesus says to make sure YOU have lots and lots and to not worry about your neighbor."

Jack thinks for a minute (imagine him with a stocking hat on & shaking his head back & forth), then he says "Well...YOU need to be reading the bible more because that's not what it says at all.  It says you should share."  And he proceeds to eat his popcorn.

Jack doesn't get sarcasm.  At all.

(But he's sure cute when he sleeps!)

Moments

How are you staying fully awake in this life?

*thanks Ginger, for sharing this.

project 52:9 - linked

I cannot let this week pass without commenting on the grass fires that ripped through our community this past week.  Like the Santa Anna winds, our Spring winds can wipe out thousands upon thousands of acres of land in hours...this time, though, they were especially devastating.   

Whether or not your house was one of the 50 or 60 that burned on that fateful, windy day, we were all affected because motherhood is a commonality, it's something shared, to when there is a crisis we watch the news and we pray for those mothers that have been forced to leave everything behind & stand in 70 mile per hour wind with an overpass for a wind block, waiting, waiting, watching through binoculars to see if there will be anything left of their house.  

You can't help but think of memories left behind-the photos, the birth certificates & locks of hair, special pictures drawn by little hands...things no insurance policy can replace.  And you also know that deep down the only irreplaceables are our little ones, to which we all thank God that none of them were lost. 

Posterity

Because one of my main reasons for this blog is to record things the kids do and say to have to look back on, I have to post some random, silly-to-me things the kids have said and include some random (mostly iPhone) pictures.

Nap time continues to be one of my most favorite times of the day, for a multitude of reasons, but this being the top one.  Ahhh...I love baby snuggles and Ava gives the best.

Someday, some day, I will buckle down and make her part with the pappi...but not today.  I'm too afraid it holds the key to the snuggles.

This was the last minutes of the sweetest display of big brother love-not that the love ended, just that the moment passed before I really got to capture it.  The two of them were sitting on the front porch playing, Jack being so sweet & caring.  He & Ava are a good pair.  The compassion he shows her makes my heart smile.

I don't believe in cleaning glass (don't pretend for my sake that you overlooked ALL the finger prints on the door), especially if it's within reach of grubby paws...it adds character to the house...and also warns guests of impending attack from four children.

Remember the movie Teen Wolf?  We can't let him out at night.

It is so messy when you have to trim the furry beast that is my son inside because it's below freezing outside.

This one just makes me laugh-it's her expression.  Fashion is a serious thing, people.

She's holding a phone...and she had been like this for about 10 minutes, without moving.  It's her almost-asleep-zone, except she forgot to unhand the phone attached to her ear.

These two pictures are from our school night at the Discovery Center.  Macy's friend Aaron got to be the volunteer to demonstrate the power of electrical currents.  Did you know you will get a HECK of a shock if he were to touch you while holding on?  The kids could feel "the force" just by him hovering his hand over them.  And, it made his hair stand up-always wanted to do that!

Jack is wearing his daddy's indian war bonnet from when he was a kid.

And a shark tooth necklace.  And a panda bear.  And stretchy cockroaches that stick to the wall when you fling them (thanks Santa).

And, don't grandmas have the coolest things around?  Like bigger-than-life bears for you to waller?

This is Paddington Bear & has been around for a very long time...he started his life in our family in Great Grandma Dovie's shop (I think!) where she sold children's clothing back when my husband was a little boy.  It was called the Cabbage Patch (she was cool before the dolls!).

Ava looks entirely too big in this picture.  Dang it...she's growing up too.

But what this picture does mean is that Spring is on its way...whether it takes a detour (hoping not!) or just hangs around like it's been the past couple of days, we can resume our park time with friends.  And to that I say-Yahoo!

Lily is in a very, very literal phase of life.  She tore up something of Macy's & I was scolding her for it, saying "Lily, shame on you!"  She starts crying, begging me to "not put shame on me mommy!"  I'm not sure what she thought shame was but she knew she didn't want it on her!  She asks every time I mention we have errands to run if we are going to Aaron's house.  If you get onto her for something, she will ask "Are you still my friend?" to which you have to reply "Of course, I'm still your friend Lily" (she will ask you to say it again & include the "of course" part).  And, there's always the funny mispronunciations...today she wanted a drink from the water mountain.

project 52:8 - dining with dignitaries

I have had the privilege of lunch dates with many princesses, trained Jedi, Superman & Batman (though not at the same time), an American Indian, & a rather infamous cowgirl that can tame any wild animal if given the chance.

Kinda makes a "power lunch" sound a little dull, huh?

And, so that you don't misjudge me...just because I get this chance to dine with various dignitaries we are by no means dignified.

Time for a Bath

This picture represents a lot of love times three...three of our kids have blankies.  And I always swore that I would pick their lovey item and that it would not be a blanket dragging in the dirt behind them.  But, that shows you what I know...the kids have to have their blankie for sleep, for comfort, for warmth.

Jack's blankie never envisioned it's life turning out this way...I think it had early retirement in mind always as it gave up & became tattered & torn early on.  It is, in fact, in a mid-life crisis, finding itself looking nothing like it used to but still holding on to it's glory days.  Lily & Ava's are in it for the long haul though, still looking almost as good as the first time I wrapped their tiny bodies in them.

Along with all that "love" comes a whole lot of smell, and the traumatic day comes along (involving prying out of hands & tears) every so often (I should say not often enough) that the blankies need a bath.

First it's a kiss and hug good-bye.  I'm not kidding.

Then watch and wait...and wait and watch...and bug me about "how much longer???"

Notice in this picture that Ava can't possibly see her blankie but knows she's supposed to be there looking like that because her siblings are!


Then a mid-cycle hug and kiss before throwing them in the dryer.

My favorite part is when they come running to smell that fresh-out-of-the-dryer smell on the blankies.  Jack used to tell me it "smelled warm".