Saturday, July 30, 2011

Project 52: Snowmen in July

We had fun making little "snowmen"...

















Ah, the thing we come up with to spend a rainy summer afternoon. David had thought the rain was snow and remembered the snow man from last winter and was upset that he couldn't make another, so I quickly came up with a snow man craft!

Project 52: Glimpses into Motherhood

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Project 52: Wonder Wheels

this last Saturday, my church did an event for younger kids called Wonder Wheels. The idea: bring your kids bikes, let them decorate them and then ride a chalked out course. The boys had a blast and I have to admit, I had a lot of fun too! A friend of mine was all too willing to hold Heidi and let me run around with the boys!






















Here's some extra pictures from the day!























Poor David crashed on his bike right when we got there, which is why he's frowning in some of the pictures (he was more embarrassed than anything, didn't even cry, he's so tough!)

Project 52: Glimpses Into Motherhood

Saturday, July 16, 2011

With A Grateful Heart....

July 10th, 2011:
12) Being able to begin my morning in the Word (2 Chronicles 7:12-22)
13) dry weather so I could clean out the container on the porch (it had filled up with dirt, bird seed debris and water and gotten really yucky)
14) feeling rested despite getting very little sleep last night
15) family time---reading to the boys
16) getting more done on my "Forgiveness" page (a scrapbook journal page about forgiveness)
17) watching a young (11 years old) girl be baptized at church
18) communion
19) get together with the Butcher clan and friend Joe at our house after church
20) Bacon wrapped hot dogs!
21) windows down in the car on the way to church

July 11 2011:
22) time on the phone with Pamela
23) getting the deck swept
24) pancakes for dinner
25) pay check
26) finding a recipe online for cooking a while chicken in the crockpot
27) how easy it is to make a fort with a blanket and a table
28) baby girl bobbing to "Psych" theme song
29) God catching me when I tripped over the car seat while holding Heidi

July 12 2011:
30) talking on the phone with my mom
31) the simplicity of cooking a while chicken in the crock pot
32) trip to the library with just Liam
33) summer reading program at the library
34) that baby girl likes showers
35) sweet kissed from Davey-boy
36) the feel of just-damp hair

July 13 2011:
37) M-A-P...Liam sounding out the word and spelling it!
38) chickadees "en mass" at the bird feeder
39) watching the birds with Heidi---seeing her enjoy watching them
40) the peacefulness of a napping child in a darkened room
41) "concerning hobbits"
42) sharing The Lord Of The Ring with Jon though book and screen---tonight, The Fellowship Of The Ring Movie

July 14 2011:
43) Heidi making raspberry and/or clicking sounds
44) Liam getting his brother and himself cereal for breakfast---all by himself!
45) the sounds of the boys playing together nicely.
46) "I am an artist" ---Liam while pulling out paper to draw again
47) chicken enchiladas for dinner
48) warm laundry fresh out of the dryer
49) library books

July 15 2011:
50) Liam singing praise songs he's made up
51) watching Heidi in the last few minutes of her morning slee[
52) the sound of the wind rustling leaves
53) the nutty fragrance of peanut butter
54) Girls Night---playing the kinect (without worrying about bothering neighbors!)
55) that Heidi curls up to sleep in her crib---so cute!
56) Jessie finding an apartment close by----in walking distance!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Project 52: finger painting

So, for a school assignment yesterday, Liam did some finger painting. I haven't indulged the boys in such art very often because of how messy it is. But he seemed to enjoy it!
























Project 52: Glimpses Into Motherhood

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Eucharisteo

Between reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts and simply knowing from my own experience how gratitude can lift up the spirit and make a way toward healing and wholeness...I am endeavoring to start anew in cultivating gratitude in my life.....daily writing in a journal the things I encountered during that day that I am profoundly and deeply thankful for.

My spirit....my mind.....my very core has been so haried, so fretful, so far from peace and joy lately and instead of allowing it to continue, I want to fight. Fight for the simplicity of a thankful, peaceful heart. I want to bestow peace and joy and giving thanks to my children, to help them cultivate the grateful life in their own hearts and minds.

Ann uses the word eucharisteo. Meaning "thanksgiving." Without going back to the book, or doing an internet search on the word, I think it comes from a word Christians have used to describe the night Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and passed it around to His disciples: Eucharist... the root comes from greek: Charis (gift or grace.....gift of grace?).
To cultivate eucharisteo in my life. In my family. In the hearts of my children.

Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. It begins by opening our eyes to the blessings that surround us, to thank the Lord for them. And to take it a step further....to write it down....to remember. Thanksgiving.


And so....today
July 9th, 2011
1) Big Leaf Maples.....all the trees in all their summer greenery.
2) Views of the Mountains
3) Snaking rivers---blue, green, brown; the water reflecting the sky/bank/et cetera
4) Sunshine and blue skies
5) Clouds to watch and imagine with.
6) Brett Williams & In Reach music on the cars Stereo
7) Jon singing along
8) Jon making lunch and dinner today (a break from cooking for me)
9) Sunsets out my dining room sliding door
10) Spaghetti for dinner (one of my favorite meals)
11) Heidi clapping along to her daddy practicing his bass

Thank You, Lord, for these blessings. May my eyes and heart be open to see all the things You have given to me. Amen.

Thursday, July 07, 2011

recent doings

we've been having fun lately! Last weekend, we went to my parent's house for my mom's 50th birthday! It was a very good day of family, sunshine and yummy food!

here's Heidi wearing a dress that was mine when I was a baby. She sure was happy to be at Nana and Papas!






















The boys had so much fun outside. They also were on their best behavior. Liam shocked me by asking to be excused from the table and Ms. Rhonda said my kids were angels! What a nice compliment, however not true at home!












David helped me washing the strawberries for the yummy Red, White and Blueberry salad I made for the 4th of July party!

Project 52: Swimming!

The picture is not great quality because I took it with my rather old cell phone, but I didn't have my camera with me and I couldn't pass up taking a picture of this rather momentous occasion!
My big boy is swimming! Until this last trip to the pool, he'd stick to the stairs or cling to me. I was super excited when he took off across the pool all by himself this time! Yay!