Monday, March 30, 2009

A quick peek

into my home.

Right now:
the dishwasher is swooshing away.
the washing machine is churning a load of clothes.
the dryer is is rumbling.
M's lullaby CD is playing for the second time.
all seems to be quiet in M's bedroom.
H is at the grocery store.

This is my favorite time of day.

I'm not a morning person, so I DRAG myself out of bed at the last possible second. On work mornings, just in enough time to grab a shower before M and H get up. On not-work mornings, when M screeches my name from her bed.

Speaking of M's bed--it is the entire reason I started this post.

She's not in her normal bed.

Oh, no, she's not. She's in her BIG GIRL BED.

About two weeks ago, M decided her favorite color is blue. When we were shopping yesterday (a whole post unto itself), she ask H to paint her bedroom blue, "because it's my fravorite color." H told her no way. He said if we have a baby boy one day, he MIGHT paint it blue then. She proceeded to tell him that she didn't want a baby brother, she wanted a baby sister--who is blue. "Because that's my fravorite color." (just an aside: whenever the word blue is uttered, it's followed by, "Because that's my fravorite color.") Did you get the part that she wants her baby sister TO BE BLUE???

Oh...we are NOT pregnant yet...this is all a theoretical conversation.

Back to blue.

While we were shopping, I spied the CUTEST butterfly sheets ever! They have blue butterflies to satisfy M, green butterflies to match her comforter, and pink butterflies so it's super girly! M is in a phase that is completely contrary to Mommy. I knew better than to tell her I liked them, so I said, "M...why don't we ask Daddy to buy you these sheets?" WORKED LIKE A CHARM! She was so excited about them...she talked about them on the way home, she helped wash them this morning before preschool. After preschool, she helped put them on her big girl bed.

Then proclaimd that her big girl bed was too big. "I'm still a small girl, so I need to sleep in my small girl bed. This big girl bed is TOO big for me."

H and I encouraged her to just sit on the bed and see how she liked it. Then we told her NOT to get off the bed until I got her up from her nap. So she stayed there for two hours...no nap.

I was a little anxious about tonight. She tried to talk me into letting her back in the crib. I stood firm and put her in the big girl bed. She didn't exactly fuss, but it has taken her a while to settle down. I think she's alseep now.

Well, not quite a quick peek. I'll post my P365 pictures sometime tomorrow. I'll also tell the exciting news about her shopping trip yesterday!!!

Let me know if you post a quick peek--whether you keep it quick or not.

MBS: Cherry Blossom

This tender little blossom turns a whole city pink. Doorways are decked with vibrant pink bows, wreaths adorn lamp posts and entryways, trees drip with delicious pink goodness. An entire city unites for 9 days, forgetting troubles and worries. Children laugh and run, faces painted, arms thrown wide as the blossom snow down on them.

This is my absolute favorite time of year around here. When the cherry blossoms are in bloom, the whole world feels alive with hope and excitement. This is truly a little gift from God--a reminder, at the end of a dreary winter, that hope abounds.

For other MBS, visit Tracey.

bsm

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I brought home two of my students Thursday afternoon to make cookies with M and me. We had so much fun. I thought I'd share the recipe with you. This is my all time favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe--add a little dash of cinnamon if you want to spice it up (no pun intended!).

Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 c butter or margerine
1/2 c shortening
1 c firmily packed brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 c (12 oz) semisweet chocolate morsels
1 c chopped pecans

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well.

Combine flour, soda, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. stir in chocolate morsels and pecans. (I only add the pecans when I make these for H.)

Drop dough by scant 1/4 cupfuls onto UNgreased baking sheets; flatten each cookie into a 3 1/2-in. circle, making sure flattened cookies are 2 inches apart.

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Cool slightly on baking sheets; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield: 2 dozen (I've NEVER gotten 24 cookies from this recipe--I usually get about 20, maybe 22 cookies)

Sunday, March 22, 2009

MBS: Fair-ly fun

Our community kicked off its major festival Friday evening and we soaked up as much fun as we possibly could. The whole town is pink, so M dressed the part.

Not only did she fit in by wearing pink, she enjoyed an ice cream just like the thousands of other children there.
And she shared it with her mom!

But only a little bite. She wanted the "most for me!" she said.
This is my MBS. Technically, it's not MY best shot, but it is my favorite from the day. A quick, tight snuggle with Mom before running off to play some more. And technically, probably not a best shot, but what mama doesn't love a snuggle with her favorite girl?
All in all, we had a fair-ly fun day.
For other MBS, check out Tracey's new digs.
bsm

Friday, March 20, 2009

Project 365, Major updating

Holy cow! I didn't realize that I haven't published my P365 pictures since the beginning of the month! Because this month has been SO hectic, there are some holes in P365. But I'm okay with that. I just can't help that life was so busy being lived that I didn't snap a picture. What I do have is a pretty good indication of our life!

I'm going to start and end with today because it was a pretty fantastic day (at least the afternoon and evening were pretty fantastic!)

This afternoon started like this:

Look at that sky! I didn't do any editing at all...and truly, it was probably a deeper blue than I captured.

Ah...back to March 1, 2009 March 2, 2009 (Did you know that you can make snow grow by watering it? Me, either) March 3, 2009 March 4, 2009 March 7, 2009 March 8, 2009 March 9, 2009
March 10, 2009

March 11, 2009
March 12, 2009
March 13, 2009
March 14, 2009
March 15, 2009
March 16, 2009
March 17, 2009
March 20, 2009

And this is how today ended. Today is the first day of my community's biggest festival. I picked M up from H's office and we headed down for the festivities. M LOVED the rides and had a great time "wiggling my (her) hips" to the music on the stage. She waved to everyone and said, "Hi. I'm having fun!" And have fun we did. We stayed until the sun was setting and someone was exhausted. We'll head back downtown tomorrow morning for the pancake breakfast and spend the morning enjoying more festivities.
March truly arrived like a lion. Snow on the first day of March and temperatures in the mid 70's now. This month has brought so much happiness and busy-ness to our lives: building the "treehouse" and going to a wedding, baking and playing, laughing and gardening. March is leaving like a lamb.

PAD 2009
Hosted by Kimberly

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Hello!

Well, hello there. I believe we used to know each other. In fact, I'm pretty sure we were friends.

Then I disappeared from the face of the bloggy-world.

But I'm back.

Hello? Hello?

Oh, good. You're still there.

So, what's been going on? Have you been super busy?

Yeah, I completely understand. We've been so busy.

Doing what, you ask?

Um. Well, just being a family. Cutting back. Spending time together.

Building a new play set for M. It's amazing and we all love it. We are spending hours outside every day, swinging, sliding, and laughing. (I have amazing pictures to share soon!)

Going to my cousin's wedding. Visiting family. Telling stories. Staying up late. Laughing. (I have amazing pictures to share soon!)

Being stressed about some changes at work, almost losing my position at my school, almost NOT losing my position at school, managing to hang on to my position at school. And lots of crying. LOTS OF CRYING. (I do not have amazing pictures of this to share soon. You wouldn't want to see them if I did!)

Making lots of bread in my newly rediscovered bread machine. A loaf a day. Sharing with friends. Trying new flavors. Blessing those around us with the gift of homemade goodness.

Still doing Project 365 even though I haven't posted in a few weeks. I'll get those up soon.

Wishing there was more I could cut out so I could be a home with M more, playing and laughing, cuddling and reading stories.

Looking forward to spring break after next week. A break will do wonders for us. M will actually still have preschool that week, so I'm going to take her every morning and pick her up at lunch time. I have plans to clean and clean and clean and sew. Sew and sew and sew and sew.

So, lost friend. What have you been doing? I hope enjoying the arrival of spring in your part of the world, enjoying your family, telling stories and clinging to the moment so it doesn't slip by too fast. I might be in and out for a while still as I work to find balance in this hectic-ness.

Oh...and I'm going to have to hold off on a give-away for a while. I just need to cut back a tad and let some things go. I need to relieve some pressure and that is one thing that can easily go. Perhaps at the 55oth post I can do something awesome.

Missing you!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

498

This is m 498th post.

I just wanted to tell you we are alive and well around here. We've got lots going on. I'll post a real post in the next couple of days.

I'll have a super great give away for post 500. I'm brainstorming some fun things!!!

Monday, March 2, 2009

It's not my job

to question "why?"

"Why me?"

"Why has it been 12 months and we're not pregnant again?"

"Why can't we have another baby?"

In the fall, I had a pretty intense bout of the drearies. I don't think I was depressed in the actual, clinical sense of the word, but I definitely had a few weeks (okay, maybe more like 6-8 weeks) of some depression-like symptoms. After several weeks and much intense praying (myself and my Bible study girls), the Lord lifted those doubt-filled emotions and thoughts. He sustained me as I hurt for another baby.

I've found that in the past few weeks, those types of thoughts have returned. Yet, I know it's not my job to question the Lord. I'm in a time of tremendous faith growing. The Lord knows my deepest desires. He knows that in the darkest, quietest corners of my heart, I want another baby. It may or may not be in his life plan for me. I struggle with that. I tell him I struggle with that. He already knows...without my telling him.

Today, my heart has been broken. I had some quiet time this morning, so I was checking some blogs I read. As I checked on Kelly's precious Harper, I saw that she had some other blogs posted that needed prayer. As I read the needs of the other precious angels, I realized that as much as I want another baby, there are parents out there who are fighting for their babies' lives. My heart broke for these families whose needs are so great; yet their faith is so strong.

I want to share their websites with you so you can join me in prayer for them.

Gracie who at this very moment may already be in the arms of the Great Physician.

Makenna who was born with a rare chromosomal defect.

Jonah, an infant, already has a brother in heaven and has a rare skin disease. He is one of 8 in a million with this condition. The family and Jonah's doctors are eager for any ideas. Maybe you know something.

Owen was born with only 1/2 of a heart and is waiting for a heart transplant. He and his father have had the nasty stomach bug. His family would seriously use some prayer that his mother and sister are spared and that a heart comes available soon for him.

Brothers and sisters, the need is so great and I am so small. If we join our together and pray for these families, I know we can make a difference. The Lord has a perfect plan for each family, for each child, for each sibling. I can not possibly pretend to know or understand his plan or his time. But I know I can ask for comfort and peace for the families, wisdom for their doctors, compassion for their nurses and other health care providers.

Won't you please join me? Visit these families' sites and let them know you are praying for them. Post about them on your blogs. Let's get their names out there so we can lift them up during these painful times.

In Christ,

MBS: In like a lion

March came roaring in like a ferocious lion this year. It all started Friday evening with rain that didn't stop for one minute until Sunday around 11:00 am--when it turned to snow. Our meteorologist said not to expect it to stick because the ground was already so wet. It stuck.

We haven't seen snow here since 2001. I try to only post one picture for MBS, but to combine posts, here is an entire photo story about our snow.
















And my best shot: a picture of M on our "snow walk."

I sure hope the end of March is as meek as a lamb.
For other MBS, visit Tracey.
bsm

Sunday, March 1, 2009

SNOW DAY

Believe it or not...school is canceled tomorrow for a snow day.

In middle Georgia. In the SOUTH.

All because today looked like this:


I'm thankful. So very thankful.

M got to really enjoy the snow today.

"Let's go for a snow walk!"

H and I laughed together like school children.

Our neighborhood is breathtakingly beautiful today.

I get an unexpected day to enjoy M.

Project 365, Week 9

I remember giving myself the challenge of perspective this week. That didn't work out so well for me, as I seem to have had a sky fetish this week!!!

Saturday, February 21, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009

Monday, February 23, 2009

Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 Thursday, February 26, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009Believe it or not, every single picture is significant. Even though there are multiple pictures of the sky, each one is special because of the time of day, the place from which the picture was taken, the memory associated with the image.

PAD 2009
Hosted by Kimberly