When Plan B is Best

Nobody signed up for my first attempt at art class.

There. I said it. I was so disappointed. I even cried.

Yes, I cried. Is that weird?  I thought it was.

I asked the Mr., "What's the deal? Why am I so sad about this?"

The obvious response, "Because this is important to you."

This past year has been a recovery effort--recovering creativity, recovering dreams.

So when I try something and it "fails," the first thing my heart hears is the enemy's voice saying,

"See, I told you so. Give it up. Nobody cares. It doesn't matter."

At first, I was ready to chuck the whole idea out the window.

How very mature.

It took me a few days to dig myself out.

Sometimes we have die to our own ideas to make room for God's.

I fought back the lies and held my dreams loosely.

I now have a class of two.

Jacob and Josie are the most committed, enthusiastic,

 and eager art students I could ever ask for.

It's our favorite subject.

As you can see, sometimes even Gabby can't resist joining the fun.

I love this time together more than words can say.

I may not have the class I had imagined, but this class still matters.

 It matters because the gifts God gives are important, 

even for a class of two.

We'll see...I might open up this art class idea again someday.

After all, God didn't say "no."

It was a "not yet."  

Carpet Face Prayer Days

You could tell it was a Monday.

I did optimistically take some school pictures.

See how hard they work.

Isn't writing time at the park fun?

Let me tell you, these pictures are false advertising.

They don't  honesty convey the thoughts and attitudes of the day.

I need pictures that say this:

"I don't feel good."

"I'm tired."

"Do I have to do this?"

"Can I have a break?"

"Why can't I do it later?"

"Can I skip this part?"

"I'm starving."

"My hand is tired."

"Are we almost done?"

Truth is, I felt the same way. 

"Do I have to do this?"

So there I was today, laying on the bedroom floor at 5:00 pm,

 praying for just a little bit of joy to finish out the day.  

Only God could redeem the mess we had made of the previous 8 hours.

Some days are like that.

Carpet face prayer days.

~ ~ ~

Most days we have family devotions after supper.  

 Let's just stop right there, lest you think too highly of that statement.  

It's rarely as lovely as we would like it to be.

But there is this new thing I love:

 the prayer jar.

Each stick in the jar has a prayer request:

"Grandma and Grandpa"

"Orphans"

"Ethiopia"

"More opportunities to show love"

"More faith"

"Manny P."

We sit on the couch and pass the jar, 

each person taking as many sticks as they'd like to pray for.  

Then around the room we go.

I'm not going to lie.

It's a beautiful thing.

Beautiful enough to redeem the mess we had made of this day?

Yes, indeed.

Just one hour after my carpet faced prayer for joy,

Jacob prays in his own words,

"God, give our family love and joy, now, and for the rest of the day."

Amen?

AMEN.

This was the answer to my prayers.

This was my joy.

Goodbye 40

I'm sorry, Hallmark, but homemade is just way better.

Then again, sometimes store bought is pretty good too.

And I do love a creative birthday present

that I can watch all year long!!!

Granted, I may have to stay up into the wee hours of the night to be creative because I have a new full time job homeschooling these 4 extraordinarily awesome people.

And the icing on the cake?
I'm going to teach kid's art classes in my home!
Going to have to clean up this mess first...

And how about a little portrait work on the side?

I can hardly wait!!!
Goodbye 40. Hello 41.

LET'S HAVE SOME FUN!!!!!

Heat Wave

What do you do when it's too hot to be outside 

and the brother is sick so you have to stay home all day?

MAKE STUFF!!!

Thanks to our Pinterest addiction, we have plenty of inspiration.

Hanna started off the fun by glitzing up her chargers.

Really?

Well, I guess we won't get them confused anymore.

That must have wet her appetite,

because before you can say "hot glue gun" we were whipping up a crayon storm.

Crayons? Check.
Canvas? Check.
Hot glue gun? Check.
Blow dryer? Check.
Three girls? Check.

We had everything we needed right here at home.

Perfection!

Hum...wonder what they'll create tomorrow?

~ ~ ~

Since we are having so much fun with the girls today,

why not throw in another one of their favorites:

Kid History videos.


My kids quote these videos all the live long day.

This one is a household favorite...

I can't explain it, but it's funny stuff.

FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACT!

For My Babies

 Hanna

Gabby

Jacob

 Josie

YOU are what makes my Mother's Day happy!

If I could sing, I'd sing this for you.

My heart is yours.

LOVE,

Mom

~ ~ ~

One more thing...

Happy Mother's Day,

Mom.

I love you too!

One Glorious Day

When a glorious long awaited spring day like yesterday finally comes, 

I just can't be inside. Especially if it's Sunday. 

Growing up we were not allowed to do much of anything on Sundays, but my Dad loved to go for a ride in the car.  Many times it was a combo--a ride to one of his childhood haunts where we would climb out of the car AND go for a walk.  This one place in particular stands out in my memory as VERY exciting.  Okay, family... I was pretty little and easily impressed, but was this not the most thrilling Sunday afternoon destination?

I don't remember much about this place but for the crossing of the stream.  There was this old remnant of a bridge and in order to cross the stream you had to shimmy sideways across a narrow metal beam.  You can't see it well in the picture, but there was a rusty rail to hang onto. Look at my Mom--I love it!  She never wore pants for anything.

I don't know if I ever crossed by myself.  In my memories, I'm always riding on Dad's back--terrified and excited as he confidently made his way across.  I loved it.  I loved Sundays.  I'm sure I complained that it was an excruciatingly boring day.  But looking back, it really was my favorite day because we were always all together.

Last night, after I tucked Jacob into bed, he was sad because we didn't get to spend much time together during the day. Now don't feel too bad. He choose to spend the afternoon playing with his neighborhood friends.  He just gets sentimental at bedtime.  It's an effective ploy to get me to stay a little longer and rub his back and tell him stories.  So there we sat in the dark and I told stories about walking down to the corner Dime Store with Julie and getting a whole bunch of candy with just one quarter.

Then he says out of the blue,

"Do you miss your Dad?"

"Yes, Jacob, I miss him very much."

More than words can say.

But here's the thing.  

It's only temporary.  

We'll all be together one long awaited day,

 more glorious than the most beautiful spring day you can imagine. 

We'll walk together and hold hands again, I just know it. 

And we'll never ever have to say good-bye.

Lysol Duty

Stomach flu has infiltrated my domestic bliss. 

Please tell me... why does stomach flu always strike my children
in the wee hours of the morning?

I feel like a ticking time bomb.

Can we please talk about something else? 

 Let's think happy thoughts.  

The kids had a break from school last week, so we made plans for some fun.

We were in dire need of some fun. Dire!

So here's what we did.

We packed our bags and ran away to the city.

You wouldn't believe how much luggage was in our trunk for one night away.

Ridiculous. 

You also wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a hotel that will allow six people in one room.

"Hello, we would like a room for six, a pool (of course), and complimentary breakfast, please.
 And it has to be cheap.  But not gross. Thankyouverymuch." 

Mission accomplished.

In fact, we managed to find something for everyone.

The big mall for the big kids.

The slightly disappointing little pool for the little kids.

And the children's museum was a hit for everyone.

Now this adventure weekend was all about the kids,

 but my man made a spontaneous game-changing move.
All I said was "There's that antique place I've been wanting to see!"
and BAM we were there.
Yes, he is that awesome.

The little peeps in the back seat were less than thrilled.

I believe my response was something like this...

"Isn't this a nice surprise for Mommy?  You get to do something you enjoy and now I do too!"

They were not impressed.

Welcome to Lost and Found Antiques.

Do you see anything you like?

Josie had her eye on that little red number.

(for Joy?)

Pretty amazing, huh?

I'd really like to find a big V someday.

 (red S for Shannan?)

Thought long and hard about these crates.

Can never have too many globes.

Can you have too many blog pictures?

Sorry about that.

I just can't help myself.

Remember, I'm trying to escape from my less than pleasant Lysol reality.

I kinda' sorta' need these too.  Maybe next time...

 (for Rebecca?)

Are you drooling yet?

Trays anyone?

I do like fun glasses.

"Hello, is this U-haul?  I'm going to need your largest trailer."

As we walked back to the car Hanna says,
"I think I'm starting to understand why you go to those places.
That was really cool!"  

Of course that may have something to do with the early birthday present she scored.

I scored a present too. I love me a man with an orange 70's desk lamp.

This beauty had to come home with us too. It was love at first sight.

So what would come home with YOU???

Tell me. I'd love to know.


And what did Awesome Dad get?

The city's best burgers.  

Good times, good times.

~Sigh~

Now back to the barf.

Hey Hanna!Thanks for some pics!