Friday's Five

1.  I missed bible study this week.  Someone was complaining ALL morning long about going, so rather than fight it--I watched on-line and she stayed in jammies.  Win/Win.  

2.  Someone had the playdate of the year this week.  These two and their lambies had a great time together.  I got a ton of cleaning out drawers and cabinets done.  I'm on a roll.  I feel like I just want to go through everything before Summer begins and it is coming at us quickly!

3.  We planted some tomatos, strawberries, blueberries, and chilis.  Lets see what this years harvest will yield.  It's fun to water, wait, and see.

4.  This guy turned double digits this week.  Bubba.  Be still my heart.

5.  We all look forward to our Skype chats.  This lady has been gone a while but we're anxiously awaiting her return and praying over her future.

And in the Blink of an Eye. . .

She turned five!!!!

Thanksgiving and her fifth birthday all rolled into one.

It seemed especially fitting because she is definitely one to be thankful for.

Like her mama, she seems to balance things out; ease people.

Her smile and easy going nature just brings about a quite comfortable peace.
And that is a gift I am thankful for.

Her and her Nino.

Love From Nina

Shenanigans with Little and Kendra

Probably the only shot I took that wasn't birthday related.

Her little buddy. Ten days apart.

She is front and center of mom and dad.

Thanksgiving 2014 looked very different from years past.  It was quiet.  It was small.  We weren't all together for the first time in a very long time.  There were some gaps.  There were some small moments of missing.
But there were even bigger moments of peace. Joy. Happiness.  
I am reminded how Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."--Matthew 19:14\

There were certain times throughout the evening, while kids played ball, ran in and out of doors, feasted on the patio, and licked ice cream off plates that I realized they were oblivious to the haunting hurts: dad's friend who passed away six years before, the neighbor who died this summer, but whose husband invited us over, Anthony being with his dad, hurt feelings or pain we adults carry burdened by our pasts. . .the kids missed it all.
They only enjoyed the present, lived it for every little thing it had to offer.
They were thankful in its fullest capacity.
To be five again. . .or at least to live like it.
Try it.
Or die trying.
 

Dad and Dolls

Lene has never been a big doll fan.  She's more a stuffed animal lover.  So you can imagine our surprise when she asked for an American Girl doll for her 11th birtday!  In an age where ipods and  iphones seem to be at the top of the tween wish list, I wasn't disappointed to comply.

We picked a day when E was off work early and headed out to the Grove.  The looks on the girls faces as they entered the multi-leveled store were priceless.  They didn't seem to know where to even begin.  We must have spent three hours in the place.  Even E was contributing to doll discussion and data as Lene contemplated greatly which doll to bring home with her.

Lene finally left with Rebecca, who migrated here from Russia and was an aspiring actress.  Nessa left with baby doll twins.  We celebrated her birthday early since it will fall on Thanksgiving day this year.
I remember when all I wanted was a Cabbage Patch kid many moons ago.  It was a difficult Christmas morning when I received a hand-made doll that wasn't really what I wanted.  But I remember having to be thankful and appreciative because inside I knew it was the right thing to do.  And she grew on me.  But the next year when I got my real Willa Leann?  I will always remember that feeling.  That doll. I hope the same for my girls.  They have their doll.  I don't see this becoming any sort of tradition--it seems unnecessary to have multiple dolls that are similar.  I want my girls, well Lene Bean, at least, to always remember the anticipation and excitement and the feelings this shopping day brought about.

 Funny story:  when we were checking out, one of the girls asked Nessa what the names of her baby were.  She responded, "Bella and Jacob."  The lady said, "Oh, how cute like in Twilight?"  Nessa looked at her and said, "That movie is not appropriate."  Everyone laughed but it's so true.  She likes the names, not because she associates them with a movie.  She's four-years-old for goodness sake!

Who needs the American Girl Cafe when you can eat at Chilis?  

I sure hope they always remember this, because I know mom and dad sure will!

The Gifts of Ordinary Days

Days are passing with excessive speed and I'm trying to take it all in.  Five more work days, five more opportunities to bring Lene home to have lunch with me, five more weeks before another school year is in the books.  Yet, even with all that is happening, I am filled with an incredible peace.  I am delighting in my mothering moments and have finally leaned so completely into God that I'm not sure where I start or where He ends. As it should be, I suppose.

Trips to the desert have become memories in the making lately.  Tis the season for pony rides and birthday parties for a favorite four year old.  And letting go a little for Lene to make fun ten-year-old memories with her friends. . .

Wine walks and wise words adorn the forefront of my mind as opportunities loom about me and friends rally around to encourage me in this change of life I am about to encounter.

Outside reading sessions, healthy smoothies, imaginative, creative play embrace us.  Hearts break wide and a farewell dinner of sorts takes place under the stars as we send our Miss Sharon off to Idaho to live closer to her people. 

Ordinary days filled with extraordinary ways.
Embracing it all.
Don't blink.
It will be gone too soon.

Ten Days Until Christmas Eve

How in the world is it already December 14th? I don't get how the time flies so fast! We've been moving at warp speed over here with another birthday celebration, a bad back on my end, and super long hours at work for E. Yet through it all, I feel more peace about the holiday season than I have in years! I'm not sure what about it has changed, but the simplicity of the season that I've allowed myself to undertake is right on the brim of perfection. Last week I celebrated with the moms from my church. We talked about the JOY this season brings and it has helped to keep my mind focused on the fact that JOY is a choice. I choose JOY even on the hard days.
Last week I made it to a couple days of an Advent retreat that the church offered, and I think because I kept the mindset I would go if I could. . .it took the stress out of making it happen. I'm finding this approach opens me up to enJOYing the experience at hand much more than when I force things to work out just so.

 Somewhere in all that I woke up to the worst back pain I've had in a long time. It was so bad I opened the house for my book club friends and then took myself to the doctors, crying the entire way. I hadn't been in that much physical pain in a long time. I love that the doctor was so thorough ordering blood work, xrays, and ultrasounds due to my past kidney issues. And I loved that I had to just pause and work the appointments out for the good of my health. Everything else: shopping, wrapping, festivities. . .was second to figuring out what ailed me. God slowed me down to really savor the smallest things this season. Things like: tamale making, gingerbread cookie making, awards assemblies, lego building sessions, sewing with the help of E for my girl, birthday dinners, Christmas Celebrations with friends, and early morning masses where I always seem to run into someone I know. So much goodness packed right into my regular daily routine. . .bad back or not. There is just too much beauty NOT to notice.

 And then as is usual with the holidays. . .thoughts drift to loved ones lost, friends fighting for life, and the harmony of these two realizations that bring me to choose JOY. . .in ALL circumstances.

Because really, is there any other way to live?