February 14, 2012

Valentine's Day came and went. . .but not without a lot of preparation of showing our love! Ernie knows roses are not my thing--but sunflowers bring sunshine to our world and I love them!

 

I spent some time creating the perfect little place mats--just like my mom used to make before her Valentine's party hit the ginormous size.  I prepared the same meal she used to as well: lasagna.  Everything about this year reminded me of all those years my mom spoke her love into our souls with our quaint, home made family Valentine's dinner. Her legacy--lives on in the traditions I create for my children. Cool, huh?

The kids did the baking, frosting and decorating to pass out to family and friends.  I'm still finding pretty, pink, sprinkles all over the floor.  But so worth it!

Lene and I both received cards in the mail.  My BFF was on it this year!  The cards were adorable and represent to me what Valentine's is all about:  taking the time, using your resources, to reach out to those you love.  Anjalene and I were both squealing like school girls when these showed up in our mailbox.  Hopeful we get to deliver ours to them on Thursday. . .

One gift accompanied their meal. Simple yet appreciated and meaningful.  I love when things work out that way!

I had to pull out my shirt and wear it just for him.  The one who called me and asked if his sweetheart wanted any sweet tea before he came home from work.  Smiling.  I'm a blessed woman.  Creating a culture of unconditional love in this house is what I'm after.  Days like yesterday make it so easy.  The memory of these days should carry me through the bad days.  Always.  Be vigilant--take it all in.   
"The days are long but the years are short. . . "

February 5, 2012

Love is in our air. . .

I saw this idea, here.

I love that we are able to come here anytime to write a message of love or affirmation to each other.

This is our family verse that accompanies our mission statement--

it hangs clear as day now we all just need to memorize it.

Again, I saw this idea at the same site. 

I love the simplicity of it.

I love that we can do this for each holiday.

I love that we can use what we have at home.

I'm still waiting on the buttons to be spray painted pink.

I was banned from the garage with spray paint, no idea why...lol.

I've been trying to change out my candles and bring the soft glow of flames to our nights together.

For the longest, I had candles as decorations; however, they lasted forever because they were never used! Now I want the mood of our home to be one that is soft and encouraging, and pretty.

Candles seem to do that for me.

One of my favorite decorations of all times.

My son and I made this together at the Sawdust Factory.

This place is so much fun and allows the kids (or you) to be as creative as you want with all the supplies on hand!

These Valentines are so sweet and pretty, I mean, most things Precious Moments are, right?

These are going to school for Valetine's parties.

The back of a few of them say God's name--that's all right at a public school, isn't it?

Sure hope so, because they are going out soon!

While love is definitely in the air around this happy, little home,

so is my heart filled as I've just returned from a Mom Heart Conference with Sally Clarkson.

I have so much to process and pray about, so much to share.

I will save these for another day as I have a Super Bowl to snack at. . .I mean watch...just kidding: Bubba's fever is back so we stayed home and watched a movie instead.

June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

paHappy Father's Day, Grandpa!

We love you!

Thank you for shaping who we will become.

May 6, 2011

Another reason to get together with my familia. . .

Cinco de Mayo!

Thanks to Mom: tacos, rice and beans were on the menu--

made especially with love for her favorite family members.

That would be us.

My brothers capturing memories on our phones because I forgot the camera.

It may not have looked the best but Mom's first attempt at flan was a delicious one!

Just another extraordinary day--so blessed in so many ways!!

May 1, 2011

This little girl had a bad day at school on Friday.

It seems a boy in the class assaulted her and another classmate with a barrage of insults about their, "black skin," "black people belong in Africa," "black people are poor and they die young."

My daughter has never been called black before.

She has pointed out herself at times that she and daddy are darker than Bubs and I, but the observation usually stopped there.  God made us all different had been our usual response on those occasions.

We didn't intentionally set out to keep her heritage from her--

It just hasn't come up in a big sense, until Friday.

I remember when I was first pregnant and found out she was a girl. My mother-in-law promised she would teach me how to do cornrows (I just had to google to see if it was rows or rolls--seriously).  

I remember thinking in that moment, "Oh my gosh!"

That was my first revelation that we would in fact be raising biracial kids.

I simply hadn't thought about it before and I didn't dwell on it either. 

As it turns out she was born with beautiful curls that need a little moroccan oil to smoothe--

but she has the best wash and wear hair I've ever seen!

Sidenote:  I just read this post aloud to Ernie, who corrected me to cornrolls.  "No, I googled it--look." I just schooled him!! It was funny!!  We both had a good laugh!

I digress.  It seems that Ernie's family is a box of crayons in terms of skin color and hair types.  

We all just fit right in so the kids have never really questioned it. We have a tendency to see people for who they are not based on the color of their skin. I'm mixed. He is mixed. Aren't we all, really?

Lene recounted the days events to both of us.  

She didn't seem especially angry or sad.  

She told the boy his words were hurtful and he laughed at her. 

So began Dad's explanation of their heritage. 

And then he told her his skin is in fact, black.

She shook her head. "No.  No. No."

He spoke some more about their Creole roots.

She seemed perplexed. "You mean I'm African American?"

He continued speaking, this time about my background.

She let it all sink in.

"Martin Luther King fought for the rights of black people.  For me?"

Yes, sweetness.

All for you.

You were made in God's own image and likeness and you are perfect in His eyes.

And because sometimes you don't know what to do, all you can do is pray.  

We prayed for this little boy and all other people who judge people based on the color of their skin.

I can't believe we still have to deal with this type of thing in 2011.

It saddens me that my kids have to deal with it at all.

The discussion continues between Ernie and I--should we have armed our daughter with information to prepare her for a situation like this?  Would it have been better if she could declare her Spanish, Mexican, Native American, Creole, Irish, and German roots?  

Did we handle this the right way--was it too much information, or not enough?

I don't know.  I simply don't know.
I just have to be confident that He does. . .