Daddy's Home!

Making it Happen ...

It's snowing here in Central Virginia ... again. We have had years go by without any real accumulation to speak of, but already we are on track to set records for snowfall.

Virginia is not equipped for handling such frequent and large amounts of snow, so this type of weather always results in the dreaded ... SNOW PANIC!!!

My New York friend, Kim L., absolutely loves SNOW PANIC! DON'T-CHA KIM?

Speaking of being ill-equipped ... that reminds me of the good ol' days when we first moved here. Me and my very Texas friend Dusty (oh yes ... her even her name is Texan) would strap those baggies and hair bands around the ankles of our little princess girls and head outside with our laundry baskets and strips of leftover linoleum. Ahhhhh. Now those were the days.

So anyhoo, what I was saying was, basketball is cancelled, church is cancelled, school is cancelled, piano practice, guitar, dance class ... you get the picture?

So since we have no hand in the weather or the changes that it causes in our day-to-day life, we are choosing to have a grand ol' time around here and enjoy every minute of it!

O.K. the reality is that there are A LOT of minutes where I seriously consider pulling their my hair out, strand by strand.

But in between *those* minutes we do try to have fun :)

Our weekend will include but is not limited to ...

Movies, snowflakes (the paper kind - look here!), naps, tents (the blanket kind - look here!), books (reading out loud and to myself), fingernail clipping (an Olympic event around here), laundry, more movies, games (farkle, imaginiff, zingo, wii), more naps, and eventually sledding and snowman making which will definitely lead to more laundry ... and EATING.

The eating and the preparing for eating consumes a large portion of our day when we are all here together. Prepping, enjoying and cleaning it all up is quite time consuming ... but a blessing nonetheless.

Our weekend will also include but is not limited to ...

(click for recipes)

Spicy Shredded Beef Over Rice

Banana Pudding (the easy way)

Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy (I don't use a recipe, but just in case my NY friends needed one)

Heavenly Hash (thanks Robin!)

Chili & Cornbread

Homemade Snowcream

Meatballs, Buffalo Chicken Dip, Veggies & Chocolate Chip Cookies (Superbowl food)

That's how are we are making the best of it ... How 'bout you?

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

-Isaiah 1:18

Thankfulness ... Day 1 & Day 2

Leslie and Lisa have both linked to Rebecca at Rebecca Writes as they embark on a month of Thanksgiving. I love this! While I have so much to be grateful for, I am not always best at having a grateful heart and purposing my life to share that thanksgiving.

Here are three ways that Rebecca has listed for you to join her in this Month of Thanksgiving:

• Mention something you’re thankful for in the comments here and I’ll included it in one of my thanksgiving posts, or
• Email me to tell me what you’re thankful for and I’ll include it in a post, or
• Post your thankful thought(s) on your own blog, send me the link(s), and I’ll link to your post(s). If you plan to make your thanksgiving posts daily during the month, let me know that and you won’t need to send me daily links.

Although I am already a day behind (another reason to be grateful for grace) I am hoping to post daily with a thankful heart.

For Day 1 & 2 combined, I am grateful with an overflowing heart for the last two weeks. Bringing home sweet Clara to such a loving family and then having such precious time to spend together has been such a rich blessing. Having a husband who has relished this time as much as I do AND never batted an eye when HGTV comes on in our bedroom at 2:23 in the morning (to keep me awake during a feeding) has made this time even sweeter.

Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting;
Fill me with Thy grace.

Random Pieces of LIfe

• Samuel was given the game ball on Saturday ... best defense. For some reason, seeing his name with the date on that dirt-orange Little League Baseball brought tears to my eyes.

• Emma and Hannah are addicted to Rosetta Stone Spanish.

• I am 34+ weeks pregnant and I am certain that this baby no longer fits inside my body.
  

• I am also certain that I have spoken these exact same words in 2007, 2002, 1997 and 1995.

• Emma declared this past Sunday afternoon that she was bored and she wanted to do some Math. She is her father's clone.

• A dear friend had her baby about 10 weeks early. Sweet Abigail was due right about the same time as our little girl. I had the privilege of visiting with her and taking a few pics.

• Samuel and Hannah began piano lessons with a new teacher this week. She lives in a precious older home with a precious front porch where Samuel swings on her porch swing while he waits. She is so absolutely precious herself that I don't even think I care if she can play the piano.

• Chris is taking the girls to D.C. this weekend for the Rebelution Conference.

• This baby is getting too big ... too fast.

It's been a long time comin'!

It's been over twelve years since we have had a baby girl in the house but it looks like we get to bring out the pink again!!!

We are having a girl!

The Ritual

Every night, before I go to bed, I make my rounds through each of the bedrooms.

Careful to go unnoticed, I tuck and wrap, rearrange little heads and reposition little legs. The chubby baby arms and legs that dangle through the crib slats always get me most.

I bend down low and lay my cheek close to theirs. The methodical sound of their deep rest is so comforting. At the end of hard days, I need this sort of affirmation.

Because it is dark and quiet, I can allow the tears to fall. The day's end is full of exhaustion and the remembering is sometimes overwhelming.

Will they forget my shortcomings? The harsh words or cutting glances?
Will they remember that I praised their efforts and genuinely enjoyed their presence?

So my tears turn to prayer and I am once again begging for grace to fill in the gaps.

These nighttime rituals have been a part of my life for over 14 years. At times I stop at their doorways and with my eyes closed, I visit the day where that room is void of childhood slumber.

I can hardly conjure up the image, but even the glimpse is breathtaking.

And the grace? I thank God it is sufficient.

Pieces of a Snow Day

*Baked Potato Soup
*Apple Pie
*Hot Chocolate
*Algebra on Sunday Afternoon (anticipating snow holiday)

*Gloves too small
*Coats too big
*Big girl wears her momma's boots
*The house is quiet

*Grilled Cheese
*Popcorn
*More hot chocolate
*Daddy leaves for work ... late :)

*Bird tracks in the snow
*Needing more patience with snow gloves
*Quiet is gone
*What a blessing to be warm!

Happy Birthday Hannah! (again already?)

Apparently, while I have been busy trying to finish one measly post and spin the plates of life, my daughter has had the audacity to turn 14.

The nerve.

It has also become apparent that there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

So in an effort to be a good sport, today we will celebrate ...

A celebration of 14 years of motherhood (me! Can you believe it! 14 years!).

A celebration of Hannah's 14 years of life, where she has grown into a precious young lady that has shown a genuine love for God and His Word. She has also grown into a size 8 1/2 shoe and can consume six donuts and/or an entire pizza at one sitting.

Enjoy your days of that mock-speed metabolism, sister. They are fleeting.

We have a special evening planned for Hannah that I will write about this weekend (it's a surprise!). Samuel was pretty sure that if the surprise did not include inflatable jump houses, it would be a real flop.

We'll see what Hannah says ;)

I started this journey of motherhood with a great deal of joy but an even greater level of fear. At each crossroads I have been graciously met by the Lord and given such an abundant provision of wisdom to make the right choices as her mother.

Often, I have neglected that provision and opted for my very own foolproof and much easier method of self-sufficiency ... AKA: I royally messed up.

And even then, I was met with another heaping dose of grace. If there is anything that 14 years has given me, it is the precious hindsight that comes with making daily history (this too shall pass) and also, the necessary reminder that I need a Savior. Being brought to my knees and lifting empty hands before God in desperation over my own sin and inadequacies as her momma

... Well, I can't think of a better reason to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Big Girl. I thought being made a mother 14 years ago was the greatest thing about your birth. Holding you as a new creation in our lives and holding our breath in awe of His workmanship still marks my memory in a fresh and vivid way.

But God was creating new life in more than one way. We have so many reasons to be grateful. I will always count your birth as the beginning of mine.

Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless
one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." -John 3:3

Bumps

Our school year is going really well. Homeschooling has proven to be a very rewarding and blessed gift in our life. It has also proven to be the most challenging thing I have ever done.

In my life.

At each bump in the road, when it seems as if apathy and frustration are taking root, I find myself asking, "Is it me?" or "Is it them?" The answer is always the same ...

Both.

Since we (the children and I) both exist in the same state of depravity, then we both tend to cycle through seasons of selfishness, which always seems to be the basic root of our discontent.

I am grateful for these seasons. They bring about a revival in our relationships with one another. They require serious heart examinations which reveal (again) how desperate we are for Jesus. We are then graced with the freshness of His mercy in our life.

Thank you God for the well-placed bumps in the road.

Thank you for the precious time together that we are given each day. Seated around our school table with the morning sun pouring in, reading your Word and lifting up prayers to your throne, we are reminded ...

It is well.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy

Have you ever wondered if you should have another baby?

Yeah. Me too.

Remember When

Having a big girl fills my heart up in an unspeakable way. Her pursuit of adult conversation and her desire to bring me joy through little acts of service are God's precious grace gifts in my life.

It does not make me sad one bit, either.

Nope. Not at all.

Especially if I don't stare too long into her baby brother's eyes.

That are the exact same shade of blue ...

Happy Birthday Son.

Six years ago today, I became the mother of a son.

There are still not words to describe the profound beauty of the relationship between the mother and her son. What a rush of emotions I have, with the vivid memory of holding him in my arms for the first time ... knowing that his dependence on me as his mother would be such a fleeting season.

As his mother, I am seeking balance. Nurturing a boy, while seeking God in the mystery of shaping him into a man who walks in the truth.

I have embraced the mystery and revel in the privilege to raise a young man for the kingdom of God.

My heart is full ... again.

Thankful ...

Sweets ...

Sweetness ...

Togetherness ...

Rest ...
His Perfect Provision ...

A Child's Heart ...
A Rich Heritage ...

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39

A Day in the Life

Busy times. Too busy for deep thoughts that get written down. Of course, I still have deep thoughts ... but they are getting buried by the daily task of raising/wiping/changing/correcting/loving/praying/and teaching these blessings of mine!

We are preparing for a very lazy Thanksgiving break and a much anticipated trip from Gigi! THREE CHEERS FOR GIGI! BRING ON THE GIGI! WE MISS GIGI!

Sorry, but it has been a mighty long time since we have had some Gigi around here.
The following montage is but a small glimpse of "A Day in the Life" but I love to mark the days of our life with truth. Some of these pictures are a bit more accurate in portraying the delicate balance between harmony ... and lunacy.

Which is what makes this whole cotton-pickin' thing so much fun! Here we go:

Our kitchen/dining area/homeschool room make a loop. This encourages all sorts of inappropriate running and chasing and it most always involves a barking dog. Please take note of the eyeglasses, which belong to an unnamed American Girl doll. Please do not take note of the messy counter tops.

We'll call this set: "Monday Mayhem"

This set is titled: "What are Helmets?"

We moved on to the backyard because it was finally a day when the air was not BONE-CHILLING cold.

This trio of photos is called: "We Love to Pretend That We are Orphans"
(I try not to take this personally)

We made homemade suet cakes for the birdies last week for science. Hopefully, the birds will think it looks appetizing.
Emma and Hannah were in a production of the Sound of Music a couple of weekends ago. They participated in a small and free! local children's theater. It turned out to be a really fun show, but I was not able to get any pictures.

Hannah was an extra nun and her habit included the head covering, so when I saw her during breaks, her hair was doing some odd things. She avoided me and my camera like the plague.

Emma was a catholic school kid (all kids get a part, so parts are often created) and this is the only picture I have.
No montage of mine would be complete without pictures of Benjamin.

Let's call this group: "I Smell Like Honey-Nut Cheerios & Heaven"
I'll leave you with a couple of shots from school today.

We could call this: "Not Easily Distracted"
Yes. My kids ride without helmets and my baby chews on electrical cords.

We live on the edge.