Therapy....

I have been under some stress the past few months, and it all came to a head this week. I really just needed to get out of the house, running errands wasn't going to qualify. I need to just have a moment to my self, hard to do when you are all are on spring break. We haven't done anything exciting, we have been low key, but today I just needed to have some fun and breathe.

I told the girls we were going to the beach. Not to swim, because the water would be cold, but they could walk along in the water. We packed a lunch and set out. I took a long way about to the beach. I needed to feel like I wasn't going to the same place, I needed somewhere new. So we went to a different beach than normal. (I have to laugh, because if you really think about it, it really is just one long shore line with different names along the way. So it really isn't a different beach.)

As we walked up the board walk and the ocean view came into sight, I took a big long breath and exhaled. The sun on my back, the ocean view, and now as I walked closer, the sounds of the waves made my shoulders relax. Immediately, I felt like everything was lifted, I had no worries.

We found a spot to sit on our towels and ate lunch. I sat and watched the waves, one crashing after another, the sound was extremely peaceful. The girls seemed to be relaxing as well. I watched them, and they seemed to not know how the beach was effecting them. Their shoulders seem to be more relaxed, I could see them, starring into the open and getting lost in their thoughts of nothing. They needed to recharge as much as I did.





I am not a fan of getting into the water and coming out cold, salty, sticky and getting sandy. But, I absolutely love going to the beach and sitting still. Listening to the waves. No one calls my name. I forget all the chores that need to get done.
I love watching my girls twirl and dance across the sand, in and out of the water.
It all brings me peace.







I am also realizing that I love being behind the camera and taking pictures, esp. of my girls. It too relaxes me. I don't think about the sheets that didn't get washed or that I have piles of pine cones in back yard that need to be put into bags before tomorrow. I look into the camera and capture time for just a moment.








This was a great day, all the girls came home recharged, relaxed, and clear minded.








I am hoping to go back this weekend after church with my hubby. He too needs some much needed therapy!

Random Shots

This is our cat, Chester. We call him a cat dog, because he can acts like a dog more than cat. He must greet every guest and say goodbye them. He begs for food, his favorite is french fries. LOVES boxes!! He sits in them, tears them apart with his teeth and loves to sleep in them. His current favorite box is a shoe box in my closet.









This was taken on a dock in Georgia this past fall. It has three generations of hands. I love seeing the ages in the hands.








I set my camera setting to sport, so I could take fast rapid shots. My intention was to get her after she was done and have her hair be fluffy and full around her face. So seeing this was a surprise but, oh so much fun!








One of GOD's simple beauties.










Laci had walked down to check mail with me, and I thought how neat would it be to get our picture of our shadow with us holding hands. So that is what I did.


I know they say the camera add 10 pounds to a person, is that the same with a shadow?

Blessing that runneth over

It started out as a normal Monday, everyone sorted their laundry, I went to the kitchen to get my grain ready to make a loaf of bread, the girls are in the classroom getting their books ready for school, a load of laundry is started and I am only 15 minutes late to getting into the classroom. Not bad.

I decided this morning to not take the time to get into our Bible study but to pray for our day and the others who are on our prayer board. Afterwards, we did our pledge, gathered and gave our family hugs and sat down to start math.

I remembered that I needed to call the orthodontist to see if I could get Heidi an appointment being that she had a bracket come off her braces. I went and got the phone and they know that I really prefer the earliest time available, which is typically 9:00 to 9:30 in the morning.So when my sweet receptionist asked if I could get there at 9:30a.m. I look at the clock it is 9:05a.m. and tell her yes, that wouldn't be a problem. I am thinking oh grateful am I to be able to in so quickly. Little did I know that it truly was ALL GOD's timing.

The girls and I quickly put shoes on our feet. As they gather the math books that were needed, I am trying to get the van key and grab my purse. As the girls start to head out of the garage to get into the car, is when my ears hear two of them yell, "MOM, THERE IS WATER ALL OVER IN THE GARAGE!!!"

I am two steps behind them and when I get to the doorway, I click the garage door to open and look down to see the area in front of the washer and dryer are wet, and trail runs down the inside of my garage and out onto my driveway that then goes down into the street gutter. Mine you that the rug in front of the dryer is about 5'x5 and the trail is some areas are 2'-3' feet wide.

I quickly stop the washer, step back into the house quickly call my husband and tell him, I need him and I'm about to walk out the door to an appointment that is needed.
He has all of us girls check all the faucets in the house to make sure there isn't any water leaking anywhere else. He informs to go to my appointment and he is on the way.

As we left the house, Iam shaking my head in disbelief that there was that kind of water trail down the driveway. I wondered how long did that go on? How long would it that have gone if I hadn't had to leave for my appointment.
I immediately started thanking my Heavenly Father.

Thank you Lord for letting me get an appointment so quickly so I could discover the running water. I know for sure that if I hadn't had that appointment to go to, that water would have run at least an hour before I would come to check the laundry.

Thank you Lord for having my husband not be in a meeting and letting him answer his phone so quickly. Thank you Lord for allowing him to be able to leave work so quickly to get home.

I then prayed that it would be something simple, please Lord don't let it be a broken pipe. Let it be an easy fix.

We made it to Heidi's appointment on time and was out in about 20 minutes. Thank you Lord for letting that not take long. We haven't had a long wait at the orthodontist, and I am grateful for that, especially on this day.

When we got back home the girls go to the classroom to finish and start new subjects. I step out into the garage to check to see what is the problem. My loving husband is standing by the washer with his white sneakers on and his dress pant legs tucked into his dress socks. I am grateful for a careful, well dressed, handyman.

My handyman informs me that the machine is not knowing when to stop filling the barrel, so therefor it keeps filling and is running over. He would call around to see if he could find someone to come out and tell us if it broken or if can be fixed and if it is worth it. I know that sometimes the pieces that are broken cost as much as getting something new. I am praying that is not the case. I am still praying that it is something easy.

We will find out on Wednesday morning.

Throughout the day I found more things I was thankful for in this scenario. I am grateful that this is the one time my laundry is in the garage and not in the house. Some of you might remember the issue we had a few years back with the clog pipe and rice and the water that went everywhere in the house. I had flashbacks of water going everywhere in the house and thanked GOD for things I didn't have to replace.

I thought of how many time have I started laundry as I walked out the door to go run an errand or two. My husband has asked me not to that and have snickered at him. For a wife, doing a load of laundry while your running errands is multi-tasking. I am very thankful that this did not happen when I ran an errand. Again, how long would it have just run?

I can only imagine what my front driveway would have and must have looked like, Niagara Falls, with the water flowing. With that thought I again go back to thanking
GOD for that orthodontist appointment.

The girls and I went to the laundry mat today to do laundry. I am thankful to be teaching my girls at home and not have to take time off to go do laundry. (We girls really needed certain laundries to be done.)

I am thankful that I don't have to go to a laundry mat every weekend to get clean laundry. Although, I am thankful to have that available to me. I am very thankful to have a washer and dryer at home with running water. How many people in America who don't have that luxury? How many people in the world don't have that luxury? I am so blessed to be able to step into my garage and do laundry when ever I need something to be cleaned. Thank you LORD for blessing me with things to be cleaned.

I have thought of this verse a few times in the past few days and have to once again snicker.

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will poured into you lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Luke 6:38

One would not think there would be so many blessing that would over flow from a washer out onto the driveway. But, I am ever so thankful!

Young Ladies, Shotguns and lots of prayers!

As you have seen my girls aren't so little anymore. My girls are becoming young ladies and I have noticed different changes in some of them, more then others.
I have one that is slightly becoming more aware of her clothing presentation, more in front of her friends, than boys. Boys are still stupid and they don't make sense. I am fine with that because I know that this won't last long. I do believe that it will be the boys who notice my girls before my girls notice the boys.

All of my ladies are very young at heart and very innocent. With the world telling young girls to grow up at the age of 7, or younger, I am glad that all my girls still play with American Girl dolls and Barbies. I m fine with them playing Polly Pockets and yet they still thinking nothing of playing trains and cars or looking forward and saving their money for a future trip to Lego Land to get some new Lego's.

My girls are easy going, and have the love for many different things. They know the importance of spending time with their cousins and family is a treat. They have the love of playing outdoors, and know how to entertain themselves with a jump rope, umbrella and a scooter. They can come up with the best forts in the driveway. Anything that is in the garage and that is not dads is free to use for the forts or for play. My girls know how to use their imagination so well that I sometimes I don't get it, but, makes perfect sense to them. You know what, that is what really matters!

So when I see the pictures I take with my camera and look at the results, I shouldn't be so blown away, but I am.

They aren't so little anymore. They are beautiful young ladies! Young ladies that love the Lord. I'm not the only who sees this. I have had more family and friends ask me lately if my husband has a shot gun, because we're gonna need it?

I smile and say, "Yes he has a couple of guns." But, in actuality, that just makes me pray even harder. I pray for wisdom for my husband and I, for my girls to make wise choices when it comes to guys, and for the guys that approach my girls. That those young men will have been raised in a good Christ lead home and they will know how to treat my girls properly.



Now to meet those young ladies.






Heidi
6th grade
12 years old
4'8 1/4

Loves having her Papa teach her guitar. Her American Girl doll is still her prized possession. Enjoys learning how to sew. Loves to read books and is surprisingly loud around the house.

Heidi has also gotten use to her younger sister being taller. She also knows that GOD created her for a purpose, whether that is used for her height or her ability to use that voice to stand firm in what she believes, we will have to see.
She has proven that a few times already.






Gracie
4th grade
10 years old
5' 1 1/2


Has taken piano lessons for a year. Loves music and can remember the words to the songs very easily. She too, also loves to read. Has the biggest heart and would honestly do anything she could to help you.

Loves her stuff animals and can tell who gave it to her and under what circumstance. Loves to build things out of Lego's, her Erector set, or construction paper and markers. Very visually creative and has a big imagination. She loves to study Anatomy. I keep telling her that GOD has a plan for her to use both her love to build things and Anatomy. I think she me the next inventor of something better than the artificial heart.








Laci
aka Laci Lou or Munchkin
almost 8
2nd grade
4'5 1/4


She is still my cuddler and will come tell me she loves me, just because. Loves her
older sisters. Loves to play with them, no matter what they are doing. Favorite color is pink. ( In the movie, Steel Magnolias, Julia Roberts wedding colors are pink and bashful. Sally Fields corrects her and says, " Pink and Pink") That will be my Laci, Pink and Pink.

She has just recently realized that she loves to read just like sisters. To my surprise she has read 9 books in the past week.

She hasn't found anything she has wanted to give a try. We keep asking her and she says, "No thank you." I personally think she sees the work her sisters put out in practicing their instruments and swim lesson and she doesn't want to work that hard. She know she has a good thing going right now. She can have moms attention and its all good. I don't know how true that is, but, I do know that she is a hard worker and is very thoughtful.

She loves her friends. There isn't much that bothers her, she is my butterfly and rainbow girl. Loves to skip, esp. in the house.


I am grateful that GOD sees that I can do a good job for these young ladies and gave them to me. I pray that I will not take these moments with my girls for granted, that He will give me wisdom, strength, and guidance to continue to the job I asked for.

I'm back

I hadn't planned to take a year off from writing and sharing my family with you all. But, life was busy last year. With everything that went on last year, when I had a moment to myself, I didn't want to sit in front of the computer or I just didn't feel like what I had anything important to share.

I recently was reading a book about a young boy who received a journal for Christmas from his mother. His mother gave him this advice,and he wrote it down, "Mom says it doesn't matter what I write and if I wait to write the important things then I'll probably never write anything, because important things just look like everything else except when you look back on them. The thing is to write what your thinking and feeling."

How true those words are! Those words struck me and made me start thinking,"What memories were important to me?" This helped me to remember some almost forgotten memories of my uncle who just passed away.

I knew that people were going to be asked to share memories or thoughts at the Memorial service and I felt the need to share some precious memories. This helped me to rekindle the friendship between my finger tips and the key board. I had forgotten how much that friendship meant to me.

I love being able to sit down at the computer, relinquish my other duties, and tap away on the key board, to share my thoughts.

When I got up and spoke at my uncles service, I mentioned how much he loved education
and how important it was to him. I had written down that, "sharing is important, sharing is education." I also asked people to share their memories with the ones they love and to let them know what they mean to them.

I now, ask you to do the same thing. I will do my best to share with you my thoughts and my family.