bits of sunshine

A Status Report

My Status Report - Last Day of August 2009:

Sitting . . . at my table, in the grey morning light . . . my kiddos eating cereal in the early morning quiet

Drinking . . . milk.

Moving . . . kinda slow, but knowing that in 20 minutes I will need to be on my toes.  I'll be watching my 2kiddos plus 3 others for most of the day!

Reflecting . . . on how I want these next few days, weeks, months, to look for me and my family.

Planning . . . Maddie's 6th birthday party.  6.  oh. my.

Looking Forward To . . . this evening when Ben comes home from work and the 4 of us just settle in to home for the night.

Wanting . . . to get some of those piles of papers that have been following me for days, weeks, months and years all organized and mostly thrown out.  (I have grand plans for this week!)

Hoping . . . that this homeschooling thing really goes for us this year.

Regretting . . . so many old choices.  Then knowing that the past is gone and the only thing I can do with it is learn from it, and use the examples of my mistakes to encourage others to make the right decisions.  Sometimes the what if game can just weigh so heavily.  But what a waste of today.  Today is the day that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it.  I will redeem the time that I am given and make the best choices that I can, for today, for this moment.

Stressing . . . over getting a few things paid off, so we can just stop thinking about them.  (Oh, the catch-up from the long winter . . . )  But I am so very thankful that we are slowly catching up!

Surprised . . . at how much better a day goes if we don't start with the TV on.  (More on this later this week.)

Studying . . . I don't know if studying is the right word, but preparing for a fresh start on school with Maddie and Isaac, preparing for a new quarter of youth group and teen Sunday School, and preparing to start up on my writing classes again.

Frustrated . . . with a couple things.  But they just may garner posts of their very own . . .

Eager . . . to get through my pile of peaches.  Ben bought me a bushel of fresh-picked, tree-ripened peaches!  We have been eating peaches plain and in pie and crisp and some smoothies are to come . . .  oh.  yum.

Enjoying . . . the fact that it is so important to my husband to spend time playing with our kiddos and being with me.  Even when we really have to fight for our family time. 

Missing . . . a couple of my favorite girls who live just too far away from me.

This list borrowed from here.  Megan borrowed it too.  I'm sure it's been sent round and round in all sorts of shapes and forms.  It's sorta like the Just a Minute posts I've seen floating around . . .  Feel free to borrow this list and make it your own.  That's what I did.  :)

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P.S.  Thank you all for your very kind comments on the Birthday post.  You made me smile over and over again.  :)

a little dream . . .

Summer :: Water

Some fun in the water from earlier this month ::

Bocce ball, where are you?

Oh, there you are.

Don't get your clothes wet.  You'll need to be clean and dry later . . .

Have fun, little Huck Finn!

Meanwhile, the girls

were catching these

And another day, the girls were finding these

while the boys were throwing rocks

We have had some very enjoyable, very summery summer days.  (The key word in that sentence would be "some."  They very summery days have been few and far between.) 
For the last two days, my kiddos have been wanting to swim, and it just hasn't been warm enough.  Today was overcast and cool - we never even saw 70 F - and tomorrow is supposed to be even cooler.  We may just go jump in anyway!  We can always put on warm clothes afterwards! 
I am certainly not done enjoying summer yet!
I plan on at least 3 more good days at the lake.
And quite a few more picnics.
And many more trips to the park.

What other summery plans do you have?

Birthday Gifts

My sister-in-law celebrated a birthday a short while ago.  Maddie drew this picture of her and her family - really, it looks just like them - in a cute and funny way. 

I've told you a bit about them before, but Pete and Chrissy finally have an official, for real, DEFINITE adoption date for the three bigger of those little boys!  In two weeks!  The little-est is their biological child, and in real life, they look as much alike as they do in Maddie's drawing.  :)

And some flowers from my garden to brighten the birthday girl's day.

These look like summer.  :)

And I have some more summer goodness coming tomorrow . . .
Have a sunshine-y day!

he was very funny

and he was growing taller

how did he get so much taller than my counter?
but he did.  there he is.

but, back to the funny part.
he told me, before bed the other night ::

"once there was a girl named mama.
she kissed me and kissed me and kissed me.
she was very funny."

Morning Reflection ::

Each morning I have a choice.
Because of Calvary, I am free to choose.
How will I respond to the day’s demands?

 

I CHOOSE LOVE . . . .

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. 

I choose love.  Today I will love God and what God loves.

 

I CHOOSE JOY . . .

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.

 I will refuse the temptation to be cynical . . . the tool of the lazy thinker. 

I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.

 I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

 

I CHOOSE PEACE . . .

I will live forgiven.  I will forgive so that I may live.

 

I CHOOSE PATIENCE . . .

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. 

Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so.

 Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray.

 Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

 

I CHOOSE KINDNESS . . .

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.  Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. 

And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

 

I CHOOSE GOODNESS . . .

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.

 I will be overlooked before I will boast.

 I will confess before I accuse.  I choose goodness.

 

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS . . .

Today, I will keep my promises. 

 My family and friends will not question my word.

 

My spouse will not question where my loyalties lie.

My children will never wonder if I will be here for them.

 

 I CHOOSE GENTLENESS . . .

Nothing is won by force.  I choose to be gentle. 

If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise.

 If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. 

If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

 

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL . . .

I am a spiritual being . . . After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.

 I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.  I choose self-control. 

 

 

 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

 To these I commit my day.  If I succeed, I will give thanks.  If I fail, I will seek His grace.

 And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

(- Max Lucado)

Little Things :: Bits of Sunshine

A couple days ago, Maria wrote a post about little things she loves about her husband.  Then she asked what little things her readers appreciate about the people they love. 

Here goes one good thing about a whole bunch of good people i know. :)

Ben - my husband - he knows just when to pull me onto his lap for a big, stress-relieving hug.

Maddie - my girl - she loves to draw me the sweetest pictures - pictures of her and me, pictures of flowers and trees and seas and all sorts of happy things.

Isaac - my boy - when I tuck him in he gives the best hugs and funny little-boy kisses.

The kids in Ben's and my youth group - they all call me "E" or "Auntie E" - in this sweet, funny way.

My dad tells me that I'm doing a really good job as a wife and mom.

My mom remembers to cut things out of the paper that I would find interesting.

My sister is awesome at just picking up her phone and calling me. Just to chat.

Sally - my neighbor - sometimes she just takes my kids for half an hour or an hour - just because.

Elissa - one of my best friends - she notices the important things and prays for me.

Liz - my other best friend - she writes the best letters and sends lovely packages to me.

Stef - my third best friend - she makes me laugh. And makes sure to tag me in her funny ramblings on facebook so I for sure get to read them and have a good laugh.

People who take the time to leave comments on my blog. Doesn't that make your day, too?  All those little bits of sunshine.  Thanks, you all!

And thank you, Maria, for making me think about little things I love about my dear people.

What little things do you love about the people in your life?

Summer :: Hello? Where are you?

Sunglasses
are mostly just a dress up prop

Sweatshirts
Jeans
Grey Skies
Rain
One Hot Sunny Day
Followed by
More Cool Breezy Days

And already
I am finding these

 

And tearing up used, spent stalks
from my garden

 

a quick hello

i am helping with VBS at my church this week
i have the 4th - 6th grade class
i love them

i have lots of thoughts bumping around in my head
:: mornings
:: schooling
:: summertime
:: gardening
:: coolness
:: being an at-home mom
:: habit
:: maddie is almost 6
:: isaac is growing taller
:: music
:: short hair
:: ben
:: one niggling source of tension
:: handquilting
:: new zippers
:: new dishes
:: babies
you'll see posts about many of these over the next few weeks  . . .

but for now, i am off to the shower, and off to the church, to my 15 kiddos who i enjoy so much!

what's bumping around in your head today?

Be Fitted for Joy

Are there any unsurrendered worries in your heart?

The German word for worry means "to strangle."
The Greek word means "to divide the mind."
Both are accurate.
Worry is a noose on the neck and a distraction of the mind,
neither of which is befitting for joy.

                                                             -Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment

Are there worries that you need to surrender in order to be fitted for joy?

"Give all your worries to Him, because He care for you"  (I Peter 5:7)

P.S.  Giveaway winners are posted below . . .   :)