The Gift of an Ordinary Morning

Today was just an ordinary morning...the only thing making it un-ordinary was my choice to pause and notice all the joys the morning held.

Before the sun had crested the horizon, I crept into the girls room.  Kissing warm checks. Smoothing their crazy hair the fairies seemed to have danced in last night. Whispering into their ears 'good mornings' and 'I love yous'. Sleepy eyelids opening. Discussing weather and possible clothing choices.  Since I was not working today, I found a book I wanted to finish, flipped on the switch the fireplace, watched flames dance warmth into the room, fixed some hot chocolate, snuggled into my blanket.

Then, pausing to chat with girls during breakfast. Rice Krispies left spilled on counter tops. Listening to daughters make up songs in front of bathroom mirror. Daughter asking if she can wear said shoes. Not my first choice, but then I remember the quote I read "some girls are just born with glitter in their veins." "Sure, you can wear those shoes." Five minute reminder to finish up and head out the door to catch the school bus. No lunches to make this morning. They are happy to eat school pizza. School notebooks signed. School bags on shoulders, coats on. I make sure to make eye contact as I hug them goodbye. "Love you, Have a great day!" "You too, mom. Love you!" Kisses left to dry on foreheads.

Door closes. I snuggle back into couch and continue reading.  Two pages left to go on my book and the phone rings at 8:22. Can I work today? School begins in 8 minutes.  "Sure! I'll be there shortly!" And so my 'to do list' for the morning had to wait, and yet, I am thankful for the extra few moments I had to pause and remember what a gift the everyday ordinary-ness of my life is!!

Getting Dunked

We've been talking with the girls this past year about baptism. Obviously, we wanted to make sure they understood what it was before they got baptized. Well tonight, at our church, was "Fall Splash" and they decided they did want to get baptized. I asked them to write down why they were getting baptized. 

Sarah wrote,  "I'm getting baptized because I want to show people I made God my forever friend." So I asked her how she knows he's her forever friend, to which she responded "I did my ABCs. A - [admit] tell God you are a sinner. B - Believe Jesus is the son of God. C- Confess Jesus is your savior."

Morgan wrote, "I'm getting baptized because I want to show everybody that I chose Jesus as my forever friend. I want to show that I believe in Jesus and he died for me and the world." And again, how did she know he was her forever friend? "A - I admitted to God that I sinned so I have to turn away from my sin. B - I have to believe that Jesus is my forever friend and my savior and my lord. C- I confessed that he is my savior and he is my friend forever."

God wants relationship with us. And that's what I want them to understand. Yes, the God of the universe, cares deeply about us, and desires to be in relationship with us. He has made a way (Jesus) for this to be possible. He will always be there for them. I hope this is a day they remember for always, and when 'life happens' and gets rough - I hope they remember that God is there, walking with them, desiring relationship with them. He has purposes and plans for their lives. Baptism isn't salvation. They make that choice in their hearts. But it is a beautiful act, of faith, showing others the choice their heart made. 

Our church has baptized over 1,000 people this past year!! I'm not sure how many will get baptized this weekend, at least a couple hundred, I'm sure. I love the excitement and celebration of baptism (as you will see in the video)! So, without further ado, here is the video from tonight. "I baptize you in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit..."

True Beauty

My beautiful daughters. 

Each passing year I get to be these girls' mom, I am more and more aware of how deeply I want them to understand true beauty. To know that even more important than how beautiful they are on the outside, it is what's inside of them that will carry them well through life. To have positive self-esteem. In a world that seems to insist little girls grow up too quickly and 'sexy' seems to be encouraged at a younger and younger age (do you hear my sigh?) - I want them to know that being modest is beautiful too. That's why I love www.secretkeepergirl.com, because they exist to help instill the value of true beauty into tween girls.  Secret Keeper Girls has a national 'pajama party tour' for tweens and their moms - and I had a fun night with the girls at the event earlier this week!

We ate dinner at Andy's before the Secret Keeper Event! & of course I let them get hot fudge jackhammered into the middle of their concretes!

Lucky us - we have wonderful neighbors!
The girls (and their moms) came with us! 

The Sky is Falling!!

This time of year, I find myself saying "the sky is falling, the sky is falling!" quite often.  You see, before there were houses in our neighborhood, there was a walnut farm here. So needless to say, the walnuts are sure falling everywhere around us this time of year! Think, pool balls falling from trees, okay maybe not that heavy, but certainly that large!

Additionally, the school book fair is this week and the girls wanted extra money to buy books.  So, I challenged them last week to begin picking up walnuts. The trailer was full today, so we took them to the huller.  Side note: The majority of black walnuts sold in the united states come from Missouri! And for all their hard work...they got $27.72! Of course they had divide it among their friends who helped them out this past week, but they still ended up with $8/each. So, they are filling the trailer again! :) The walnuts have to be picked up anyways, and the neighbors appreciate the help, and they are outside enjoying the fall weather! It's a great thing!  I guess money really does grow on trees!


Update: 10.7.11 - Sold another load for $31.20!!
Update: 10.11.11 - Sold another load for $34.20!!
Total: almost 800 lbs of hulled walnuts!! $12/per 100 lbs. 
Updated: 10.27.11 - Sold another load for $49.10 (491 lbs of hulled walnuts! $10/lb now)

Waiting our turn at the Huller. That's a lot of walnuts!!

Putting our walnuts into the huller. 

Worms (by Sarah)

Everything you ever needed to know about worms, according to Sarah, age 8. (Sarah wrote the following paper at school.)
This is a worm. My sister thinks worms are grows {gross}. I don't think they are. Worms are nice they make your flowers grow by pooping. My mom likes worms because she likes seeing her pretty flowers. A worm is slimey. They can brake in half and still be alive. Worms are pink but they look a little brown because of the brown dirt. 

Fleeting

So, this morning, Sarah brings me this picture from her room. On the back I had simply scribbled "Sisters Forever, March 2006". And I am reminded how fleeting each season of my life truly is.  It seems like yesterday we were at playgroup, at the mall, when a photographer from Sears asked if we'd be willing to get a free picture taken, as part of a new gal's training. Well, sure! This isn't the best picture of the girls during that season of our lives, but for me, it captures the everyday sweetness of my life then.  Oh, this season of my life is quite sweet too...last weekend we collected leaves on our walk, and took the girls to their first high school football game. So here are a few pictures to capture this ever fleeting, amazingly wonderful thing called my life! :)

Sister's Forever, March 2006, ages 3 & 4

Friday Night Lights, Sept 2011, ages 8 & 10

First Signs of Autumn, September 2011

Pinterest

So, I've heard about Pinterest for some time now, I knew I'd love, but I've resisted, because I was afraid I'd love it too much and spend waaaay tooo much time on it! Well since it's been raining NON-STOP all weekend (and we desperatly needed rain, so I'm not complaining!) I decided to hop onto Pinterest today and play around! What a really fun website!   

It's basically an online cork board to put all your favorite ideas you find while searching the internet... which meets facebook.  See, not only do I have cork boards, but my friends, and others, can also post ideas they find on the internet on their cork boards, then if I like their ideas, or they like mine, we can just 'repin' the idea onto our cork board. You can add comments too.  I've already found several neat ideas. And I don't have to search through my long list of bookmarks or try to remember where it was I saw it - I simply go to pinterest and click on the picture of it on my cork board...and viola! Organized Ideas!! LOVE IT!! 

One Craft I found on Pinterest Today.
Real Leaves Dipped in Wax.

And you can make as many cork boards as you'd like... a few of my cork boards include: Love this idea! Projects to try with my girls (btw - showed them the projects I found...they are excited to try them out!), Camping Sweet Camping, Collecting Quotes, Glimpses of Heaven, and Yummy! 

If you've never heard of Pinterest or tried it out - what are you waiting for?! Can't wait to see what cork boards you make! 

(in)courage (in)spired deals: Beautiful Journal, Beautiful Truth

(in)courage has these monthly giveaways - they have a monthly theme and will send you a free product, and in return, ask  for an honest and fair review of the product on your blog. (Click here to go to their website to find out more.) So, I thought, why not?  I like this month's theme, based on a book titled, God's Heart for You: Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman by Holley Gerth.

My face broke into a smile when my free gift actually arrived in the mail! I recieved the journal companion to her book, the cover alone speaking truth, "In God's heart you are...delightful, free, loved, valued, strong, wonderfully made, chosen, accepted, blessed, irreplaceable." Oh, sweet truths that I need reminded of every day! The journal itself is beautifully made - sturdy, modern, fun . The pages inside are colorful, with inspiring photos, quotes and encouragement from her book. The journal still leaves lots of room to write your own thoughts on the pages themselves.  Have you ever journaled before? I don't always keep one, but I love looking back on the ones I have and 'remembering when'. They are becoming treasures as the years go by. If you're looking to start journaling or if you'd like to give a gift to a sweet friend, I'd highly recommend purchasing this journal, through Blessings Unlimited.

Friendships

Make new friends, but keep the old, 

one is silver and the other is gold. 

The last few weeks, we've enjoyed spending times with friends we haven't seen in awhile. My very dearest friend is Lori, and our girls share a special friendship, as well, meet...Morgan, Sarah, Madi and Morgan.  Despite the 3 years since we've moved and the new friendships we've made, they still take about 3.3 seconds to reconnect and dive into friendship. Lori and I still talk every week on the phone, but it is sure good to spend time together in person too! We still miss them dearly...and as Lori said, in many ways they feel more like cousins than family!  Here's a few pics from our day at Silver Dollar City!

Lonnie & Jennifer were friends long before any of us had kids. They are the kind of friends who will be there for you no matter what! Their beautiful hearts were deep enough to adopt three beautiful children! We had fun camping with them...the last time we had gone was 10 years ago, Morgan's first camping trip, just shy of 3 months old! 

Labor Day Memories

Glad my parents made it down for Labor Day weekend...we enjoyed bowling, canoeing, playing games, the girls biked and flew kites with grandpa, painted with grandma (aren't their paintings adorable!?), mom and I went to garage sales, and we ate WAY too much ice cream, frozen custard and frozen yogurt, but it was oh so yummy!! So thankful for the memories, for me, and for the girls with their grandparents.