Blessed Mother's Day

Mother's Day began on Thursday with a tea at Madelyn's school.  What a very special day with my sweet girl!  She insisted on dressing up that day and looked beautiful!

I was showered with hand-made gifts, serenaded with two very sweet songs and also treated to some wonderful food.  What a special day!

On Saturday, Daniel came over and took the kids shopping.  They surprised me with a beautiful hanging flower for my front porch.  We enjoyed a fun day!

Sunday morning was so special!  At 6:45 I awoke to 3 beautiful children in my bed.  They had some cards and candy for me too.  David's card was made at school.  Inside was handwritten:  Dear Mommy, I hope you have a great mothers day.  Go down Stares.  I love you mommy.  Love David

Intrigued, I was led down stairs and found this:

My boy made it a point to wake up early, wake up the girls - including getting Molly out of her crib, set up their presents on my bed and make me breakfast.  He even cleaned up his mess.  And he did this all on his own!  I tell you what, he is going to make a little girl very happy someday.  But for now, he's mine and I cherish him!

After church, we picked up some lunch and went to the park to play.

Let me tell you, I couldn't have asked for a better day.  And I couldn't be more proud of my children.  They are precious to me and I couldn't imagine my life without them.  Be still my heart!

It's a bird...it's a plane...it's

SUPER SMART!!

It's not everyday that a Super Hero comes home from school in place of my Madelyn.  But I have the privilege to introduce to you "Super Smart".  She is originally from the 2nd Dimension and has come to replace Madelyn for a couple days.  She has access to any super power she wants and uses them quite liberally.  According to her, her Molly doesn't whine and cry like mine, but her David is just as ornery in the 2nd dimension as he is here.  Oh, and she had to add that her Mom would have had supper ready by now because she is 'super fast'!  I'm thinking I would like to meet this 2nd Dimension Mom and switch places with her for awhile. 

Showing off her near ability to fly

 I just love my little girls imagination.  But it got me to thinking how often I go through my days wishing things were different or 'better'.  I'd feel better if only....

• my house were clean..
• my children would just listen... 
• I could just get into these 'skinny' jeans in the back of my closet...
• I had new carpet...
• I could just get that raise/job...

...and it goes on and on.

We can learn a lot from Paul in Philippians 4:10-20.  In verse 11 and 12 he says:  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

And how did he achieve this contentment?  By giving thanks.  Giving thanks to those who had helped him during his time of need.  And giving all glory to God for his provision and sovereignty.  

Today I practice thanks:

•  for my children who bring a smile to my face daily and teach me more than they know.
• for 'family bed' and 2 children who still think it's OK to snuggle with Mom.
• for a yard to mow.
• for my Dad making my heart smile the way he says 'purdy'.  
• for my parents being able to get away for a relaxing family vacation.
• for my Sis who calls and fills in when Mom's out of town.
• for silent understanding from a close friend. 
• for bubbles in the house.
  

and the 'if only's melt away.

What are you thankful for today?  Give a shout-out to Him for all He has done and practice contentment no matter the circumstance!

Catching up!

So the blogging is few and far between to say the least.  No real good excuse, so let's save all that and just see if I can get you caught up.  We'll start off with Valentine's Day.

I have found a new love...Pinterest.  It's kind of hard to explain.  I guess it's kind of a cross between Google and Facebook.  Like a social search engine of sorts... Some think it's mainly a woman thing, but lately I've seen quite a few men jump on board this Pinterest band wagon.  Madelyn and I have been trying to find some new ways to do the do!  Ponytails and bows can get to be mundane.  So we tried something new in honor of St. Valentine.

Can you see the heart?  I pulled the rest of her hair up into two loose buns on each side of her head.  I have to say it turned out pretty cute for our first try!  And Madelyn couldn't wait to go to school and show it off to her friends!

David had a project where he had to make a box to hold his Valentine's.  Pinterest to the rescue once again!  It's amazing what you can do with an old kleenex box, some brown paint, and just the hint of an idea.

 

Well, shoot!  Mater looks ready to eat up some Valentine's don't you think?

Whispering Pines

Today I had the privilege of joining Madelyn and her Kindergarten class for their field trip to Whispering Pines Tree Farm in Danville.  We learned a lot about the different trees grown and how they care for them from seedlings to your living room.  We had a great time!

The three friends in our group.

Cool...for now

Last week I surprised David and Madelyn at school, stopping in to have lunch with them.  I figure I better do this while it's still cool.  I've heard around 3rd grade or so, it is no longer acceptable for your Mom to come to school to eat lunch with you. 

David was able to invite a friend so Jaden joined us as well.

 They ushered us into our own private room off the side of the cafeteria.  David and Madelyn both had packed a lunch that day, so I brought mine as well.  It was fun for them to teach me about their lunch routine.  I also got to meet several of their friends too.

A sure sign of Fall

Autumn is upon us, which means a trip to Anderson's Orchard for some apples.  There are orchards that are closer to use, but the u-pick is the draw.  It's all about the experience.  David is like a monkey in the trees.  The boy has no fear! 

Madelyn was a little more cautious than her brother and had a few times where she got stuck and had to be helped down, but she picked quite a few apples too.

Molly did a lot of her apple picking from the ground, but also wondered why she couldn't climb too.

She also did a lot of taste testing.

 

One more start of fall down in the books.  I see a lot of apple desserts in our future!

Boundless

Pure, unadulterated abandon.

Admiring rainbow and reflecting on the promises of God, we pull into the drive.  Sweet raindrops fall, remedy for a long dry summer.  Twinkle in her eye, she asked for something I've longed to do.  "Mom, can we dance in the rain?" I watched as she ran unafraid into liquid sunshine and danced.




2 Samuel Chapter 6.  The Ark of the Lord was entering into the City of David.  Songwriter and King began to worship.  Verse 14 and 15 in the King James Version says: ¹⁴And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.  ¹⁵So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

When confronted with such reckless abandon for a King, David responded in verse 21 and 22: “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. ²² I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 

Grace given.  Worship returned to the Father.


Luke 6:23, Jesus says "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven." (emphasis mine)

This command is divinely penned in the middle of Luke's recording of the Beatitudes.  Jesus teaching His disciples about the upside down Kingdom.  Where we decrease and He increases.  Where we lay all of ourselves on the altar and gain His blessing.  He's asking us to abandon what others think and rejoice in Him.  Leap for joy in Him.

Grace given.  Worship returned.


Luke 10:21  At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

"Full of joy" translates from the original text as "dancing" or "leaping" for joy.  After 72 missionaries returned and began to tell their stories of miracles performed in His own name, Jesus began to dance in the Holy Spirit.

Grace.....worship.


The song "Fields of Grace" by Big Daddy Weave.

There's a place that I love to run and play
There's a place that I sing new songs of praise

Dancin' with my Father God in fields of grace

There's a place that I lose myself within
There's a place that I find myself again

Dancin' with my Father God in fields of grace

There's a place where religion finally dies
There's a place that I lose my selfish pride

Dancin' with my Father God in fields of grace

I love my Father, my Father loves me
I dance for my Father, my Father sings over me

And nothing can take that away from me



She danced.  The rain fell.  The ground soaked up the drink.  I soaked up the grace.

1st Day of School

Until yesterday, I don't think I'd let everything about this school year sink in.  But on the way to meet their teacher's and drop off supplies, I began to realize that for the 1st time, someone else will be spending more waking hours with my children than I will.  I became a deer in headlights.  I even forgot to get pictures of them with their teachers!  But after lots of prayer and thought, I know they are ready.  Today I was calm, composed and so proud.

Madelyn's 1st day of Kindergarten!

She was so excited!  I think she's ready for this all day schedule and I think she will do well! 

David I could tell was a little nervous this morning.  There is a big change from Kindergarten to 1st Grade.  But he will settle in in a few days.

Walking to the bus stop hand in hand.

Off they go!

And then there was one....

Molly seemed to understand this morning that things were going to be different from now on.  She cried just a little when they left on the bus.  We had breakfast with Daniel at IHOP and spent the morning doing some shopping.  I think by this afternoon, she's decided this won't be so bad after all. 

Wind Farms

A 10 mile stretch of interstate 65.  As far as the eye can see on both sides of the interstate.  Wind turbines.  There has to be thousands of them.  We used to see them up in Wisconsin and I was always so mesmerized.  It's hard to understand the shear size of these energy savers until you get right up close and personal.  And so that is what we did.

A few side roads and down the middle of a bean field and we were there listening to the low swishing sound of these massive wind mills.  So cool!

And just so you get an idea of how large these things really are:

Workers dwarfed by the size of the turbine blades.

Amazing "go green" energy producers.  Truly beautiful against a farm backdrop of green field and blue sky.

A Dairy Good Time!

Nothing beats a good Day-cation.  Today's destination: Fair Oaks Farms. 

I have been wanting to go here for years.  It is right off of interstate 65 between Chicago and Indy.  We had driven past it several times, and it just looked so fun!  Believe me, we were not disappointed!  We experienced a 4-D movie all about life on the farm.  We then walked through a forest, a corn field in the harvesting process, and an old time dairy farm.  So fun! 

How appropriate we rode in a bus painted like a dairy cow!

Next we took a bus tour out to the dairy barns.  We saw the HUGE milking carousel.  This resembled a very large merry go round.  There were 72 cows able to be milked at one time.  The cow walks into a stall and someone below cleans the teets then the electric milker is attached.  They are milked as the whole carousel moves in a circle.  It never stops moving, but when the cow returns to the beginning she backs out of her stall and is ushered back to her place in the barn.  It was one of the neatest things I have ever seen.  Fair Oaks is one of the largest dairy farms in the United States.  40 tanker trucks pick up daily producing 250,000 gallons of milk.  Not bad for a day's work.

 

We stopped into the cafe to refuel.  We had a grilled cheese sandwich with cheese made on site.  We also had fresh ice cream.  I had the butter pecan and it was the BEST ice cream I've eaten in a long time.  So creamy.

Molly enjoyed some ice cream too.

The kids then had some play time outside.  There was so much to do!!  Their favorites were the electric tractor.

After playing outside for awhile, we headed into the birthing barn.  When we 1st arrived, 2 mommas were resting easy with babies by their side.  But before too long, a first time momma cow was escorted into the barn.  We had the privilege of watching her bring not one....but 2 babies into the Fair Oaks Family.  That's right!  Twins!

They were born about 20 minutes apart.  The 2nd twin had a little trouble.  She had to have some assistance in getting her out, and the farmer performed C.P.R (including mouth-to-mouth) to get the little calf to breathe.  The whole place cheered when the new little calf began to move and kick.  The mother then spent lots of time cleaning her little calves and encouraging them to get up and move.  The kids really enjoyed seeing the baby calves come into the world.  They befriended an older couple in their early 70's and the 4 of them really got into the whole process.  It was really a great experience!

We had a great day.  We took our time, did everything we wanted, some things even twice and stayed until almost closing.  We all decided that we want to go back and do it all again some time soon.  Day-cation a success!!

Busy bees....

I recently found out that Ben Weaver, a friend of ours from church, was an official bee keeper.  Intrigued, I asked if we could come over for a field trip of sorts and see what this was all about. In addition to just being plain cool, I thought it would also help the kids to not be so afraid of nature's honey makers. 

Ben was great with the kids.  They truly learned a lot and he made them feel so comfortable.  They never once cowered in fear.  They listened intently to Ben and followed each direction he gave them.  He is going to be a great elementary teacher!

Ben explaining the ins and outs of the hive

Of course, to get a closer look, proper gear is required.

Ben also let them help use the smoker.

David smoking the hive

And finally, a look at the frames.

Looking at the bees filling honey cells.

No fear here!

The kids had a great day.  When we got home, I had them draw and journal what they learned.  They are no longer afraid of bees as they were before.  In fact, the other day, I found them bent over in the yard watching a bee collect pollen from some clover in our yard.  Thanks Bee-Keeper Ben for teaching us about the amazing honey bee!!

Just us girls

Daniel has been gone this week on his first tour in Fort Wayne.  10 libraries down, 9 more to go next week.  David's been gone this week at my parents house, so it has been just us girls.  We have done lots of shopping, had some lunches out and done some fun things too! 

Each day this week Madelyn has gone to swimming lessons in Danville.  I've been very pleased.  There are about 16 kids in the class and there are 7 instructors so she gets a lot of one on one time, which she needed.  On the first day she told them several times very matter of factly, "I don't think I can do that," and she just wouldn't.  I had a talk with her that day and since then she has done a little better.  She is starting to get a little more comfortable in the water.  

Today we decided to check out the new splash pad.  It was a tad chilly, but the girls didn't seem to mind.

"Nothing is too big for me."

Molly was seriously cracking me up.  She loves the water anyway and cries when bath or shower time is over.  She was just so excited when she first walked out there all she could do was shake and giggle and squeal.  And in her mind, she was just as big as all the other kids. 

Her personality is really beginning to blossom.  She is observant and picks up on things very quickly.  She follows directions and simple commands well.  She is a lovebug but on her terms only.  This is kind of frustrating because being the last, there are times I would love to rock her to sleep or snuggle her, but she will have nothing of it.  However, her "surprise" hugs and little pats, snuggles and kisses I wouldn't trade for the world. 

She also has a firey side.  She is VERY determined and passionate when she sets her mind to something.  Sometimes this leads to big trouble when she's headed in the wrong direction, at times extreme frustration (such as her insistence in feeding herself and ending up with an empty fork).  But sometimes it leads to a unwavering journey to success.  I pray that God will get a hold of this girl early.  That her passions will become His passions, her determination will spill over into steadfast faith and her journey will make Him proud. 

In all honesty, I could pray that prayer for myself as well.  There are so many times in my life where I've headed in the wrong direction or jumped in before I was led.  But in His sovereignty He has allowed everything to work out in my life.  (Romans 8:28)  But how much more blessed is that journey when He is in control.  Lord, take hold of my life and never let go.  Let my passions be your passions, grow my faith, teach me Your ways and lead my steps.  Lord only through You will I have success.

Proverbs 2:6-8
⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom;
   from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He holds success in store for the upright,
   he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
⁸ for he guards the course of the just
   and protects the way of his faithful ones.
(emphasis mine)

Trial run

Madelyn's 1st ballet recital is June 4th.  We did a trial run to practice hair, make-up and costume.  For the first time reality hit.  This beautiful little girl is going to grow up.  She is going to wear make-up and go out with her friends and have boyfriends and go to prom.  She is going to go to college, make her own decisions and be her own woman.  And someday just as I did when she was 4, I will smooth her dress, calm her nerves, brush a curl from her face and look into those big blue eyes totally blown away by her beauty as she prepares to walk the aisle.  In the meantime, I will soak up every second.  I praise Him for the privilege of watching her grow and pray He will guide me as I train her in the way she should go.

Easter fun!

We had such a good weekend!  On Saturday the Easter bunny paid a visit.

The kids question whether or not this is Daddy.  Considering Daddy is never around when the Easter Bunny is, it kind of makes sense right?  But I think they are just not ready to come to that realization because they talk themselves out of it.  I myself think it's pretty hilarious.  Molly is not scared at all.  In fact, she just cuddles and pats and loves the near 8 foot tall rabbit.

On Sunday, Daniel had to work in the morning, so I had to get the kiddos ready for church on my own.  We didn't do too bad on time.  I was even able to snap a picture.

For the first time, Molly was able to have her own hair up in a top knot!  Love it!!  Molly is cutting some teeth and drooling like crazy, so not too many smiles from her.  Here is all of us in our Sunday best!

Daniel was home by one, so we got to spend the rest of the day together.  That evening, we went to Heidi's for Easter family dinner.  The kids got even MORE candy from Me-maw the Easter bunny.  We also had an Easter egg hunt.  On a side note, notice Madelyn's extra curly hair.  With all the rain and humidity, her hair was just full of curls!  I think it's just beautiful.

 

We had a truly great weekend with lots of family fun!   On our way home from Heidi's, Madelyn started to tell us the Easter story.  She began her account at the start of Holy Week with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and finished with Peter entering the empty tomb to find it empty and the grave clothes folded.  She included so much accurate detail.  I am so thankful for each and every person who teaches Truth to my children.  Children learn by repetition and Daniel and I do our best to teach our children at home as the Bible instructs, but I am so thankful for a Godly church who speaks Truth.  I'm thankful for their Sunday School teachers, Children's worship leaders as well as a good Christian preschool.  May God reward them for the precious work they do each and every week.  They are making a difference in my children's lives.  Praising Him for so many things this Easter!!