There are no words...

Focus

I love watching my Meredith do her homework.

She concentrates with all of her heart. 

She focuses on what she needs to do,

talks herself through it

and as she finishes

 
she raises her head up and announces




"I'm all done"



with the glow of victory in her eyes



She just finished writing an 8 sentence paragraph on

Theodore Roosevelt.

She's been researching and learning about this president.

She is so proud of what she has done, and

I'm so proud of all that she has put in to this project.

HOPE

The robins have spoken.  Well, actually they have chirped.  They are sitting in our tree in the front yard, taunting Miley (the kitty) with their repetitive announcement... "Spring is coming... Spring is coming... Its, COMING!!!"

Miley is not amused, in case you couldn't tell from the picture.  She either doesn't believe them, or is giving them a look of warning in which to say "Sing while you can, silly birdies!"

In any case, we have thoroughly been enjoying the beautiful respite that we have been receiving from winter.  Colorado is kind like that, you know.  Just when you think you can't take another cold, wet day, the sun peeks out to remind you that she is just taking a nap and hasn't forgotten you.  She showers you with rays of warmth with promises of more to come.

I have been meditating on "HOPE" this week. 

T

The verse Isaiah 40:31 has been the catalyst

for my thoughts. 

From the Message version of the Bible, the verse goes like this.

"But those who wait upon (hope) God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles,

They run and don't get tired,

they walk and don't lag behind."

HOPE - it's like a vitamin when taken correctly; like gas in an empty tank; like fuel on a flameless fire; like energy for my tired soul. 

 There are days when that is all it takes for me to change my perspective, a little HOPE. 

HOPE that practice makes perfect.

HOPE that I will reap what I am sowing.

HOPE that the end justifies the means.

and so on and so on....

The weekend is ahead of us and it is mostly unplanned.  

On the agenda is 

a game of golf for Patrick and me, 

a bit of sleeping in for all of us, 

a little bit of sunshine, 

some rest and relaxation

and

a whole lot of putting our HOPE in the belief
 that

GREAT things

are

ahead!!!

Brave

Every once in a while, if you are a Bible studyin' girl, a study comes along that just fits with the place you're at in life. The one that has come to me at just the right time is "Brave" by Angela Thomas. The format is easy, the content so applicable, the truths so easy to grasp, and the fellowship with the other women I'm in a group with has been very refreshing. I am so happy to have the chance to listen to Angela Thomas teach and to study the concepts of being a BRAVE woman. For those circumstances that are unpredictable, I need courage; for those wounds that are only half-scabbed over, I need courage; for all of the days that the coward in me wants to run and hide, I need courage. This study of bravery is the study I need right now. I read an insightful quote about courage.

"Courage is tiny pieces of fear all glued together."

~Terri Guillemets~

To that I say, here's to the pieces! Use them, Lord!

All love

 I love

• smelling the beautiful roses that arrived for me with a card expressing my hubby's love
• each one of my kiddos even more this Valentines Day than last years
• that Michael packed up all of his baby books to give to his little baby friend
• the delicious lunch and encouraging conversation I had with a lifelong friend
• that all 4 of my kiddies walked the entire 2 miles of the hike that we took yesterday
• the listening ear of my sweet mother
• that Patrick has been home for 2 weeks
• that Meredith is excited to do research on Theodore Roosevelt
• hearing Marky give advice to Maddie only to hear Maddie say "thanks"
• that I was blessed enough to hold a 4 month old baby today
• how warm the weather was and is predicted to be for the next few days
• that God's grace never runs out,  that He loved me first and that His love doesn't depend on me

Happy Valentines Day!

February 10, 2011

Sandwiched in between the rough days,  there are the good days.  Days with extra special activities penciled in on the calendar.  A memorable moment that begs to be photographed and celebrated with a plain cheeseburger Happy Meal (with apples and a Sprite, please).  We've been talking about today for about a month, causing excitement and anticipation to build.   Today we registered Michael for

KINDERGARTEN!!!!

Actually, this event is probably much more thrilling for me than for Michael, but he put on his "let's make Mommy happy smile" and indulged my over-the-top enthusisam.

He reminded me in the halls at school, as I was repeating AGAIN my morning mantra of

"isn't this exciting?"

that we are supposed to be quiet in the halls. 

He shusshed me.  5years old and shusshed his mama. 

Guess he already knows all the rules.

Maybe he should just stay home for another year...

Nah, just kidding!!!

When it snows it pours; at least that what is happening to us this dreary second week of February.  And it just keeps coming from the heavy cloud that has seemed to stop over our house.  It is hovering low,and has unloaded it's showers of stomach sickness, sinus infections, eye dilation, crankiness, exhaustion upon us all.  We have watched many movies, snuggled up in blankets, sucked various flavors of popsicles, sipped many cups of tea, taken lengthy naps, read stories, and slurped several glasses of cold sprite and ginger ale all in attempts of finding some comfort.  Some are searching for relief from physical symptoms, others are looking for ways to be entertained out of their boredom.  I have given up trying to keep the snowy paraphanalia off of the carpet.  Futile attempt indeed. 

The days of missed school are accumulating both because of illness and snow. I've cancelled more activities then we've attended so far this month.   I will be grateful for the time when illness and bad weather both decide to leave for good. In the mean time, I will enjoy the fact that I have not yet succomed to illness.  Boredom... well, I can see it around the corner so I might need to go find something good to read so that doesn't get me down.    

The Weekend

 I know it is the weekend because ...

• I get to sleep in
• ot breakfast
• someone in the house takes a nap
• I get the "pile" on the kitchen counter cleaned up
• We make a trip to Sams Club
• bills get paid
• Daddy is home
• I get to finish my morning cup of coffee
• the laundry gets finished
• the little ones get to watch movies
• I launder things like towels and rugs
• a glass of wine and a bottle of beer is a guarantee
• a meal out happens at least once
• Patrick does most of the cooking
• paper plates
• I get to watch a movie or two
• no homework
• good church service
• extra time lounging in my favorite chair reading
• I catch up on projects that I started during the week

I caught a little bit of spring fever this past week and got some tulips to brighten up my mood.  I loved seeing their happy faces all week long.   It helped me through the days of freezing temperatures, knowing that Spring is not too far away. 

My own groundhogs day

Days have passed in unfamiliar ways this week.  Nothing earth shattering has occurred,  it just hasn't been a regular week.  Our normal schedule has been interrupted and shaken up a bit.  I've had kids home sick, we had two snow days that didn't have any snow in them just freezing temperatures, the house has been cold, one of the doggies isn't eating,  I ran out of Diet Pepsi, there hasn't been much mail, the book I'm reading is boring, I don't have any crafty things going on, I've had days with a lot of quiet and not much to do.  Just a weird week, with lots of empty spaces in it.  Empty spaces that I used to be able to fill up with long phone calls with special people, walks around my favorite stores, pages read in anticipation of finishing the next book on the list, fun projects done to use up my creative energy.  I need to get my groove back - hopefully I will find it in this short, cold month of February.  I know it hasn't gone far; I think it's just hibernating for now.  Maybe it saw it's groovy shadow and decided not to come out and play quite yet.  Whatever the reason, I guess I will hang on until it comes back...