Summer Time

Summer life is my favorite.  Scorching days and cooler nights. 

Late bed times and random afternoon naps. 

 I love the feel of sunscreen on my skin and the smell of bug spray wafting from my kids. 

I fold our swimming towels 5 times a day , yet I never tire of their bright colors drying on the clothesline.

We spend our days mostly outside, enjoying the pool and the tramp.

 

I usually start the day with a walk through my garden, moving slowly so as

 not to miss what changed overnight.

The kids sometimes have slumber parties in each other's rooms; a few of them sleep late in the morning, while the others wake up when the birds start singing.

 I love watching the kids work together while to set up a camping spot; I love listening to them talk tucked behind the thin, tent walls. 
Summer brings us together as more than family, as friends.

Lunch pinics, evening bike rides to the creek, weekend activities. 

 Although the togetherness can be overwhelming at times,  and we ALL need a break,

the values that I am teaching my kids is that family is important;
small moments of kindness towards those you are related to is long-lasting.

Loving your sister and serving your brother is necessary; cheering your young siblings on when they learn to ride their bikes is priceless; offering a dry towel to a cold brother at the pool is showing him love. 
Forgiving each other after an argument or an exchange of harsh words is meaningful.
Working in your little sister's VBS class is memorable.

My heart is full of summer love. 
It is the best season of all!!!
I'm so glad that we have these times together!

 

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Last week, I celebrated my birthday.

It was...

special

wonderful

spectacular

lovely.

I am so blessed to have friends and family

who love me and

care to make this 39 year old

mama feel

younger and

more lovely

than she normally does.

I appreciated every

text, every FB post, every email , every on-line card

every regular card, every hug, every call, every kiss, every meal.

I 

felt loved, cherished, special.  

THANK YOU

all

of

YOU!!!!

 

ahhhh... yes..... summer....

"but I don't WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANT noodles for supper!!!! "


"I don't WANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNT to go to the pool!!!"


"She is hurting my feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelings! "


I heard all of the above today.  Here we are, 2 full weeks into summer, and I just HAD to do something about the whining and the negative attitudes that were being thrown my way.  2 of my kids come by it rightly... it takes them a few hours to readjust to how "we do things" at home after they come home from their dad's house.  But the other 2 are fully immersed in the routine and even THEY were coming down with negativitis!!!   Sooooooooooooo... we hunkered down and took  3 hours this afternoon for everyone to get a hold of themselves in their own space (rooms) and in their own thoughts and after those 3 hours, you would have thought a DR. had come and given us all a dose of medicine.  I am always amazed at how some time away from the rest of the house and some time alone with your thoughts, ideas, dreams, or hobbies completely refreshes a soul.  When we were finished with our community quiet time I heard things like...


" I don't know , what do YOU think we should do?"  Or,

"Excuse me, mommy, but can I have a popsicle?"

It's refreshing for me to see that my children aren't hellions, just humans.  They have a breaking point, a boiling point where they can't take IT (sisters, brothers, mommys, rules, etc.) any more.  They need refreshed, renewed, revived.  We are all the same.  Today, I needed the quiet too.  such a GREAT thing!!!!!

I hope that you are all having a magnificent June!!!  Such a great month... I will share WHY exactly I think that in  the next post :)   Happy June to all!!  May you have a moment or two of refreshment each day!!

Seven is Heaven

We celebrated Meredith's 7th birthday last week.  There were 9 little girl-friends, beautiful gifts, decorated cupcakes, and happiness flowing through our home.  Meredith is a people-person, no doubt.  She entertained her friends and loved on them the entire length of her party.

 The party wasn't anything too fancy, but it accomplished the puprose of celebrating my special little girl and making her feel like she was queen of the world for that day.  Many times, I've heard others describe Meredith as an old soul.  Although I'm not entirely sure of all that entails, I am certain that her little soul is years older than  a meager 7 years . 

She says things like "In just a moment", or "I will think about that".  Words that make me take a step back and say "Who is this child?" 

party favors

She is thoughtful and courageous, sensitive and spirited.  She is learning that she loves to sit down at the piano and poke out a tune that has been running circles around her head.  She loves to read, and the more challenging the words the better.  Meredith is Patrick's first-born and he is her first love.  They are connected in ways that are beyond earrthly comparison.  It is a connectedness that is a balance of intellect and sensibility, practicality and passion; she looks and acts just like him.  However... I must say that as much as she looks like her daddy, my fashion sense made a way through her DNA and imprinted itself on her a very big way!!  No one can put a cute outfit together better than this child. 

She is part of both of us and she is seven... to her there is nothing better. It is heaven.   I love you, my sweet Meredith Grace!!!