one hoppy girl

Easter is almost here.

We've been playing bunny alot at our house.

SK celebrated today at school with an easter egg hunt.

10 eggs filled with treats = one hoppy girl.

list in front of me

I was adding some pray requests I received tonight to our chalk board in the kitchen. It's getting pretty lengthy.

A family making hard decisions, under stress, needing guidance.
A friend, Mom, dreading the thought of going back to work and leaving her newborn.
A little boy dealing with a dying grandparent.
A couple on the verge of divorce with two kids.
A job that could be lost, layoffs coming.
Two teens needing prayer desperately for decisions they are living out.
A sweet baby undergoing testing, anxious parents wanting answers.
A little boys family life being torn apart by divorce.
A dad/grandfather being diagnosed with cancer, not knowing how long he has.

I sat there, going over the list in front of me. It seems these days the requests are many. It is overwhelming and is honestly depressing. I hurt for each of these, wishing I could somehow help. Wishing I had a magic wand. Instead I pray knowing the real answer here is JESUS. In him we can find peace in these situations, he alone is controlling each and every one of them.

everyday joys {3.26.10}

1. abstract sculpture GM brought home from school

2. sunshine and pansies

3. green grass

4. pigtails and play-doh

5. SK's sunflower seed project

their own daffodil edging

I've referred to my parents yard as heaven on earth many times. Growing up I loved the way my Dad's yard would change colors with each new season. God has blessed him with a love for nature and two green thumbs. He amazes me at his knowledge of each species and he can tell me where each plant came from. Some of them have come from my great grandparents yard, simple starters that have grown, multiplied and painted his yard with color and contrast.

Spring was a favorite time. Seeing all the daffodils pop out, how they start so small and become bursts of sunshine always amazed me. We had rows and rows of these flowers, enough to pick a big bundle and bring into the house to enjoy while still leaving alot of color outside. I also loved my Dad's placement of the bulbs. They are on the edge of the woods, kind of a barrier between the grass and nature. I loved walking down the rows, picking, taking in the fragrance. I expressed my joy to my husband, he's seen them in full bloom at my parents house. He too loves how they outline the yard. So why would it surprise me that he would do the same?

These pictures are from our yard, taken today. Some are beginning to peak while others are still just stems. They are there, in a row. While my daffodils are small in quantity compared to my Dad's, they were lovingly placed by my hubby just as they were in my youth, on the edge. I love how my memories have been sweetly preserved (somewhat) in my own yard. Will GM and SK grow up marveling in the yellow beauty? Who knows. I will continue to tell my story and maybe someday, they will pass it along with their own daffodil edging.

counting...1-2-3-4

Done. {Yay!}I do find it ridiculous that I got three mailings telling me it was on its way on top of all the commercials.

We get the message!

Just send IT, save us the money.

Too bad our leaders aren't getting our message on the new health bill.

Grrr....

{Okay, I will now get off my political high horse before I get sucked in and become disgusted.}

sprung

We are ready for spring here, feeling it in the weather, seeing it in nature.

Enjoying the signs.

Eggs

Wooden bunny Art and I made many, many years ago.

Pansies.

Color on the front door.

Year round tree for March.

Bunnies of course.

Tulips in my Grandma Grace's glass. {They look great in it.}

Bunny basket I made when we were just married.

Newly planted Forget Me Nots the girls and I worked on today.

where we've been

We've been to the world where dreams come true.

We had a great time, in fact 607 pictures of memories to sort through.

Oh my!

So to not bore you with picture after picture I will give you the highlights.

We drove through 6 states - Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennesse, Georgia and Florida. 2078 miles to be exact.

We met: Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Pocahontas, Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Lilo, Stitch, June, Quincy, Leo, Annie, Handy Manny, Tiana, Naveen, Tinkerbell, Fawn, Jo Jo, and Goliath.

We could see Magic Kingdom from our room and saw their fireworks show "Wishes" every night at 10.

We ate at Chef Mickey's for dinner and breakfast with Cinderella in her castle, very special.

We visited four parks - Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studio and Animal Kingdom.

I danced with Fro-zone from The Incredibles.

GM was pulled out to dance in two parades and the Lion King show.

We hung out with my sister and her family. That was the cherry on top.

We had the best tour guide (my brother-in-law).

AP and I heard tears our last night there.

We heard the "Wishes" song over and over in the car ride home. Daddy later downloaded it, they are in heaven.

AP and I are being asked continuously when we will go back to WDW.

We made magical memories.

Thanks Disney!

Thanks Uncle Jeff, Aunt Tine, Adam and Abby

a year

Since I slipped on the hardwood and rammed my foot into the wall.

Wow.

These pictures hurt to look at.

I never want to go back here.

Good thing that came out of it... we have a new rule in our house - NO running to get the phone!

Another good thing... I can tell when it's going to rain now.
In fact, I feel another rainstorm coming on soon.

swing

Daddy made a swing this weekend. I think they like it ;).Daddy too!

the girl, the mom

The girl loves to roller skate.

The girl is growing up.

The Mom still sees her as her baby.

The Mom has a hard time letting go.

it's not rocket science ny

I am a person who runs on a schedule.

I have a cleaning schedule.

I have a laundry schedule.

I have a menu schedule.

I don't normally deviate from them because they are ingrained in me. I even have reminders of these schedules on my iphone {I know it's sad}. It's how I operate and survive. So to go and change one of these schedules is a big deal. Even though I don't like change I do like to hear how other Mom's tackle their "schedules." I have heard it many times, either by friends, read it on other Mom blogs the idea to do a load of laundry each night {see I told you wasn't rocket science}. My scheduled days to do laundry are Wednesdays and Sundays. I've found that I dread these days because of this schedule, it's overwhelming and takes FOREVER! Plus it cuts into family weekend time. So now, each night I will do a load and I've even taken it another step further {at least for me}. I used to do the girls laundry all together, making matching socks such a joy! Now I do GM's laundry one day, SK's the other. Again this is not rocket science and I feel silly not thinking it through before. It is working, it is more manageable. I start a load at night, move it over to the dryer the next morning and fold/put away after the girls are in bed that night. It's working, change is good, wish I was quicker to realize it :).
I'm learning as I go.

everyday joys {3.01.10}

1. Little Pony's, movies of Little Pony's with songs like Disco Dance, sung by SK.

2. GM's imagination, making a home for her dolls out of a box.

3. Number flashcards. Grace had a test today, passed with flying colors.

4. Girl Scout cookies, nuff said.