sweet kitchen memories

We did make a Valentine cookies this year.... thanks to my sweet baker. 

It was the day after Valentine's day, but the kids didn't mind! 

Ellie had made the sugar cookie dough the day before, and it was soooo good. 

She called all her siblings down to the kitchen, 

and had made a fabulous decorating station. 

Sweet, sweet times.

I haven't been journaling here a lot. 

I go in and out of stages where I feel I have the energy and time to write. 

It's good to though, and I know I will love looking back

on these posts one day, with a thankful heart. 

So what else have we been doing lately? 

Well let's see.
It seems these days we are doing school, school, and more school.....
along with trips to Irish dancing class for Abby,
every-other week piano lessons,
weekly Latin, Grammar, and Literature class,
the occasional play-date on the weekend,
American Idol on the week nights (a family favorite!),
grocery shopping.... again and again and again,
 hosting community group (which has gotten HUGE :),
cleaning and laundry.... again and again and again,
movie nights with the girls, golf dates for the boys (with the pastor!),
thrift stores..... whenever I can make it,
dishes.... again and again and again,
a family afternoon tea party, a trip to the Children's Museum,
and dinner dates with my man... every chance we can get.

That about sums up life at this stage!

I'm thankful for this season,

but it is hard. 

I keep thinking things will get easier,

but they don't. 

My sin just keeps pouring out, 

but God's grace keeps pouring in.

And I'm so thankful.....

because there is NOTHIN' easy about

sanctification.

And I'm learning the God uses EVERY stage in life

to sanctify me in new ways. 

(At this stage in our cookie makin',
I believe someone had cranked up Adele.
Can you tell?.....) 

I've been reading a devotional that a friend gave me by 

an author named Sarah Young.

It is called Jesus Calling.

Today's reading (February 27), as often happens, was just what I needed to hear. 

Here is what it said:

"Keep your eyes on Me! Waves of adversity are washing over you, and you feel tempted to give up. As your circumstances consume more and more of your attention, you are losing sight of Me. Yet I am with you always, holding you by your right hand. I am fully aware of your situation, and I will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear.

Your gravest danger is worrying about tomorrow. If you try to carry tomorrow's burdens today, you will stagger under the load and eventually fall flat. You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today. It is in the present moment that I walk close to you, helping you carry your burdens. Keep your focus on My Presence in the present." 

(The Scripture passages the author used were Psalm 73:23 & I Corinthians 10:13)

Dearest Father,
Forgive my unbelief. Forgive me for worrying about tomorrow. 
Forgive me for pre-suffering! How miserable I make myself. 


Thank you for your constant Presence. That you will not give me more than I can bear. 
Thank you for sanctifying me, though at times I hate it. 
For your constant grace, for your loving faithful hand, always upon me.
Thank you. 


Give me wisdom to mother these little ones. 
The burden is so heavy. How I need wisdom.
GIVE ME WISDOM!! 
Make our future clear as they grow. 
Show us how to disciple them, to shepherd their little hearts.
To prepare them to live in this world
as light in the darkness. 


I know this is what is MOST important,
not all the academics. 


Please, O please, make their hearts
soft and teachable.
Give them a yearning for your Word.
Convict them of their sin. 


Gird us up when the culture comes blazing in. 
Show us how to walk in it with our kids. 
What to protect them from, when to allow things. 
When to say no. 


They are yours. I know you love them more than 
I ever could. You give them each what they need. 
Thank you. 
Amen

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd; 

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley 

of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

For you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of 

the Lord forever. 

{this moment}

:: celebrating birthdays ::

 

Happy early birthday Tricia....

and CONGRATULATIONS on your new house. 

I can't wait to see it!!

happy valentine's day

In honor of Valentine's day,

I thought I'd post some pics of me

and my sweet ones.... whom I adore. 

Last week, we went to the park on a BEAUTIFUL, sunny day. 

I let Ellie have my camera, and she took some of the cutest pictures. 

(Folks, we have a budding photographer on our hands....)

All of the pics below, were taken by her

except of course the last one.....

and I can't remember who took that, 

it was either Toby or Whit....

I'm not in a lot of pictures these days, because I am always the one holding the camera.

But, it looks like things might be changing! 

And I'm so glad. 

I want the kids to have pics of themselves with their Mama :)

I especially love the candid shots.

If only the pastor had been with us. 

Just not enough pics of me.... with the man I love!!! 

Perhaps we will have to have a photo

shoot in the near future, for that sole purpose. 

Lots of Mama love goin' on in these here pics, though. 

Thank you so much sweet Ellie. 

I will cherish these for years to come. 

 Happy Valentine's Day!!

{this moment}

:: the sound of sweet little voices singing Jesus Loves Me,

accompanied by sweet little hands playing the piano ::

 

i want to be in the light

I've got a song running' through my head..... 

not sure who sung it, but the lyrics to the chorus go something

like this:

I want to be in the light, as You are in the light

I want to shine like the stars in the heavens

O Lord be my light, and be my Salvation

Cause all I want is to. be. in. the. light.

(If you know who the artist is, by all means, let me know!!!)

The light shining through our front window

inspired me to take these pictures last week....

Not sure I ever used to notice the light in San Diego,

or rather the ways it shined inside our home. 

It was shining all the time.... and when something is always there,

sadly I take it for granted

I look for the light now.

 I've said this before, but I struggle to get my camera out

when it is raining. A week will quickly go by,

and I will not have gotten my camera out once, simply

because we were inside most of the time. 

I need to do better. 

I don't want to forget these sweet moments with my children,

sipping tea, reading books, watching and listening to them play. 

 I've been encouraged lately by a wonderful book called

Dancing with My Father 

by Sally Clarkson. She has been a spiritual mentor to me,

and I am so thankful for her ability to encourage

(especially moms)!

Her blog is fabulous too. You can check it out here

Mrs. Clarkson writes of her search (during mid-life) for renewed joy in the Lord.

She recalls earlier times in life, when her walk with the Lord was intimate and sweet,

and how as she grew older and life got crazier,

that joy seemingly disappeared. 

Providentially, I feel like this is me in a lot of ways.....

and her words have given me hope! 

She says,
"Walking in joy, by the resources of the Holy Spirit who abides in me,
is simply believing in him, turning our eyes to him, leaning on him.
Simple faith.
But I must be vigilant to remain in this place of joy.
I must stop the troublesome thoughts and feelings the moment they 
begin to invade my heart and turn
immediately to him,
choosing to believe in his presence and goodness." (pg. 118)

 How I want to walk in the light of His presence and goodness!! 

"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus, His Son,

cleanses us from all sin."

I John 1:7

Last week, at my children's class, their literature teacher
reminded us as she has before
that Jesus IS the Word made flesh,
and the Word IS light and life.

"In him was life, and the life was the 
light of men. 
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it."

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Psalm 119: 105


"God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
1 John 1:5


All such good reminders that we MUST be in the Word, in the LIGHT,
in order for lasting joy to be established in our life. 

I started writing this post over a week ago,
and since then we have had some GLORIOUS, sunny, WARM days,
beautiful sunsets, glowing mountains, and a GORGEOUS, full moon.
Four almost summer days in a row.
Saturday the kids pulled out all their San Diego clothes,
flip-flops and all, and ran around like crazy
people spraying water guns at each other :)
And yesterday was so pretty that the pastor got to play golf on his day off!
We then headed out to take the ferry over to the peninsula to explore
a cute little town which we had wanted to visit. How fun was that!!
I'm so thankful for the light.

It's been said that hear in the Northwest, it usually snows around Martin Luther King Day
(which it did)
and Valentin's Day.
We'll see.

I'm ready for the rain again now that I've had my second winter boost,
first the snow and now these four glorious days.

Thank you Lord. 

{this moment}

This year for Abby's birthday, she decided to make it a simple family affair,

with an afternoon tea-time at the American Girl Store.  

What a blessing for me.....

to have this sweet date with my girl, and not to have the stress of party planning!! 

I took Ellie to the L.A. store for her 9th birthday,

and Abby and I both have always had that in the back of our minds,

hoping to one day do something similar. 

So, this year, as she recently received a new doll,

was the perfect time for this to happen!

And what a sweet memory it was for both of us. 

 I had heard that the food at the store was not so good,

especially for the price....

But a friend recommended the afternoon tea,

saying how good it was for only 10 dollars a person.

And she was so right!! 

We got ALL that was on the above menu,

tea, and an extra birthday treat for Abby. 

So perfect for my 9 year old! 

O, does she have to grow up? 

I will ALWAYS remember her like this.....

 And after our lovely tea,

we browsed the store and then

headed over to get Kanani's ears pierced. 

We decided that this would be Kanani's year,

and next year would be Abby's year 

to have them done. 

O, the joy of little bitty earrings :)

 Thank you Lord for my sweet girl!