dandelion love

It all started with a field of dandelions. 

To many, they are considered weeds and a nuisance. 

To five kids, they inspire....

"Let's turn this field of weeds into a gallery of love," she thought. 

And so began the "dandelion love".....

 All were called to help. 

 Even the tough boys ..... (in fact, I think they enjoyed the love :)

Of course, the sweet girls basked in the yellow goodness. 

And mom looked for the beauty through her lens....

The picking, well ......

it went on, 

and on,

and on, 

and on. 

 Hmmmm..... this gallery of love is going to take a LOT more love to finish. 

Reinforcements were called in. 

A ladder was found. 

 And the 5-pack found their places. 

 "Might as well close our eyes while you figure out how to get the shot."

 The ladder didn't cut it. That dandelion love was way too great. 

 Aaaaahhh, that's better:

The roof has the PERFECT view for all that love....

for YOU Num Num and Papa! 

You can count on our love any time you need it.....

ESPECIALLY during "dandelion season."

a very special Sunday

This past week, another in our family had a first.

Sweet Abby Jane made a public profession of her faith,

and joined the rest of her Covenant family in taking the Lord's Supper! 

How EXCITED she was,

and how EXCITED we were to see her excitement!!

We take communion weekly at our church,

and Abby has been watching and waiting, in expectation, 

for the time when she could join us. 

She recently went through a communicant's class, 

and then last week met with the pastor and an elder.

You should have seen her smile when the meeting was over. 

O, so sweet, to hear her recount what she had said.....

her simple trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of her sins.

I believe she might be the most articulate of the bunch! 

Anyway, I wanted to document this special day......

These pictures were taken of her later Sunday afternoon. 

Num Num and Papa gave her the special necklace.

I can't wait to see how the Lord is going to use

this sweet girl to further His kingdom. 

What a treasure she is.

"And I am sure of this,
that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion
at the day of Jesus Christ."
Philippians 1: 6

look at her go

This past weekend was a weekend of firsts for little Whit. 

Friday night, she had her first friend sleepover with a sweet gal named Jill.

She was ecstatic about it! So happy that she could finally 

be like her big sisters. I will say, she was a bit more sure than her Mama.... 

she did GREAT though, and had such a fun night. 

Saturday afternoon, I came outside to this: 

I'm so sure, the pastor simply took off her training wheels,

declaring she needed to learn to ride without them.....

gave her a push, 

..........and off she went. 

I don't think she fell once .....

and was quite giddy about the whole thing.

(can you tell??) 

 Of course the others had to join their little sis,

especially because it was another GLORIOUS spring day. 

They were all being a bit rambunctious,

 up to their normal shenanigans.....

 hmmmmm..... 

Toby thinks he would like to try.

They've all got such talent,

can't you tell?? 

A little nerve wracking for this mamma ..... 

(don't you LOVE the bright green crocks and ridiculous helmet??

Only Toby would care less. At least they aren't pink :)

Abby has been getting better and better

at balancing on her thrifted in-line skates! 

And ..... "the wave" 

Of course, the pastor had to show off a few moves. 

(I think he's HOT!)

I'm hoping that when we get to San Diego in a couple of weeks,

Whit will take to swimmin' like she's takin' to riding her two-wheeler.

We shall see ..... 

For now, she's all smiles!!  

smiling faces

Spring is finally here in the great Northwest!

Today, I got to read to my kids outside on the front porch, while soaking in the sun.

We have had SO MANY beautiful days the past two weeks. 

In fact, this past Easter weekend felt like a San Diego Easter.....

then it rained cats and dogs on Wednesday (so untypical here....usually it's more of a sprinkly, misty rain!)

and then the sun was out once again yesterday and today (and supposedly through the week-end!)

Like I've said before, I don't trust the weather man, so we'll just have to wait and see! 

BUT, because it's been so beautiful, we've been outside every chance we can get,

and I wanted to share a few pics of my lovelies..... 

 

 

 

They are all getting so big .... (and we are getting so OLD :)

When I went back to San Diego this past month, I drove past our little

1250 square foot home on Tobiasson Road. That home is FILLED with such

sweet, sweet memories and will always be (in my mind) the "home of my babies."

I miss that home in a lot of ways, though I think a lot of what I miss are the baby years. 

Seeing it once again, while caring for my newborn nephew and 3 year old niece,

really made me morn the passing of time...... 

THEN, coming back to my newSeattle home and my very grown up 5- pack,

all now having new needs and new challenges,

I was reminded again what a different stage of life we are now in! 

Sometimes I'm not so comfortable in this new stage,

it seems to be quite a learning curve for me....

 I'm excited to see how the Lord is going to grow

and sanctify me through these years,

and I am quietly confident He will give me and the pastor 

the grace we need to shepherd our children's hearts

and do this "kingdom business" well. 

What joy these kids have brought me and continue to bring me!

How I love being there friend ..... shopping, watching movies, taking long walks,

talking about books, baking 

and how I love discipling them and watching them grow in the Lord. 

O how my cup is full!! 

{this moment}

:: pocket knives and dandelions ::

Easter weekend

2 Corinthians 4:7-10

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the 

surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; 

perplexed, but not driven to despair; 

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 

always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, 

so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."

What hope we have!
This morning, I read the passage above, after a very FULL
and BEAUTIFUL Easter weekend..... and my heart was so thankful.
I love the reminder that Christ works through me,
 .... a broken, jar of clay.

Our weekend started off Friday when we had our family Easter party.
(pictured in the post before this one!!)
A couple of weeks back, I had a silly panic attack that my little ones, especially #4 & #5
were missing out on the traditional, school "holiday parties."
So I purposed that we were going to have our very own shin-dig.
I'd been telling Whit for a number of weeks about my idea,
and let her help me pick out decorations and candy for our party....
she decided on a yellow theme!
It was so cute watching her choose items for the party.

Friday morning, we woke up, and Whit and I went to work getting
our table decorated. Again, I loved watching how she chose to decorate.
Boy, she has her own opinions and ideas :) The table turned out lovely.
Ellie had made a menu for our party,
and she graciously put together a lot of the food.
We dyed eggs, which was quite fun .... and also later decorated sugar cookies.

That night, we had a very meaningful Good Friday service at our church.
A first for me, since attending my childhood church.
We read through and meditated on the last 7 statements of Jesus
before He died on the cross, extinguishing a candle after each scripture reading.
Finally after the 7th, the lights went out and we were given opportunity
to take our sins to the cross and leave in silence.
No fellowship, very somber, a time of "wanting" and "waiting" for more.
and then .....

Easter morning.
HE IS RISEN!!!

We had a sweet time with the children before Sunday morning worship.
Looking for Easter baskets, preparing for a full day of celebration and fellowship.
Ellie was up before I was, putting her Challah bread in the oven!
I am SO proud of that girl.

I had the privilege of teaching Children's church ....
so fun to walk through the 12 "resurrection eggs" with the kids.
They all went home with a dozen eggs,
each containing a symbol of the Easter story.
I think they loved it ..... and so did my crew, who got to come and
serve with me. I love that we can do ministry together.
How I want to teach my kids to have servants' hearts!

And then back home for food, fellowship ....  and of course the Masters!
We had a number of folks join us for a yummy, Easter meal.
It was a sweet, SWEET afternoon with our covenant family.

:: I hope your weekend was filled with the knowledge
of the surpassing power of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ! ::