Evening.

These photos are from a couple of weeks ago, I meant to put them on sooner, but you know how it is. One kid gets sick, two kids get sick, three kids get sick, mommy get's sick, the week slips past, the basement floods, you do groceries, mop the floor, and fall into bed.... the story of motherhood, the story of life. So, back to the photos: Mercy's first braids!! And LOOK how long her hair is when it is wet, wow!! Sammy after his shower, looking 'crazy'. He wanted to recreate this look the next morning for school, but i don't have those sorts of skills. :) Julia reading peacefully. She loves to read. I enjoy evenings. How about you? I love feeling the end of the day pull me to slow down, finish tasks, prepare for peace and quiet and cozy things. It is a time for sitting on the couch reading to kids, putting lunches in the fridge for the next day, flicking the switch on the kettle to make tea. *sigh* A nice time of day. Enjoy your next evening. You only get one a day! Don't take it for granted! :) haha.

A Day With Us. Phase Three.

Crafting. It really runs rampant through our lives day by day, art supplies are everywhere, crafts abound, and one day they may just take over.... duh, duh, dun. (scarey music)

These are this years' Christmas decorations. Something New I Tried: yarn, plus glue, plus balloons equals pretty things!! :)

A Day With Us. Phase Two.

There is one day in the week where we look forward to a special visit, and lately it has been for High Tea, complete with pretty cakes. What a blessing to have family nearby. :)

A Day With Us.

To start our day, the kids would do something peaceful, like build robots while I cook in the kitchen. yep. We have hit a time in life when all the kids enjoy the same entertainment! Amazing, because I did not foresee this phase. :) Thanks to our friends Dave and Janie, we did this project together and love love love it!! Step One: Hot-Glue magnets to recycled materials, craft supplies, etc. Step Two: Clean out tin cans for Robot Bodies. Step Three: have WAY TOO much fun. Even I love building with these 'free form'/ 'out of the box' style toys! ((Sammy Insists that these are 'rocket' parts however...see picture below))

Thankfulness. Flows from God's Grace.

I have been doing a lot of reading and pondering at Ann Voskamps blog these days. I find her passion contagious, inspiring, humbling. www.aholyexperience.com is her blog. read it. be changed in the deep places of your heart. Here are photos from a family walk to enjoyed last week. It was pleasant, and feels like it was an age ago. This week has been long, good, emotional, and sunny!! Our fall weather has been like NO OTHER, incredible! sunny, chill, clear, full of color in the leaves and grasslands. God's paintbrush has worked wonders all around us, and it brings a thrill to my heart. Just breathing in the cold air fills my mind and heart with thankfulness to my Savior. As my lungs feel chilled, refreshed, renewed; I can feel my heart being refreshed, made new in the quiet moment that I allow my thoughts to drift to God and nothing else. Focusing on the Eternal purpose of each moment that God gives me. Each moment is a gift and i squander them so often. But I focus on Him, not my failure, but His grace. Forgiveness. Newness of life. And i tell Him in my moment of quiet, breathing in that cold air - I tell Him it is Him I rely on for everything and I want Him to use my broken life to bring Him glory.

Waiting and watching the Remembrance Day program at TCA. :) The kids always do such a beautiful job of honoring those who fought for our freedom. It truly was a God honoring day of thankfulness. The grade 7-8 class sang the Battle Hymn, and two of the parents from school sang "Give thanks with a grateful heart"- two pieces that spoke of the source of our freedom: God.

Hey, that was more words than I 've written in a long time. :) have a great weekend!

Beautiful Life.

Photo: Beautiful Julia. :)

Psalm 5:11 "But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you." Photo: My lovely Mother!! (from our visit last month)

psalm 31:7 "I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul." Photo: My dear Daddio. (from our visit last month)

Psalm 70:4 "May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!"" Photo: Jump the hurdle's in life. :)

2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." Photo: My Little Troop of Treaters. :)

I hope you enjoyed this photo-log, and the verses that I posted from God' s word. I haven't had a lot of words lately, maybe one day I will!! :)