continuing to document Fall Color travels...

I keep trying to post pictures our trip to New England last October.
It's a little anti-climactic now, but I'd be so sad not to have these pictures
in order somewhere!
Enjoy looking back to October with me, or at least have patience
while I chip away at ordering these memories.

Day 12  Visiting precious cousins in Ohio

This little guy (AJ's cousin's son) looks SO much like Zachary did at his age!

Day 13  Columbus Zoo
and stayed at Delaware State Park in Ohio.

I thought Ohio was beautiful!

Happy little traveler!

It was a WARM day in October for the Zoo outing

Polar Bears

Flamingos

Warning:  This is one of those tear-jerker movies.  However.....
It makes me laugh every time!  It just so happens that riding the Carousel
was Carolina's idea and the other kids joined her because she had talked mom
into it.
So, I wonder if she's scarred for life?

All was not lost, because we finished the day at Jeni's ice cream shop.

There were some strange flavors.
In fact, I think they were pretty much ALL strange flavors!
I tried a couple, but I was very happy to see my children choose
Chocolate and Mango.  Aren't the sprinkles wonderful?!!

Jeni's had a super-neat chalk board on their wall and a pile of chalk.
We left our mark.

We love you Jeni's!  Even if you put fennel and pepper in your ice cream!

Big truths in small packages

There are perfectly complete spirits inside
those small, childish bodies we love,

They simply haven't the experience that comes of age.
But otherwise,
if you pay attention,
you will hear profound truths spoken
see the Divine encompassed in mortal weakness,
and know God a little better.



































I got a letter today
from Clayton again.
He's a pretty perceptive fella, that manly spirit clothed in 8 years of body.

It read:

"...I'm glad you're part of our family Mom - even when you're grouchy"

And it's humbling.
because he knows me.

I can't even pretend they (my children) don't see my sin.
Yet their grace keeps reaching out
and forgiving my faults
and wanting me around.
Their love does not put conditions on me.

I'm thankful for that - so grateful!
And glad I know
the Lord is that way too.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

"You can take the cake..."

"...Cause I just need some protein."

Yep!  That's my girls!
Those dolls sure are health conscious, don't you think?
Unfortunately, they (my daughters) didn't learn from me.
At least when it comes to giving away cake - or taking it.
Especially if it's Chocolate cake. HA!
(I don't know where the dolls get such notions)

If no one else jumps in there...
I'LL take the cake!!

Shoes to die for!

(sorry, I couldn't think of a better title for this post!)

I am not a fashionista.
I am not even a shoe horse.
I AM, however in love with these:















 
OH the colors!
The elements and design!
*Be STILL my beating heart *







Don't I have a use for a pair of these?
A NEED?
Can I invent a reason to buy a pair?
Could I possibly decide WHICH pair to buy?

I just wanted to share my window-shopping with you
because someone out there should be able to appreciate my taste!


Oh my Darling El Naturalista!  Must you provoke my senses so?
(and my budget?)


You KNOW I am a common rubber boot kind of girl,
but you make me imagine I could change........... just maybe?
For YOU?

ok.
For ME?

Annnnd HELL-O from under the coffee table!

There should be a good blog-worthy post after a title like that,
and picture like this:

I don't make any promises, but maybe this is a good time to ignore the kids
who are now standing over my shoulder tattling about who poked the other guy
"...almost in the eye" with a sharp pencil....... *sob, sniff, whine,sob*
to focus on a few lighter moments that contain less drama and more smiles for me.

For instance:

who has the pleasure of waking to "Jingle Bells" sung to the tune of
"Hark the Harald Angels Sing" and containing only the lyrics
"JING-GLE Bells, JING-GLE Bells, JING-GLE Bells...."
and so on.

Or how about a conversation overheard in the land of Legos
(and only when girls play):


"This family has 6 boys and 3 girls."

"Wow, that IS a lot!" 

"Yes, and all of them in only 9 years."

(This spoken as if it's the usual course.  But then...
ahem. ...Well anyways. WHAAAT? It's only 7 in 10 years for me.
ONLY 7!  
 9 in 9 years would be insane.  Sheesh.)

There must have been other laughable words and events today,
but Oh what a GOOD THING to reflect on the delightful,
sparkly, LIFE-filled moments!

It does a heart good:-)

-Especially when getting the same silly clowns
to take less than an hour to clear the table for dinner.
prod, prod, prod...
I can't wait to see how long it takes AFTER dinner. Hm.

Is there room under that coffee table for me?


I'll be ready for bed if no one else is.
And hopefully with a smile and a sigh, as I hear Jingle Bells which is stuck in my head
playing over and over to the tune of Hark the Harald.

My Weekend in Pictures

It really doesn't get any better than this!

***

I love Olivia

Melt my Heart

I always thought a BIG brother would be nice.

Now I understand why :-)

Dance little girls, dance!

 

 *Sisters*

 (will they ever know just how lucky they are to have each other?)

Hallway Praying - a way I can worship Him in the Moment

This is me (and maybe Lina-loo?).

I bet many of you have been in this position?

Someone needs their shoe tied

and Momma is the one for the job...

...at the peril of not getting back up - 

at least not gracefully. HA!

Meditating on the idea of worshiping Him in every circumstance

perhaps you'll appreciate the inspiration behind this sketch.

 ***************************************

I have a secret to share with you - a practical application 

in which we can worship the Lord.  

Even in trying circumstances.

A dear mother who is farther down the road than I

shared this secret with some younger moms years ago.

I must have been about 15 at the time but the term she coined 

and the action behind it stuck with me all this time.

While I've never had even ONE hallway in my house since having my own children,

and for that matter, children are not necessary to the equation,

the concept still applies :-)

*Hallway praying is that practice 

of seeking the Lord for discernment 

on the way to "deal" with some skirmish or tussle.

Asking Him for wisdom when you're meeting a child in a matter of discipline or training.

On the way down the "hallway" to the room you just sent the hoodlum,

beseeching the Lord for wisdom, grace, calm.... to see the heart-need before you

and meet it in a God glorifying manner.

How often do you hear the tumult, or bickering, or noise in the bedroom

for the umpteenth time after you've tucked them in for the night?

Do you ever feel lost

when your feet are taking you in the direction you need to go,

but your heart and hands have no idea what to do?

That is ideal opportunity for Hallway praying

and the ideal time for the Lord to refine mom.  

A time to worship Him when you have something you have to do, that you don't want to do.

When I am at the end of my resources, 

and the Lord gives me a victory after I seek Him in earnest...

I can "Hallway" pray all the way back down the hallway afterwards!

(It comes easy then, but watch out if you're a largely pregnant momma

because it's easy to pull a muscle when you're doing the happy dance while you walk)

;-)

. . . “My grace is sufficient for you,
for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
II Corinthians 12:9