For Oklahoma

So many of our hearts are aching

 for all those

affected by the recent tornado's in Oklahoma.

My mind goes back to Joplin too, 

when those storms and images

hit close to home.

 

There was no arguing over bedtime last night

only I love yous,  prayers for people we didn't know 

and 

{because we had thunderstorms overnight here in Missouri}

there was a little fear too.

It made me want to hold on a little tighter, 

gaze at them a little longer

and a wish that time would just linger.

If you are able to help 

you can

Text REDCROSS

to number 90999

to donate 10 dollars.

So very sorry for your loss Oklahoma.

You are in our prayers.

Be safe today Texas!

 

On any given day...

It is not uncommon to find me having three conversations at once.

To find laundry undone...

To see dishes in the sink and unorganized cabinets,
shoes sprawled about with no owner in sight,

This is the house...
 our Home

where the neighborhood kids come to hang...

bonfires, cupcakes, and BB gun shooting
could be happening at any given time.

Dirt bike riding, dogs barking, and
giggling girls jumping on the trampoline,
An impromptu concert of teen boys singing,
Ethan drumming,
Madi doing handstands all over the house,
Cameron playing video games,
And
while it is loud,
messy,
and at times chaotic...
I wouldn't trade it for the world.

(via)

 

It sure is hard to juggle working and keeping
our home as nice and organized
as I would like,
but
is it worth missing out on those
once in a lifetime
moments?
I think not.
While one day blends into the next,
what makes each one special is the love
I get to pour over each of these special ones of mine.
Watering them like springtime flowers in bloom
and
that I get to watch them grow and change
with each passing season.

I'll take the mess over missing those moments...
those little bits of frozen time
 any day!!!
Wouldn't you?

Happy Wednesday Friends!!!

 



Hey soul sister...

 

It had been 7 long years since I got to hug this one...

this sister,

this friend.
She was here for a special visit over my kiddos spring break
and I could not have been be happier...
I mean do a cart wheel
and twirl all around kinda happy.
And just like that the week flew by and she had to go home.
But, while she was here, it was like no time at all had passed us by.
 

We giggled like little girls, we walked downtown, we talked about younger days,
and of course we got some shopping in.

She got to spend precious time with my kiddos and that
meant the world to me and to them.
She liked our little town and all its hills,
and people treated her mighty fine.

We had a bonfire a couple of nights out back and
Ethan's friends came by to hang out...
Alicia loved it.
The boys all sang, played guitar, and, well...
acted like boys...
boys who serenaded us with Wagon Wheel, Mumford and Sons style.

I didn't capture their rendition, but thought I would include
the song for your listening pleasure.

I had to take her down the road to see the lovelies that I visit nearly every day
. She loved them as much as I do.
I think they liked her too.

The last time I got to see my sister was just after our lovely Mama passed away,
It was so bittersweet.
This time
we promised that it would never be so long again,
that we would see each other soon.
I cried like a baby through the airport when she left.
Tears that were so reminiscent of all those years ago when we had to say goodbye.
The sweet time with my sister was food for my soul,
I will cherish the memories we made until we
are together again.
Thanks sis for making the trip...
It meant the world!!!
Now to get my other sister and my nephew out here!!!
Happy Monday Friends!!!!



Behind the scene

Things look peaceful

 

but...
Behind the scene is chaotic at best...

It's five people's schedules and

one very busy car taking

five people from their comings and goings.

I like the comings {home} part best.

Behind the scene it is at times frustrating.

It is forever forgiving...

Behind the scene there is laughing, arguing,

 hugging, talking, listening.

All the things I thought I would never say,

have been said.

Some of the things I thought they would never do,

have been done.
There are good memories,
bad memories.

There is no instruction guide,

no manual of any sort.

There is, however,

a firm foundation in Christ,

a lot of love,

a lot of forgiveness,

a lot of paitence.
Sometimes not enough.

There are grateful tears, sad tears.

It's school books and homework.

It is days of soccer, wrestling, theatre and guns.

It's 4 wheelers, hiking

and haircuts and fun.

It's Worship from home and chicken pox all over.

Lately it is exhausting, exciting, stressful, and frightning.
Praying with a grateful heart
for more days behind this scene.
 

What is life like for you lately?

 

 

 

 

A summer moment

Last week we visited our local water park, we had a wonderful day together. The kids went down water slides and we all hit the wave pool for some family dream time.  Nate loves doing this with our kiddos. He asks them what they are dreaming about lately or what would they have if they could have anything right now. The kids talk about first cars and a house even closer to the lake. But what struck me, was watching the kiddos walk away to go slide some more...

I smiled, smiled the biggest smile at how they have grown, how they were little and
how  now, they are not.
It was a good day. One of those days that you remember always.
I cherish these moments, especially because my kiddos have so many things on their plate. The time we spend all together is so special to me.

It is those little moments that build a life, a life time of memories that we take with us wherever we go and no matter how old we get, we'll remember those special times we spend together. 

Life is far too short, it goes by so fast.

I hold on to these memories even a little tighter these days as I see how fast the time has gone and

how my precious ones are growing more and more each day.

It was a good day.

A Christmas at Home

                                                                        

                                        Christmas time
   This year will be a very different Christmas for us.  Our Christmas will be spent at home instead of our traditional trip to Ohio.   We love going to Ohio each year to be with Nate's family.  This year as Nate has just returned home after working in California for the past year, he thought it would be really nice to stay home for the holidays.  We have not done Christmas at home for as long as I can remember...so needless to say we didn't have decorations or even lights, (a lot of our things are in storage in Ohio...another story)  So this year I thought it would be fun and less expensive to decorate a little differently.  Some of my 5th grade students were so sweet and brought me tons of pine cones this Autumn.  We painted some of them and others we made sparkly with green and silver glitter.  I had some extra gold balls from my class Christmas tree ( that was donated to me 2 years ago by a students Grandmother...Whom I adore) so I brought some of  them home and we painted them with glue and put the silver and green glitter on them as well.  I asked Nathan to buy some lace to put around the tree, he came home with ribbon instead but it worked out ok I think.

While making my Mom's famous chicken...we got busy and glittered everything we could get our hands on.  Nate, Cam and E even got in on the action and helped Madi and I glitter decorations.  Nate put the star on top and the tree was complete. It was nice family time, bittersweet because even though I know the kids are excited that Nate is home and we are all together, I know they are also thinking,  "we wish we could also go to Grandma's house".  Who doesn't love going to their Grandma's house.

My heart always aches to see my sisters, Alicia and Tanya and my Nephew Chance  in Arizona, But, during the holidays even a little more. So it will be a Merry little Christmas for my family this year with wishes for the future that we will be with all of our family again very soon.   Sending love from Branson to Arizona and Ohio always...

My Love is back

Picked up my guy today... Swoon!!!!  Boy have I missed my love.
Those of you who read my blog know that my guy has been working out of state for about a year, in Cali.  We have seen Nate maybe every three months, maybe a little longer between visits.  It has been one of the hardest things we have done as a family...This has been a year of sacrifice,  and it didn't even turn out the way we thought it would. That is ok because I know God has a plan for our family. Today Nate came home and there is pure bliss in our home tonight.  The sound of my children's laughter is enough to move me to tears this evening.  So just a short blog because I don't want to miss one minute.  I want to give thanks to God for bringing my guy home safe. Just in time for Wrestling, Basketball and Cheer season to kick into high gear. So thankful we are all together for Thanksgiving.  So much to be grateful for. I am one happy girl.

Can't stop the rain

                                                                       

Things to do on a rainy day lovelies.... Wrap up with a good book by a toasty fire, or wrap up in the arms of your love. Cuddle with your kiddos and watch a good movie. Enjoy a cup of hot tea and cookies.  Well, I am off to do one or all of the above with my precious family.  Happy weekend all. Enjoy the day, your loves and even the weather.

                                                                    

Perfect day on the lake

Labor day weekend was beautiful in Branson this year.  The lake was fun, relaxing and busy. Everyone wanting to drink in the last taste of summer, to make memories that might help keep them warm through winter.

From cliff diving to Dana's bbq, it was a wonderful day spent with my precious little family and some lovely friends.

Hope everyone had a safe and memory making Labor day weekend!!!

                                                                                   

Moments to Memories

This summer is going to fast...that is all there is to it. Me and my three wishes came to Ohio the first week of June and I can't believe it is almost the end of July. My kids are making memories with their Cousins,Grandparents, Aunt and Uncle.  These moments that they spend with each of these amazing people will turn to memories once summer is over.  They have made friends, played hard and have tried new things.  They have discovered new things they like and things they don't.  Children don't get to stay children for long. Our society wants kids to grow up so fast and in doing so they miss so much along the way.  I know my kids are better for spending summers with my guy's family.  So, one of my moments to memory is Ethan teaching Zade how to pray. Wow. There is much more memory making to do...Summer please slow down. I want to drink it in, store all of these cherished moments so I can recall them at will.