He Loves Me...He Loves Me Not...He Loves Me...

It's been a long while since I took a minute to write something, as my brother often reminds me.  But I got a little gift for Mother's Day that I just had to comment on.  Let me preface by telling you that I'm that girl who waits all Fall & Winter for Spring to arrive so I can relentlessly stalk the garden centers to find the specific blooms that I can't seem to live without.  I'm that one you see inspecting each plant to find just the right one & the one who drives to each nursery to find the biggest hibiscus at the best price & then goes back to the first stop to actually buy it.  

I'm also the girl that almost cried several years ago when my husband carelessly took down my potential peony plant with one fateful swing of the weed eater.  Thankfully, it survived.  That little plant was one of my first projects 8 Springs ago, the first Spring we moved here.  And each year, I have watched and waited for a little bloom to appear, but each year there's been nothing.  

It's been 15 days since we put a "for sale" sign in our yard.  This is our last Spring here.  Every time I start to feel a little nostalgic about leaving, I focus on the future & think of how much fun we'll have making our new house our new home.  

But, the Lord knew just how to make my last Spring here just right.  And the day after Mother's Day, a little miracle occurred on the side of my house when the little peony finally debuted in my favorite shade of pink.  Only God could do that.  Because He knew it would make me smile.  Because He knew I would know it was from Him.  Because He knows I'm the girl that's crazy about flowers.  Because He wanted to remind me...He loves me.

A Spare Thought in my Random Time...

Despite the fact that this is a really busy week & there may be .5 people that actually keep up with my blog, I'll write today.  Because it's been a while, because my brother asked me to, & because maybe it will encourage that .5 people out there!  

Today the Lord has impressed upon me the need to pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to be on my life more.  I heard a message this morning about this very thing, when I've recently found myself trying really hard to do a lot of things.  Even when they're good efforts, sometimes what God really wants is for me to take myself out of it & let Him.  Everywhere I look there is heartache.  Maybe it's because we're in the end times, maybe it's because my eyes are older now, maybe it's both.  But this has also become a time when God can show me & others who He is.  

I'm dying to see God do what only He can.  

Happy Birthday, Lola!

It's officially been 2 years since our lives changed again for the better & Lola was born.  Since that day, we've loved more, laughed more, been hugged & kissed more, been talked to more & just lived more.  We can't say enough about how much joy she brings us every single day.  We thank the Lord He saw fit to let us be her family.

A Sweet Life

We've had a busy fall, so far, as have many of you, I'm sure.  This past month has been filled with lots of fun, including a trip to South Carolina to see my sister and her family, my dad's birthday, the Mission's Conference at church, a trip to Dollywood, and Halloween last night!  Whew!

And through all of it, we're having a great time, cherishing the days and moments that we'll remember for eternity.  I'm consciously taking in all the smiles, all the giggles, and all the peaceful moments of sibling camaraderie (no matter how few).  

I love my life and the four beautiful children that God has entrusted to me.  And here are a few snapshots from our life in the past few weeks.

A Delightful Decade

Once upon a time, exactly 10 years ago, there was a tiny red headed baby girl born in a tiny town in America.  Her mom & dad were thrilled to have a new baby girl to love, and her big brother was as well.  As she grew, people would notice her wherever she went and tell her how much they loved her beautiful red hair. When she was old enough to go to school, she began to make friends because she was very friendly.  She had a very sweet smile which caused people to like her.  Wherever she went, she would try to be helpful and kind to others.  And she made her parents very proud because she was a very good girl.  Through the years, people still commented on her shiny red hair, which had stayed the same beautiful color since the day she was born, but more and more, people began to notice her goodness even more than her hair.  And by the time she was ten years old, she had learned that although it was nice to be noticed for being beautiful, it was beautiful to be noticed for being nice.  And today, she's living happily ever after.

Abby celebrated her 10th birthday on Friday. And while she loved celebrating with gifts & cake & a sleepover with her friends, I celebrated with thoughts of all I love about her.  

First Day

It's been five years since I left one of my babies at the Kindergarten door that no parents are allowed to enter on the first day of school, but this morning, when  I had to do it again, all the same dread came flooding back to me.  Most of you know that I'm not good with big changes, so that's why I've been focusing mainly on Lily today and how much fun she'll have at school.  I'm not thinking at all about how much I'll miss her or how old she looked in her school uniform.  No, I'm just being positive.  And that's why I don't have to fight any tears while I'm writing this.  I'm just fine.  Really, I'm fine.  And now I have to go be positive some more.

PS  Grant and Abby did just fine themselves.  Now that they are in 6th & 5th grade, they're old pros. :)

The Long & Short of It

Even though the summer is half over, Abby & Lily made up their minds that they wanted their hair cut.  Of course this had nothing to do with some friends of theirs recently getting theirs cut as well :).  So, Saturday, they had it cut.  Lily had 10 inches cut, which was enough to donate, so that was nice.  They're getting so many compliments, I may cut mine off next!