Archive for February 2012

On days like today...when I feel completely and utterly spent...when all is poured out of me and there is nothing left...

I need Your grace.

When everyone is getting along and school is enjoyable...when the chores are done with cheerfulness and nary a grumble...

I need Your grace.

When my sin overwhelms me...my selfishness defeats me...my pride overcomes me...and my temper gets the best of me...

Oh Lord Jesus, I need Your grace.

When marriage seems easy...when communication comes naturally...when all seems right in our home...

I need Your grace.

When doors are slammed, angry words are spoken, feelings are hurt, and forgiveness is not forthcoming...

Sweet Lord, I need Your grace.

When I wake up with the sun...spend time refreshed in Your Word...pray over my family...

I need Your grace.

When errands are cumbersome, laundry is mountainous, and making dinner is monotonous...

I need Your grace.

When I stand in line at the store and someone quickly rushes forth to pay for ALL of my groceries...when friends appear at my doorstep with steaming meal in hand...when prayers are lifted up to surround me and family...

Precious Lord, I feel Your grace.

When I am kneeling before You in all of Your glory...the depth of my sinfulness becoming undeniably apparent...the finality of the cross becoming a reality...the veil being stripped forever away...

Oh Lord Jesus...I will MARVEL in Your grace.

Saturday morning the sun made a glorious, warm...brief...appearance!

It was much too nice to stay cooped up inside all day.

I ran through the plethora of places I could take the kids...wondering which ones would actually be feasible with me flying solo. (I have been known to try and accomplish too much on my own!!!)

The winning destination...

Reedy Creek Nature Preserve.

Perfect for a day of exploring...

a bit of investigating...

...and just chillin!

After taking a tour of the Nature Center we were off on our ~~walk~~ hike!!!

We set out with high hopes of reaching the Robinson Rockhouse...

which we learned was about TWO miles away!!!

After about twenty minutes of ~~walking~~ hiking...

we decided to change route to Dragonfly Pond...

much more adventurous!

At some point, everyone had a walking stick.

The older two used it for just that...walking...

Jackson's stick alternately became a sword or gun (depending on the "bad guy" he was fighting)...

which of course made the trail all the more ~~slow~~ exciting!

We took plenty of rest stops...

enough to catch our breath...or catch up period!!

And after all that hiking...it was time to PLAY!!!

It was such a fun, inventive play ground that kept the kids busy for a very LONG time!

The two youngest spent the most time in this super huge sandbox.

Yes, I did let Hailey play in the sandbox! GASP!!! :-)

And she probably did get a fistful of sand into that mouth...and some in her socks...and pacifier...etc!!

But then I put her in the swing to try and "shake" it all out of her!!!

She didn't seem to mind!

A super fun Saturday.

A repreive from missing Daddy.

A special time of making memories!

I wish I could stop time.

Not indefinitely, of course.

Just enough to grab those giggles and snuggles to last me a lifetime.

To chronicle every cute quip and hilarious side story ever played out in my home.

Because the reality is...my babies are growing up...all four of them!

Obviously, having four children I should know by now that newborns become infants over night.

Then as you blink your eyes (and get adjusted to lack of sleep) they turn into toddlers.

While you're desperately trying to pick up cheerios and teething rings and any other leftover food that might be on the floor...they become TWO year olds!!! When did that happen???

Unfortunately, time seems to warp speed at this point and life just zooms past!!!

But I don't ever want to forget these treasured days...these precious faces...these tiny fingers and toes!

I don't ever want to forget this precious older brother...always willing to lend a hand, fetch a diaper, wrestle, or even play make believe!

I don't ever want to forget random "silly" dances, crazy made up words, funny faces, or unique talents for making everyone in the family laugh!

I don't ever want to forget that every stick is a gun, every car is a race car, every doll is named "Lucy", or that everything GOES IN YOUR MOUTH!!! :-)

I don't ever want to forget long "deep" talks or heart-felt prayers or the squeals of joy when Daddy comes home!

I don't want to forget beautiful cards, date nights, trips to the zoo...or puppet shows, karaoke songs, or dance moves!

Soon they will be all grown up and my memory will be hazy at best...

but I don't ever want to forget these precious times we've had...

just being together!!!

We have LOVED this last year of membership at Discovery Place and Discovery Place Kids.

When curriculum fails to excite us...and the sun is hidden behind the clouds...and we are in need of some brain-teasing fun...we have headed to our two favorite places for a day of "intelligent" play!

Our membership ended this week...and so, as a final "hurrah" I decided to take the kids to BOTH museums this week.

Yes, I did get the inevitable "You're the best mom in the whole world!" comments.

And I reveled in them for all of five minutes...knowing that when they realized these would be our last visits for a LONG time...the sentiment would fade!