a mother's day

"Let's go somewhere the kids can kick off their crocs and play in a shallow river or stream, hop rock to rock, feel the slime of moss between their toes. Let's go somewhere they can climb trees, skip rocks, climb boulders, and explore trails. Let's enjoy a spring evening outdoors with fresh air, flowing water, and the possibility of adventure. Let's be together, enjoy each other...outside. And I want to take pictures of it all, as it unfolds."

"That's what you want to do for Mother's Day?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

He is the best husband for me. I do not wake to a heart necklace of gold and silver, restaurant reservations or a spa certificate. No bouquet of red roses, a new kitchen appliance or expectations of a day of relaxation alone. Instead, he asks, and I spill ideas from a treasury of dreams, displaying vulnerable girl-giddiness with undetectable longing for acceptance. He understands, nods...easily accepts. Accepts me and embraces all that makes me different, every day.
I inner-battle tirelessly to be and have and do as I see in others around me, fighting to be normal. Yet I have been created by the One who made me specifically in this way, for this time and this place, set apart. To easily accept limitations, dreams, is a freedom I am desperate for, run towards. My hope is in Him in whom all things live and move and have their being.
When I remember this truth, resting in that freedom becomes easier. Slowly, I begin to realize who places limitations and confining parameters on who it is that I am.

Me.

~~~

our adventure on a mother's day

::surroundings::


::exploring::




::wandering::

Father, my freedom is in knowing who You are - Your character, Your love, Your forgiveness, Your grace that untangles and smooths over the knots. Let the song on my lips be " I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free." Free indeed.

mondays are for...

a tea party with fuzzy friends,


painting,


adding details to a cat condo project,


a science experiment,


being outdoors,


planting Easter flowers,


preparing the grocery list for a week full of meals,

and now comes afternoon with a rest for the wee one, neighborhood friends knocking, playing and jumping, singing and dancing, dinner preparations and hubby returning, family meal with bike ride following, baths and showers, books and prayers, goodnight wishes and kisses, stretching and worship, snuggling and rest.

all in one day.

possibly the best day of my life.

and then i get to live it all over again

with slight variations.

yes, possibly the best day of my life.

Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Psalm 63:3-5

continuing Gratitude List #169-187

love & light

before we must move on from valentine's day (0h, have you already?), my heart swims in shades of red and pink full of hearts and smiles and lots and lots of craftiness. it's one of my favorites, especially with kiddos.

time to let go of what has passed. again. and keep moving on. but for now, i savor these images just one more day.
or maybe two.





Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23:6

earlier this week, morning light casting through these rooms captivated attention and awe.

i am chasing SONlight in these spaces, some more tangible than others. when darkness peels back and light so gently, yet piercingly, exposes all that is hidden and dormant, i sing praises to the One who forgives, heals, redeems and satisfies this life of mine. meanwhile, tears fall, this raw heart cries out for grace, forgiveness, help. and He is near. always.

Lord, give me a heart and a mind to diligently seek after You.

carpool line

we're a little under the weather as another damp cold front moves in tonight. praying for peaceful, restful sleep as we heal.

let's rewind to the end of last school week, shall we?
thinking about the fun antics, crazy imaginative ideas, and loads of pretending in carpool line while claire and i wait for kindergirl to rejoin us...

167. having a point&shoot camera just when i need one (tucked away and forgotten about in the car after a skating party). claire loves to have her picture taken (can i hear an amen?)

168. knowing that a funny face can only be made with one leg up in the air (have you not heard? well, consider yourself informed.)

what did i tell you? this is proper funny-face position. practice at home before attempting in public.

i, on the other hand, am limited by space (long legs and steering wheel do not mix) and cannot properly demonstrate the proper position. so, instead, i offer this...

thank you, claire, for this flattering and persuasive shot. it was all to prove a point. a funny face isn't funny unless one leg is up in the air. period.

by the way, this is what everyone else is doing in carpool line as they wait, right???

when it seems like life turns into a swirling tornado list of to-dos, more-urgent-to-dos and future-to-dos, i take a deep breath and remember to lean into Him.

remembrance...

158. father-daughter music collaboration

159. what my kids do while they are "waiting"

a) pick their nose

b) suck their finger

160. stayin' in our jammies all day

161. everything about sugar cookies: making the dough, rolling it out, choosing just the right cookie cutters, smell of baking cookies throughout the house, mixing the right color of turquoise for icing...and, of course, decorating the cookies

162. eating decorated sugar cookies

163. kid-creations

164. hubby fires to warm our chilled toes when temperatures drop

165. skating with kindergirl and remembering how much fun it is to be a kid

166. hanging out with my best friend (preferably in the mountains)