Day 126: Honoring a Great Leader-Nelson Mandela

This post includes a few of my favorite quotes, as we learned the sad news yesterday, of the passing of a great man and leader of Good!  Nelson Mandela, may he rest in peace.

Day 125: Nov. Thankful Day 29

Thankful for Thanksgiving!

Day 124: Nov. Thankful Day 28

Thankful for our children's friends. You will be known by the company you keep and I'm thankful that our children have always made good choices in their friendships. Blessed are we that they have been surrounded by wonderful kids with morals, values and integrity that match their own and that their friends come from Godly, loving families. Friendship is a blessing, and we are thankful out children are making life-long friendships that inspire, support and motivate each other to service and greatness, kindness and humility. We are also thankful for our friendships that have formed through those families.
Proverbs 12:26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor...
Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise...
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Day 123: Nov. Thankful Day 27

Thankful for these Seniors!! Great time at Meet The Team 

last night and excited for an amazing (final, sniff- sniff) 

season! 

Day 122: Nov. Thankful Day 26

 Thankful for Just Dance sessions with my Belle!!

Day 121: Nov. Thankful Day 25

Thankful for a great day/night out with my girls yesterday.

 Catching up and Catching Fire ..... Still catching my 

breath! Wow!

Day 120: Nov. Thankful Day 24

 Thankful that God provides.....may we always appreciate

 wants vs needs.....and oh how blessed we are!

Day 119: Nov. Thankful Day 23

Thankful for my favorite President.......and 3rd grader for 

that matter!-- Kid President

Day 118: Nov. Thankful Day 22

This is the sweetest reunion and greeting ever!! So it 

definitely takes my Nov. Thankfulness Day 22 post!!! 

Thankful that service man and his precious family and baby 

 were reunited before baby's First Thanksgiving and 

Christmas!!! Thankful for his sacrifice and service as well as 

the many other service men and women and their families!

Day 117: Nov. Thankful Day 21

Thankful for an Artist and friend and her sharing her GIFT 

with so many for so many years as a VOLUNTEER guest 

artist! What a blessing she has been and so many children 

has she inspired!

Day 116: Nov. Thankful Day 20

Thankful for the smiles put on my face every day and the 

absolute Laugh Out Loud occurrences that happen daily! 

Day 115: Nov. Thankful Day 19

Thankful for the JOY of being surrounded with the best this

 world has to offer: CHILDREN! 

Day 114: Nov. Thankful Day 18

Thankful for the health and happiness of those I love  

Day 113: Nov. Thankful Day 17

Thankful for my precious and sweet Grand Nieces and Nephew......wish I could smooch on you all more often!!!  Another blessing to being the "baby" of the family.....you get to have Grand Nieces and Nephews come along just when you are most missing your own babies being babies!!! :) #thismamalovesbabies

Day 112: Nov. Thankful Day 16

Thankful for perspective!

Day 111: Nov. Thankful Day 15

Thankful for the gazillion and one things on my "Get To" Do 

list  

Day 110: Nov. Thankful Day 14

Thankful for STAPLES-That was easy!

  

(ok. tongue and cheek here.....but those who know-KNOW)

Day 109: Nov. Thankful Day 13

 Thankful for my dear, sweet, hard working, fashionista, glam squad and super-fun friend, Ali!

Day 108: Nov. Thankful Day 12

Thankful for the beautiful dusting of snow today! 

Day 107: Nov. Thankful Day 11

Thankful for ALL Veterans but especially thankful for MINE! Korean War Vet., Radarman 3rd Class, Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal! Always proud of you, my dad, my hero, my sweetheart, my love!!

Day 106: Nov. Thankful Day 10

Thankful for our loving, uplifting and spiritually leading church family and the Confirmation group †

Day 105: Thankful Day 9

 Thankful for the Dance Team!



e Team!!!!

Day 104: Thankful Day 8

Thankful our kids get to have one year of high school together!  #Special time   #Blessed

Day 103: Thankful Day 7

I'm thankful for my mother-in-law's birthday dinners. She's been doing them for all her kids n grand kids... for years! She's an excellent cook, but I'd put her fried chicken up against anybody's!

Day 102: Thankful Day 6

 I'm thankful for FRIENDS!!

Day 101: Nov. Thankful Day 5

 I am thankful for my extended family-parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and beyond! They have all touched my life greatly.

Day 100: Nov. Thankful 4

 So thankful my kids appreciate God's glory too! Baby girl saw this this morning n called me on the porch to see it.

Day 99: Thankful Nov. 3

Day 3-I'm thankful for God's gift of children and our 3 bring absolute JOY to our lives!  

All my life, I looked forward to having children and becoming a mother.  I can recall when my older sister was pregnant with my niece and I was so close to her! From the moment I felt her kick in my sister's tummy-to the first time I held her in my arms.   I felt that unconditional love that you first experience with loving a child.  It was the best thing!  

Then when I got married and we started to plan for having children of out own, we went through a slight scare because I had a pre-cancerous surgery on my cervix, which my Dr. said made it risky to become pregnant.  She wanted us to wait at least a full year before we tried conceiving.  She also said there was a slight chance that I may not be able to conceive after the surgery because of possible scar tissue forming.  I remember feeling so upset at the thought of not having children!  I just couldn't believe that I would ever hear those words and I didn't want to believe it!  Well, my husband and I didn't wait as advised.  We got pregnant right away and THANKFULLY the entire pregnancy went without issue.  We gave birth to a healthy, beautiful, baby boy and all was right in the world!

We went on to have 2 more easy pregnancies and 2 beautiful daughters who are the MOST amazing sisters to each other! 

Children are a GIFT from God and we are so THANKFUL for the blessing of our children! 

Day 98: Thankful Nov. 2

Day 2- I'm thankful for my husband <3 

Day 97: Thankful November

It's November again and you know what that means.  Thankful posts, pumpkin pie, and for our house--Christmas music and Christmas movies and of course--hot cocoa!!  We start celebrating the Christmas season because we enjoy it so much and it seems to go by so fast!  This year, I'm going to try and do the Thankful Post each day.  Well, if I miss a day, I'm going to try and get caught up but I do want to try and get a post up for each day in Nov.  I certainly have plenty to be thankful for so it will be fun to participate.

Day 1- I am thankful for God! His love and mercy and patience with me, His grace and His gifts that He bestows upon me, His goodness, blessings and His will that I seek to accept, His Son, who died for me and my sins. Thank You, Jesus! † So blessed.......

Day 96: Fallelujah

So Fall is upon us....and it's been absolutely gorgeous outside!  The colors are changing and everything is just beautiful.  There have also been some big events in our house with the milestone birthday of our oldest and the fun of having a senior!!  He's was on Homecoming Court so that has been a real treat--full of different themed days and costumes, a dance, a pep rally, football game, tailgating, etc.  Then we threw in senior portraits just for good measure ;)  

Then we take the girls....and their love of pumpkins scented everything.....bake a few pumpkin pies and a double batch of turtle brownies and you're setting yourself up to be stuffed like a turkey!!  YUM!

It all adds up to one terrific Fall season so far!  What a joyous time in our lives!

Day 95: In Remembrance of 9/11

I meant to get this post up on 9/11......but here goes.  As everyone, I have been reflecting this September, on the tragic day that changed our lives forever.....and when I came across this letter from a Newtown parent, I felt it was quite fitting for honoring HEROES.....whether they were 9/11 heroes or ANY tragedy heroes.  It just summed things up quite nicely.....that what it's really, ALL about.....is Courage, Faith and Love.  <3 
http://mychannel957.com/mother-of-sandy-hook-victim-write-powerful-letter-to-teachers/

Day 94: Dance Through Life

So I admit, I love dance. I love any type of dance and I especially love TO DANCE.  This post is dedicated to just that:  DANCE!

Now, this particular clip is called a SHAG dance and it's by a couple in their 60's.  Well I have to admit, I had to research this SHAG dance and discovered it was a dance that started in Myrtle Beach, SC and it was also very similar to the swing dance.  I can recall my father dancing  a "jitterbug" in our living room as I was a child and it is very similar in step.  There's apparently only 8 or so moves/steps and the dance comprises of a variation of these steps.  

So I have to say--dancing is one of the most enjoyable things to watch or do in life and......I've since come across KidPresident who says: "give the world a reason to dance!"  so I guess you could say, I've sort of adopted that motto!!

Enjoy--

Day 93: Marriage advice

August is the end of Summer and Summer is often a high time for weddings.  I've posted a couple of times on wedding or marriage advice......not because I deem myself as any type of expert but because I have come across a few really insightful posts that I found to be very helpful advice and I always want to share anything that could help ANYONE's marriage!!  Plus, I think I've mentioned that I like to save them for my own children.  This post is one I recently came across which supposedly was written by a man who was divorcing after 16 years of marriage ;(  and he'd reflected upon some things he'd learned through the ordeal.  While it is written from the man's perspective, I found the advice to truly be applicable for either partner.  It has a lot of tips for BOTH partners!  Here you go:

From the eyes of a divorced man

MARRIAGE ADVICE I WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD:

Obviously, I’m not a relationship expert. But there’s something about my divorce being finalized this week that gives me perspective of things I wish I would have done different… After losing a woman that I loved, and a marriage of almost 16 years, here’s the advice I wish I would have had...

1) Never stop courting. Never stop dating. NEVER EVER take that woman for granted. When you asked her to marry you, you promised to be that man that would OWN HER HEART and to fiercely protect it. This is the most important and sacred treasure you will ever be entrusted with. SHE CHOSE YOU. Never forget that, and NEVER GET LAZY in your love. 

2) PROTECT YOUR OWN HEART. Just as you committed to being the protector of her heart, you must guard your own with the same vigilance. Love yourself fully, love the world openly, but there is a special place in your heart where no one must enter except for your wife. Keep that space always ready to receive her and invite her in, and refuse to let anyone or anything else enter there.

3) FALL IN LOVE OVER and OVER and OVER again. You will constantly change. You’re not the same people you were when you got married, and in five years you will not be the same person you are today. Change will come, and in that you have to re-choose each other everyday. SHE DOESN’T HAVE TO STAY WITH YOU, and if you don’t take care of her heart, she may give that heart to someone else or seal you out completely, and you may never be able to get it back. Always fight to win her love just as you did when you were courting her.

4) ALWAYS SEE THE BEST in her. Focus only on what you love. What you focus on will expand. If you focus on what bugs you, all you will see is reasons to be bugged. If you focus on what you love, you can’t help but be consumed by love. Focus to the point where you can no longer see anything but love, and you know without a doubt that you are the luckiest man on earth to be have this woman as your wife.

5) IT’S NOT YOUR JOB TO CHANGE OR FIX HER… your job is to love her as she is with no expectation of her ever changing. And if she changes, love what she becomes, whether it’s what you wanted or not. 

6) TAKE FULL ACCOUNTABILITY for your own emotions: It’s not your wife’s job to make you happy, and she CAN’T make you sad. You are responsible for finding your own happiness, and through that your joy will spill over into your relationship and your love.

7) NEVER BLAME your wife If YOU get frustrated or angry at her, it is only because it is triggering something inside of YOU. They are YOUR emotions, and your responsibility. When you feel those feelings take time to get present and to look within and understand what it is inside of YOU that is asking to be healed. You were attracted to this woman because she was the person best suited to trigger all of your childhood wounds in the most painful way so that you could heal them… when you heal yourself, you will no longer be triggered by her, and you will wonder why you ever were.

Allow your woman to JUST BE. When she’s sad or upset, it’s not your job to fix it, it’s your job to HOLD HER and let her know it’s ok. Let her know that you hear her, and that she’s important and that you are that pillar on which she can always lean. The feminine spirit is about change and emotion and like a storm her emotions will roll in and out, and as you remain strong and unjudging she will trust you and open her soul to you… DON’T RUN-AWAY WHEN SHE’S UPSET. Stand present and strong and let her know you aren’t going anywhere. Listen to what she is really saying behind the words and emotion.

9) BE SILLY… don’t take yourself so damn seriously. Laugh. And make her laugh. Laughter makes everything else easier.

10) FILL HER SOUL EVERYDAY… learn her love languages and the specific ways that she feels important and validated and CHERISHED. Ask her to create a list of 10 THINGS that make her feel loved and memorize those things and make it a priority everyday to make her feel like a queen.

11) BE PRESENT. Give her not only your time, but your focus, your attention and your soul. Do whatever it takes to clear your head so that when you are with her you are fully WITH HER. Treat her as you would your most valuable client. She is.

12) BE WILLING TO TAKE HER SEXUALLY, to carry her away in the power of your masculine presence, to consume her and devour her with your strength, and to penetrate her to the deepest levels of her soul. Let her melt into her feminine softness as she knows she can trust you fully.

13) DON’T BE AN IDIOT…. And don’t be afraid of being one either. You will make mistakes and so will she. Try not to make too big of mistakes, and learn from the ones you do make. You’re not supposed to be perfect, just try to not be too stupid. 

14) GIVE HER SPACE… The woman is so good at giving and giving, and sometimes she will need to be reminded to take time to nurture herself. Sometimes she will need to fly from your branches to go and find what feeds her soul, and if you give her that space she will come back with new songs to sing…. (okay, getting a little too poetic here, but you get the point. Tell her to take time for herself, ESPECIALLY after you have kids. She needs that space to renew and get re-centered, and to find herself after she gets lost in serving you, the kids and the world.)

15) BE VULNERABLE… you don’t have to have it all together. Be willing to share your fears and feelings, and quick to acknowledge your mistakes. 

16) BE FULLY TRANSPARENT. If you want to have trust you must be willing to share EVERYTHING… Especially those things you don’t want to share. It takes courage to fully love, to fully open your heart and let her in when you don't know i she will like what she finds... Part of that courage is allowing her to love you completely, your darkness as well as your light. DROP THE MASK… If you feel like you need to wear a mask around her, and show up perfect all the time, you will never experience the full dimension of what love can be.

17) NEVER STOP GROWING TOGETHER… The stagnant pond breeds malaria, the flowing stream is always fresh and cool. Atrophy is the natural process when you stop working a muscle, just as it is if you stop working on your relationship. Find common goals, dreams and visions to work towards.

18) DON’T WORRY ABOUT MONEY. Money is a game, find ways to work together as a team to win it. It never helps when teammates fight. Figure out ways to leverage both persons strength to win. 

19) FORGIVE IMMEDIATELY and focus on the future rather than carrying weight from the past. Don’t let your history hold you hostage. Holding onto past mistakes that either you or she makes, is like a heavy anchor to your marriage and will hold you back. FORGIVENESS IS FREEDOM. Cut the anchor loose and always choose love.

20) ALWAYS CHOOSE LOVE. ALWAYS CHOOSE LOVE. ALWAYS CHOOSE LOVE. In the end, this is the only advice you need. If this is the guiding principle through which all your choices is governed, there is nothing that will threaten the happiness of your marriage. Love will always endure.

In the end MARRIAGE isn’t about Happily ever after. It’s about work. And a commitment to grow together and a willingness to continually invest in creating something that can endure eternity. Through that work, the happiness will come.

Marriage is life, and it will bring ups and downs. Embracing all of the cycles and learning to learn from and love each experience will bring the strength and perspective to keep building, one brick at a time.

These are lessons I learned the hard way. These are lessons I learned too late. 

But these are lessons I am learning and committed in carrying forward. Truth is, I LOVED being married, and in time, I will get married again, and when I do, I will build it with a foundation that will endure any storm and any amount of time.

If you are reading this and find wisdom in my pain, share it those those young husbands whose hearts are still full of hope, and with those couples you may know who may have forgotten how to love. One of those men may be like I was, and in these hard earned lessons perhaps something will awaken in him and he will learn to be the man his lady has been waiting for. 

The woman that told him 'I do', and trusted her life with him, has been waiting for this man to step up.

If you are reading this and your marriage isn’t what you want it to be, take 100% responsibility for YOUR PART in marriage, regardless of where your spouse is at, and commit to applying these lessons while there is time.

MEN- THIS IS YOUR CHARGE : Commit to being an EPIC LOVER. There is no greater challenge, and no greater prize. Your woman deserves that from you. 

Be the type of husband your wife can’t help but brag about.

Day 92: Learning to tie your shoe laces

It's August and that means BACK TO SCHOOL for many so I thought it was a perfect time to share this little technique!  It's the best "bunny ear" method I've ever seen for learning to tie your shoe laces and as a mom, I can remember that struggle to teach your children this!  Let's just say I am certainly grateful for my dear friend who was also my children's caregiver in those early years because she is the first one who showed me the "bunny ear" technique and I'd kind of forgotten about it.  This video is even easier than I remember!!!  Hope it helps you too!  

Day 91: Sharing Joy

This is a story I've seen a few times and most recently again, on social media.  It has a heart warming message on the power of spreading joy!

It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking..

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room's only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.
Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.


She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present .'

The origin of this letter is unknown, but please pass it on.

Share it with friends and tag them so the cycle continues ... Do not keep this letter ... You could change a life too

Day 90: Christian Marriage Advice

Summer is winding down (sad face :(  so this means less mommy journal time for this mommy!  

I do have another good article to share and this one is about marriage and although it's written as more directed towards girls, it contains really good principles and could apply to either partner.  I'm definitely sharing it with my children! I wish this information was more readily available and promoted in our society.  Might decrease our divorce rate and make for happier marriages overall. 

http://thechristianpundit.org/2012/08/15/it/

Day 90: Just for Today by Sally Meyer

This is the email message (poem) I received so many years ago that I've kept pinned to my refrigerator for a daily reminder!  :)

Just for Today
by Sally Meyer

To my child:

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear and smile and say how perfect it is. J

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won’t worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies and I won’t stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald’s and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening, when I run my fingers through your hair as you pray …….

I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.  I will think about all the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children’s graves instead of their bedrooms, and the mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can’t handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you goodnight, I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer.  It is then that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day……..

Day 89: Slow Your Roll ;)

Any parent can tell you that life is busy!  That's not really hard to grasp, but I also think any parent can also tell you that "feeling" busy is totally different.  
About the time that I had my 2nd child, I began to feel that "rush" start to creep in.  I didn't like it.  I knew it wasn't good and I didn't want to have my precious babies' childhood go by in a flash while I was "busy" cleaning, cooking, working etc.  So I had that "epiphany"....which for me, often comes in the way of a daily inspiration, prayer, message etc. and I've said so often before that God often speaks to me exactly when I need to hear it most!  
So this post is about slowing down.  And I had an an email message that came to me from a friend many, many years ago that helped articulate quite nicely--just what how I was feeling and what I needed to be reminded of.....in the nick of time :)  Just as my babes were toddling, crawling and the third one in the oven ;)

Then today I saw a post on social media that was a good reminder.  I'm going to post both of the messages here too.......because maybe, just maybe, somebody reading this needs this eye opener or needs this reminder......or maybe they too can appreciate the message.  

And while my babes are really no longer babes.....the same is still true.  We have to SAVOR life and times together!!  So just last week I was in the barbie aisle with my youngest.....and I thought to myself (ok, every time we do this, I always find myself telling her it's time to go after a few minutes and I am going to make a conscious effort this time to make sure I let her browse until her little heart's content <3  I don't care if we're standing in this aisle when the store closes.....I'm just going to let her peruse and she can tell me when she's ready to go!)
So I did!  And boy did it feel good.  I wondered later if she even noticed.  Then today she and I were reading the article in the link that I'm attaching to this post and I said to her..."do you remember the other day in the barbie aisle?  ..." and so then we talked about how I had made an effort to SLOW MY ROLL :)  
I guess it's good that she didn't notice it that day because maybe that means I'm doing better about it than I think I am.  :)  
It's one of those MOMMY things I'm always working on improving! 

So here's an excellent article: 
http://www.handsfreemama.com/2013/07/16/the-day-i-stopped-saying-hurry-up/

and here's the other message that I received those many, many years ago.....on the brink of parenting that I have kept clipped to my refrigerator as a daily reminder to......SLOW MY ROLL!!!

Just for Today
by Sally Meyer

To my child:

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear and smile and say how perfect it is. J

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won’t worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies and I won’t stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald’s and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening, when I run my fingers through your hair as you pray …….

I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.  I will think about all the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children’s graves instead of their bedrooms, and the mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can’t handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you goodnight, I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer.  It is then that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day……..

Day 88: Family Day

I've written before about how our son was going to this program this summer for 5 weeks!!  Last weekend was Family Day which meant that families could  visit the campus and take their child for the day to spend time off campus with them.  What a wonderful visit we had!!  I was really impressed with the campus and it's facilities but oh, how I enjoyed having our boy around again!!  I just LOVE when all my little chics are under one roof!!  Even though it was only for one day-- we're so thankful that we were given a visit day!  It's unbelievably hard to have your child gone for so long....even for a great opportunity and experience as this!  Then today in church, a group of Scholar students were recognized and it made me miss our son so much more!  They are here attending the same program at our local University's campus and as I glanced at the group--I could see my own son among them.  The program opts to send students to another town from which they live so that they can gain the full experience of being away to college.  It sure was nice to see all those students at church....even if it made me aware of my of an empty seat in our aisle :(

Day 87: Journaling

You may notice that the introduction to my blog refers to how I used to keep a mommy journal on my old computer......well guess what I found today??/  The files of that old mommy journal!!!  I'm so excited!!  
And in going back through my entries today.....I found myself completely bawling with tears of JOY!!  Life passes so quickly.....and it is a precious, beautiful gift!  
In honor of the whole gratitude movement--I have to say that the best way to feel grateful is to regularly and continually evaluate your life and the many blessings in it.  Even the difficult times we all face......we can be thankful for what they teach us and how they help us grow and mold into what God wants us to become.  Wow!  I read 40 pages covering approximately 4 years of my life when our babies were babies and I have one thought-Thank You God!

Now--I am trying to think of a way to incorporate those older entries into my blog ......just so that everything will be in one place.  Hmmmm......I will have to think about how best to do that.  But it sure was a treat to discover that all that journaling was saved and accessible.  Now, I do still have the handwritten journal that started it all.....so hopefully it can all be combined and composed into one format for my children to keep.  That's why I started all of this in the first place.  And I was just thinking about this again today while on some social media sites--that today's "journal" for many will be their social media timelines.  What's nice is that children of today's social media will have wonderful journals with full color pictures and even video chronical-ing their lives.  I can think of a few friends with babies and just in their first year of life--have developed wonderfully documented journals of so many things our generation probably did not have.  We were the home video generation--but today's youth will have so much more!  It's truly amazing to think about.  

Day 86: Father/Daughter Dance-Laura & Ray White's Father Daughter Dance

It's ironic that my last post was titled Dads and Daughters because today I come to post an adorably cute Father/Daughter dance from a recent friend's daughter's wedding.  Those who know me well, know I have a THING for wedding videos (reminiscent of the famous JK Wedding Dance that went viral a few years ago!)  but I absolutely LOVE watching a good video clip from a fun wedding!  This one is cute too.  I can totally see my own husband doing something silly with our daughters at their wedding too!
These type of videos always make me CRY--but in a good way.  Tears of joy for happy people celebrating and loving life!  Good Times!

Day 85: Dads n Daughters

This post is to share a recent list I came across that gives advice for Dads to Daughters.  I think you will enjoy this list.

50 Tips for Dads of Daughters

Day 84: Hello Governor (Gov'narh)

We couldn't be more proud of our son!  Among many accomplishments he has recently been selected as a Governor's Scholar!!  

The good news is that he will get to experience a wonderful 5 week program to help prepare him for his future.  The bad news is that it's a 5 week program ;(

It's hard to let go--but it's part of the aches and pains of parenting that are small in comparison to the many JoYs of parenting! 

We are so excited for this opportunity and know he will have a wonderful time.  He's becoming a fine young man!

Day 83: Revisit JK Wedding Dance

In 2010 the JK Wedding Entrance Dance craze hit the world by storm and made everyone dance and cheer along!  There have been several replicas but the original still makes me cry tears of JoY!

Since the phenomenon, the couple have created a website for donations of domestic abuse prevention.  I thought I'd post it here, along with the original video that made headlines.

http://www.jkweddingdance.com/

Day 82: Date Nights

You don't have to be married 20 years to realize the value of Date Nights!  We have been very careful to continue dating throughout our marriage and hopefully it sends a good message to our kids for them to see that we still "date".  It is important to have that couple time in addition to family time.  I always enjoy time alone with my husband......but we often go out with friends too and both are great ways to reconnect and rekindle that IN LOVE feeling!  I would suggest making it happen at least every month....but some folks are fortunate enough to make it happen every week.  Our schedule lends itself to more frequent date nights during the summer so we make the most of it! 

Here's to good friends and great date nights!

Day 81: Art

We have been so blessed that our kids have been taught Art by a very special artist and friend.  She is so amazing and she asked if she could paint one of our pictures......well it just turned out awesome!  She's been a great inspiration and influence on our children as well as being a wonderful friend!

Day 80: Piano Recital

This was baby girl's 3rd Piano Recital and we are so proud of her!!  She's an amazing spirit with a musical gift among others.  I've posted before about how I could listen to her play piano all day and she just keeps getting better!  Plus, she's started teaching her big sis how to play!

Day 79: Banquets, awards and Promotion Ceremony

Hard to believe we have hit another milestone with 8th grade promotion and will now have 2 in High School!!!  We have been busy this Spring with special events such as Soccer banquets, awards ceremonies, etc.  Fun to go down memory lane......and we couldn't be prouder of our children!

Day 78: Proms

The years keep flying by and we find ourselves at yet another PROM!  This one was our oldest's junior prom where he made the Prom Court!  We are always proud of him and cannot believe we are nearing that SENIOR year!!! 

Day 77: Mother's Day

Mother's Day is always special and my sweet family makes it so!  

I especially love their own original works of art or crafts!

Day 76: Revolving restaurant

I recently attended a conference and brought my girls along with me.  We got to experience a revolving rooftop floor restaurant. I can remember my dad taking me to one when I was little while traveling to a conference with him so it was pretty cool to get to take my girls in the same situation. This was their first time ever being in a revolving floor restaurant and it was pretty cool!

And the dessert bar cart was pretty sweet!!

Day 75: Soup care

About a month ago I got really sick.  My sweet daughter helped me feel so much better by bringing me this.

I just had to post on her caring and sweetness!!  She is precious to me and will make an amazing mother some day!!!  All of my kids take such good care of anyone in the family when they're sick!  Blessed beyond measure!

Day 74: Rosary bracelets

This Easter we got rosary bracelets!  Thought these were really neat and had to finally post!

Day 73: Hands

This pic is one I've wanted to take for a while now and even though it was taken with my phone, and it's not the best quality-at least I finally have it.  
It's a generational pic of hands; mine, my mother's and my daughter's.  

Day 72: RED

I can hardly believe I've not posted about this yet--but I managed to take my girls to another Taylor Swift concert.  This was her RED tour and we made a girls' night of it with one of my best friends, her daughter, a cousin and my girls. 

It truly was an excellent show and I've mentioned before but Taylor Swift does an outstanding job of making it feel intimate by positioning herself on 2 stages and making a wave through the crowd on some motorized rig. Last time it was a rotating balcony and this time it was more of a rotating/floating cart.  It really gets her up close and personal with more of her crowd and gave us some great photo ops.  

 







I will always remember doing these concerts with my girls! And while we didn't get into her "club RED" (which is what she now calls her T-party) it was still an awesome experience for us! 

Day 71: Air conditioning

I have fond memories of my childhood.  Particularly of spending summer nights with windows open--enjoying not only the breeze but also the sounds of summer night critters.  

Recently, I was reminded of this as my son prefers to have the AC running full throttle (perhaps he's part eskimo!) and I remembered how we slept with windows open during summer nights.  It was often cool enough that we didn't need the AC running (granted, this was summer nights in Pennsylvania and Michigan so temps were cooler than southern states).  But part of that summer experience was sleeping with the sounds of summer.  

I also remember fondly, a neighbor friend who was more like a 2nd grandmother.  She grew a garden and taught us about many things.  When her grandchildren would visit we had week-long sleepovers because they were our ages and we'd play together all summer.  She introduced me to the delicious combination of coffee ice cream and cantaloupe fresh out of her garden!  I can still taste it!  Not a combination I would have ever thought to put together but yum, was it good!  We played all day and then had sleepovers upstairs in their attic bedroom (which I thought was so cool because of the slanted ceilings).  The windows were low and you could sleep right beside them with the breeze coming in on top of you.  We barely needed sheets as covers because it was so cool and after catching fireflies in jars--we had the perfect night light for hours.  Great memories--

Day 70: Nature

We have been watching this series on Discovery Channel called North America.  If you haven't checked it out--you should.  It is amazing-cinematography- quality footage of the most incredible nature North America has to offer.  We have been recording the episodes (gotta love DVR!) and watching it with our whole family. It's just so, so good.  I had to devote a post to God's glory of nature! The circle of life and the intricate perfection of it all is displayed in this series. 

Day 69: Harlem Shake

The Harlem Shake has taken over the internet!  It's been fun seeing everyone's versions but this one is special because it reminds me of the JK Wedding dance video that went viral a few years ago.  It is a Wedding Harlem Shake and I think you'll enjoy it too!.

Something about these 2 (this Harlem Shake and the JK Wedding dance) make me cry with tears of joy every time I watch them.  I don't know what it is.....perhaps an overwhelming feeling of happiness--and I LOVE to see people having a good time together.  Or maybe it is just the epitome of JOY and all that life has to offer in the way of happiness and experiences.  Whatever it is that brings me to tear up--I know that I am inspired buy them and they are uplifing.  So I want to SHARE them as often as I can!!


Netti Wedding Harlem Shake 2 (added a 2nd version slightly different camera angle)

Day 68: Sibblings

There is truly no greater gift than children!  I've said it all along.  but there's an aspect of having children that I truly adore and that is watching our children interact with one another.  Naturally--they are human and so there will be occasional bickering but for the most part-we feel truly blessed that our kids get along so well.  They truly are kind to each other, take up for each other, and are great to each other.  When I see or hear of their friends and how they may treat their siblings  or when we are out in public and we see siblings being mean or ugly to each other......it affirms our appreciation of how special our kids are.  

 Then there's the fact of all of the kids being together (because we realize that this too will change as they grow up and move out :(  and we adore when they are all laughing or in a room together........or especially when they all get in a marathon of watching old episodes of Friends, The Office or Star Wars movies together.  When they were younger, it was building forts with blankets and couch cushion obstacle courses all over the living room floor!  This has been going on since they were very little......(I am reminded of Cali saying "harr---borrh"  as she imitated Darth Vader's scary voice!!!)  Precious memories!!!

Day 67: SuMMeR

Well I have definitely been slacking on blogging (self-proclaimed) little Miss Mommy-Pants!!!  But it's SuMMeR and now I have a little .....emphasis on little....more time. One thing is soccer camps and practice have me up early running kids off here and there so I may as well use this down time in between wisely ;)

First on my mind is how much I love summer!  But I think it boils down to this:  I love TIME with my family. I love when everyone is home--and we're together--no matter what we may be doing.  This week it was swimming, mowing, riding bikes, summer camp, soccer practice and a couple summer basketball games.....then dinners, popcorn and movies or just hanging out together -talking and laughing!  

These are treasured times because in just a few years......the kids will be grown and we don't take any of it for granted.  We cherish every bit of our life together.  We just watched a couple home videos.  Wow!  That really brings it all into perspective.  We realize how quickly times goes by and how much JOY and fun having children has been and continues to be.

Day 66: Father of the Bride's words of wisdom

This video came across facebook today and it reminded me of one that my husband did when he was in the wedding video business years ago.  He always shared the best or funniest clips with us and we'd always laugh or cry or clap together watching them.  This video is NOT one that my husband did, but it is so similar in nature and I wanted to share it.  The father of the bride is giving away his baby girl......and while we are still a few years away from this big moment......it never hurts to start preparing "that" speech ;)

Day 65: Sewing barbie clothes

When I was a little girl I loved Barbies and would play for hours on end.  I also learned how to sew and would take any clothes that no longer fit as an opportunity to get fabric for my fashion ideas!  I had so many outfits for my Barbies that I made myself including pillows for Barbie, blankets etc.  So I was eager to hand this tradition down to my own girls.  This weekend was that time.  I had a pair of pants on the chair waiting to go to Goodwill when my daughter said "Mom, let's sew a dress for Barbie with this fabric."  I couldn't resist.  It was a very nice fabric for a dress ;)