Here I Am

Here I am. Pooped, Mommy of 2 precious children, sitting in jogging pants, tank and Wal-mart "track jacket." Thinking about this week. Lincoln Brewster's Amazed playing on my laptop... from somebody else's blog's playlist (I don't have my own music or an ipod, not that I wouldn't, but i don't) :) -

Oh, I love this simple simple life. I do.

I love that Belle had her first sleepover birthday last Friday night.
I love that I'm the mom of a 7 yr-old. That's hilarious, isn't it!? They were so sweet. But I felt like the silly babysitter, not the mom. But, yep, I was IN CHARGE. hahaha

I love that this week I got up way too early for this so-called "night person," sipped my coffee, soaked up time with my Lord, cuddled up under my green throw, and wanted the clock to freeze - it didn't - went to work, laughed with silly middle schoolers and came home and cooked and took the kids to the places we needed to go and cleaned the kitchen and put in loads of laundry and swept the dirt off the kitchen floor ten-hundred times and dried off their cutie bodies and read them books in bed and said prayers and kissed and tucked them, tucking snapshots and whispers in my heart...
and woke up and did it all over again.

I love that I had no time to post the 6 other pictures of Belle that i thought I would, because i've fallen in love with early bedtimes.

I love that I've begun to love books. yes, I am a big girl now. yeah right - but getting there
I love the phone conversations that I've had with treasured friends, that my mom is there for me in a precious way, though I know our polar opposite personalities can drive one another bonkers. haha, I love my Mom.

I love that the only reason I excercised was because Christian and I were playing chase, attempting to fly a kite, and playing some baseball. Oh, and because those darn pine cones and pinestraw just won't pick themselves up.

I love that when i get off my "hiney-boot," as a friend of mine calls it, I find JOY.
Doesn't make sense does it? Seems like a cozy coach and a giant TV would make me the happiest. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, but the way the Lord's wired me, and I think most of us, from what Proverbs (amongst others) :) alludes... there is Joy in doing life. Doing.

So may these "I loves" echo as "Thank YOUs!"

"You dance over me, while I am
unaware.... You sing all around, but I never hear the sound... "
Looking back on these two weeks, I see you Lord.
I hear you Lord.
I love you, LORD!

7 for Belle - year one... more to come!

Sweet "Ibba", "Belly-boo," "Sissy,"

my Isabelle, and everyone's just "Belle" will turn the big SEVEN in seven days! This sweet girlie weighed in at 7 lbs 7.7 oz.

And on her 1st birthday, still had no hair... well, barely any! She did, however have lots of teeth. This year, she is missing LOTS of teeth! haha

Here's a pre-cake photo from 2003:

And - after the cake! That look of "What have I done!? I ate the WHOLE THING!" Ah yes, Belle has lost many teeth, 7 actually (for real), but the sweet tooth has not been one of them!!

Gonna Miss This Moment

For a day filled with moments (thank you Sweet Lord for 75 degree heavenly weather!), it's hard to pick just one. But I'll surely miss the endings to my children's days, where we cuddle up to read all together in my bed, and then they run in their cutie pjs to their little beds, we pray, and I tuck them each in.

Our latest read is The Boxcar Children. Which, seriously, if you're worried about the economy... just read The Boxcar Children. They knew, like Paul, all ya need is food and clothes. That shall be enough. Anyhow - on to my moment!!!

Tonight, as I was tucking Christian into bed, loving the smell of his freshly shampooed head,

he says sweetly, "You pray first, Mommy"

"Okay baby. Dear God,..."

****PPPEWWW PPPEWWW... Gun-like, alarm-kinda-like, crazy noise sounds from deep beneath his covers. I knew at once - the Power Ranger phone!*****

My eyes flash open, and his are open WIDE

And then comes the laugh. Christian has a laugh that starts in his belly and shoots out the corners of his eyes. He couldn't stop laughing and neither could I!

I will truly miss bedtime with my babes, and yes, crazy little toys that make absurd noises at ANY GIVEN MOMENT!

Thanks Pam for inspiring this weekly reflection.

Hair!

So Jessi had this wonderful post and has fabulous hair, and I definitely want to be like her. So... I'm giving it a whirl. I think I'll love it in about 2 months. Seriously, I need some growth and practice. But, letting my crazy... wavy, thick hair air-dry is fun! So, why not!!

Here are the webcam pics, since my poor camera needs duct tape to keep the battery part shut... therefore the battery constantly shuts off - ugh. :) oh well, here they are.

Okay, time for productivity!

You're Gonna Miss This... moment!

My new friend Pam does these moments weekly!!! Be sure to check her's out!

I was actually planning to participate this week... and was thinking of what I might do, when my children said, "Mommy, you're invited to join us for a COWBOY TEA PARTY!"

Oh, what a delightful combo ! It included cheese whiz, honey, saltines, chocolate chips, water, one hand-painted tea set and my favorite cowgirl and cowboy - EVER. I love them dearly! Oh, how I will miss drinking water from tiny cups.

Droppin some quotes... simmer time

The following are the words of Fulton J. Sheen. Here's what I'd love. I would love for you to read both, jot them down in a journal if the idea fancies you, and then let me know which one most readily resonates with you and why.



1) "To love what is below the human is degradation; to love what is human for the sake of the human is mediocrity; to love the human for the sake of the Divine is enriching; to love the Divine for its own sake is sanctity."



2) ...in reference to earthly trials...

"No human being has a choice of whether he will go through life with or without suffering, because this is to a great extent beyond his control. But each one has this choice: Will the suffering open on a Cross and therefore see the joy beyond, or will it be closed to the Cross and therefore be the beginning of hell on earth?"

5 mid-week FAVS!

(Don't ya'll think favs should be spelled faves... )

#1 My precious little boy in this hilarious hat

#2 That it snowed TWO TIMES THIS WINTER... and TODAY was one of those times!!!

I was just thinking how much I disliked winter yesterday, and frowned upon the yucky brown grass, and then! this morning it was sparkly and white... and i didn't have to go to work, and.... i think i owe winter an apology.

#3 My precious precious childhood-all the way to-adulthood friend, Melanie, got married 4 days ago!

#4 And I got to hang out with some of my most favorite people, and don THESE SASSY SHOES.

#5 And... PEEK-A-BOO!!! Spring is actually on its way! Yipee!!!! Daffodils!