On the eve of a new year...

Our year comes to a close and I think there is one word to sum up where we are.

Content.

Our little family enjoys time together and we each also have things we enjoy to do independently.

Two weeks off at the end of the year always gives us a chance to recharge. The first week was spent celebrating Christmas with family and this week we have been quietly resting and hanging out at home.

When we start school next week, our school year is half over and we will be making plans for spring...

It was a wonderful year and I am so ready to look ahead to 2015!

11/8

Last Saturday, I took some time to put away the Halloween decorations and bring out a few things for Thanksgiving.

When I do this each season, I like to change the words on our piano too. It's a fun routine and I enjoy choosing new words to match my heart at the time. I have a lot of "Give thanks" and "Gratitude" going on right now, so I chose different words for this spot.

When we got to church on Sunday, "Grace Upon Grace" was the topic of our music and message for the service. This happens so often,  when our devotions, our thoughts, and our prayers all come together beautifully as the spirit leads us.

So this month I remind myself over and over, it is by my faith and His grace that I continue to go about my day to days. Each time I feel myself getting overwhelmed or negative, I just say it to myself "by faith and by grace".

It is all any of us need.

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10/25

Busy, full fall. 

We are content, happy, blessed. 

10/2

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My favorite month...

10/1

A simple, routine day can be filled with joy. 

One only needs to make the connection between joy and contentment. 

9/23-9/30

...it's that time of year. 

I LOVE fall. I do. But by this point, being back to school full time for well over a month...I get TIRED. 

A day away with my sister this past weekend definitely helped. I'm still tired, but feel so happy!

9/22

Fall '07

9/21

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9/20

I love a good parade. 

9/19

We live in this really great town. It's small enough, but not too small. Homecoming weekend at the university we both attended and Fall Ball at the high school means a parade over the weekend and a lot of family fun! Now that we are in our 5th year here, things that we do each year are starting to feel like traditions. I like that.

9/18

Source : lifeovercs.com

When the parents both work in schools, and the kids both go to school, parent-teacher conference time can be a bit stressful a couple of times a year. It's part of the job, but requires some careful planning and a lot of patience!

9/17

From our day at the races last spring

On days when it all starts to feel like a race, I have to sit myself down and remember what is important. On days when I feel so tired that I don't want to do anything, I just take it one task at a time. I pray. I breathe. I smile.

This life can be a lot, but I just repeat, "All good things". Really, every little issue that pops up can be made good. I just have to slow down and see it from the right direction.

9/16

A Mama's Prayer

I was remembering this prayer, as I marked another inch he had grown on the wall.

9/15

I purchased some fall clothes for the kids over the past week and am taken aback at how BIG the clothes look to me hanging on the hanger. How can those fit my kids?! How did I get to be a mom with kids that size? I can still remember purchasing tiny things...I did enjoy the tiny things.

9/14

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Church, teaching Sunday  School, lunch with friends, neighborhood picnic, and then home with my loves. It's an embarrassment of riches. My heart is so grateful.

9/13







It was this great day. Filled with family and friends, spending time doing FUN things that were purely recreational. We spend a lot of time with school and work, the four of us. It was really nice to have a Saturday that felt like a Saturday!!!







9/12

Hey, Sky - quit bragging!!

9/11

Remembering ~ Reflecting ~ Respecting

9/10

We all can remember where we were and what we did on 9/11/01.

I remember sitting in shock with my new husband, we'd only been married a couple of months. We finally shut off the t.v. and played Scrabble because we were 23 years old and 1700 miles away from the terror and had no idea what to do with ourselves and all of that terrible news.

What I wish I could remember was Sept. 10th, 2001. What it felt like not to have that in my heart. The war. The fear. The sadness. I wish I could remember what it was like for my husband and me, newlyweds in a tiny apartment without much to worry about but making rent and who was doing the next load of laundry.

I realize that everyone's lives were changed that day and that the effect 9/11 had on my life was minimal compared to so many others. That being said, I really wish that I could remember 9/10/01. I'll bet it was a pretty good day.

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9/9

In 3rd grade at our kids' school, they do a timeline of their first 8 years. It's so much fun to look back through the photos. I want to share the photo that got the biggest laugh at our house tonight:

9/8

Hate to brag...but I will. Kind of nailed it with my lunch today. Knocked it out of the park, actually. 

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9/7

When our praise team at church sings this song, it sets up the whole week to be HAPPY. Everyone should get to feel that kind of happy. The head-to-foot, joy joy joy joy down in your heart.

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9/6

Wondering what to read next...I LOVE a great story. 

9/5

Friday nights in fall now mean Friday night lights. Football is not my favorite sport, but it's fun to go out to see a community enjoying something together in a positive way!

9/4

Just got Sister Day 4.0 on the calendar. Yippee!!

9/3

I'm going through old pictures for a third grade project...as if I needed any help with lingering nostalgia!

Buddy's first Easter popped up...there are such good memories there. We've got two really capable kids now, it's a little hard to remember what it was like when we were so needed as parents. There's a tiny part of me that really misses the constant care and keeping of babies and toddlers. And another part that really enjoys being able to say "get dressed" in the morning and then going about my business!

9/2

When I look at this picture, my heart aches with immense joy and sadness.
How that is even possible, I have no idea.

This, a picture of two of my favorite guys.
My Grandpa Harold, who is now in heaven.
My Buddy, who is now so heavy I can barely lift him.

Sadness because Grandpa is gone and my baby is grown.
Joy because how lucky am I, to have so much love in my life.

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9/1

The school year for us is a bit of a balancing act. Everyone is busy with their own stuff, everyone has to pitch in around the house to keep things going...

Today is a bonus day. Labor Day. For me, it means a day to get my ducks in a row. Laundry, dishes, vacuum, mop...getting ready for the next week of work. Housework. School work. Work work.

8/31

It was a beautiful day spent at the lake with friends. Coming home, we drove through rain that could have spoiled our fun. It stayed away and let us have our gorgeous day. Summer is on its way out, the cool fall air is sneaking in.

When we got home, we could see those clouds from our yard. The ones that brought rain on our drive home, but avoided us as we enjoyed our day outdoors with friends. It is a beautiful life that we live. I'm so grateful for all of it.

8/30

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Opening day for college football means we watch the Huskers play! It also means cheese dip, a cold beverage and lots of folks wearing red. This is one tradition that I look forward to each year. It signals the end of summer and makes for a festive fall...until we lose.

8/29

What I love about my Buddy is that he doesn't just have great ideas. He is relentless in the carrying out of his ideas. He demands ACTION.

What you see is this afternoon's action: a bug habitat fit for a king. And yes, that is a gummy bear duct tape ramp for the buggies to crawl on. 

He's so good for me. He walks the talk, just like I want to. 

8/28

8/27

Because church on Wednesday night just makes sense. We're so lucky to have a happy church home. 

8/26

Tonight, Bee had play practice. She's going to be a flower in the musical Wonderland. It's a children's production in our small city and she is so happy to have a role! Seeing her with a script, running lines...it's all very exciting.

8/25

There was a DOUBLE promise in the sky this morning and it was glorious!

8/24

There has been a new washing machine, fridge repair, water heater repair, garage door repair, and now a new dishwasher since March. Sometimes being a homeowner gets a little $$$. Grateful for a warm, safe place to live. Hoping our appliances are done breaking down for a while now!

8/23

Saturdays are different now that school is back in session.
It's a catch up day of tidying and laundry and being happy at home.

8/22

A foggy, gloomy morning. 

Home with a sick Buddy. 

There was peace here today. Thankfully. 

8/21

The days are so hot and humid right now. I open the door each morning, hoping to get a blast of cooler air. It hasn't happened yet, but I know fall is on its way. I'm ready.

8/20

Living a life of luxury over here with my pb&j (hold the j). 

8/19

I will admit, I am offended when I read pleas to let God back into our schools.

God goes with me to school every day. I also ask Him to join my kids and my husband.

We four attend four different schools every day and He is there with us all. He is there in our choices, our actions and our words. He is there in our love.

I love because He loves me, regardless of whether or not religion is taught. I pray silently, my thanks and also my requests.

God is big enough to be in all of the schools.

God is there. Please don't let fear make you believe anything else. If you want Him there more, then please cover your school in prayer and ask others to do the same. Go there and take Him with you.

But please don't say He's not there. He is there.

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8/18

Bee moved to a new bedroom this summer and the empty space in her old room was filled soon after with someone new. Not quite what I had in mind for "guests" in our new guestroom. 

8/17

Church, lunch, hoops, movie.

A perfect Sunday. 

8/16

My happy place...

8/15

It spanned almost the entire length of our little city this morning. 

God's promises calm my heart. 

8/14

Starting the school year with zero summer regrets. Around here, we know how to do summer!

8/13

She's in 6th grade. SIXTH GRADE.