Mother's Day

This has always been one of those holidays that was hard for me but this year it was a good one spent exploring new places, eating at favorites places (already!) and spent a little time dreaming.  It all started with breakfast in bed and this sweet card.



There is something to be said for first drawings but when the kids can write out their own thoughts it could be even sweeter.

We cleaned bedrooms, hung a few items and took the extra, homeless items out of the house so they will stop staring at me.  :)

I got some more cutting done for Maleiah's quilt and that feels wonderful!


And I watched shooting practice in the backyard at the end of the day.

It's been almost a year since Justin was laid off from what we called the "best job ever" and we are embarking on a new journey that has us both completely baffled.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways,” 

declares the LORD. 

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways 

and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

Hundreds of resumes.
Four interviews.
One job offer.
Texas.

The job offer wasn't even a job he interviewed for.  It's his previous employer ("the best boss ever"), the one he was laid off from in 2009.  We said no in July but threw it back on the table in December and it looked different this time.  It still made no sense, why would we go that far away?  Our family, friends, all we have is here in California.  But how long can Justin not work, stay in our house and not lose his mind?  He needs to work, build things, accomplish things.  And truth be told, we need the money.  Still we have no idea why God would send us nearly 1900 miles away, but we are trusting Him, believing Him.  Excitement is coming, intermingled with fear of the unknown.  Sadness grips in the thoughts of being far from family and friends and then peace knowing nothing truly separates our hearts.

All over the blogosphere there are words being chosen and held on to.  Words for 2011.  Sometimes better than goals, resolutions, a word that helps us stay focused and grounded.  Reminding us of what is important.  And I am among them, choosing a word that will define my year.

YES.

What things will I say "Yes" too?  All the things I said "No" to last year.

"No" I won't play a game, come outside, go for a walk, paint a picture, build with Lego's, go to the park....

and the list goes on.

I want to invite magic and celebration into my life this year.  Taking it all in and laughing all the way and I think YES has a lot to do with it.  Texas is part of that this year and though I stubbornly want to kick and scream the whole 1900 miles I know God's in it and that doesn't glorify Him.  So, Yes, we go and it will be hard, that's no lie, but we are gonna do it with a happy heart (as I often tell my children).

YES 2011!

1000 Gifts

0001

I am grateful for love.

0002These 2 treasures.

0003
Friends in abundance.

0004The clouds that are bringing Fall to me.

0005
Ladybug Larva in the backyard

Girl Time

Last week while Caeden was at VBS, {He loved it. I loved it. It's awesome to see kids worship GOD} Maleiah and I had some time together, just us. One morning we went and got donuts, then went back to the house and we painted her nails.

It was one of those days where I felt like a good mom...all the other stuff in the world just didn't matter. Sometimes I forget that painting a 2 year old's nails bright pink is just more important.

5 Months & 8 Days Ago...

...I posted about Justin getting laid off and the beginning of a new adventure called unemployment, oh JOY! It hasn't been miserable, it hasn't been traumatic, it has actually been kinda fun...is that allowed?

Today Justin got a job! Oh how I will miss him! Seriously. We have had a good time! Not only is it a job, but a good one. More $$ and full benefits!

God has been so faithful to us during this time. Last October we stopped using credit cards in order to get a grip on debt. Our resolution for the new year was to simplify and pay off debt. Then we went into survival mode when he lost his job. We still haven't used credit cards thanks to side jobs a'plenty. We are so blessed, still in debt but not any deeper so that's something to be thankful for! {I am so glad the job came before school starts so we can deal with that adjustment before we get into school mode.}

Things My Mother Taught Me

"When I squeeze your hand it means 'I love you.'" My mother said.

It returns to me. Something sweet. A memory.

And the tears come more quickly than before and more weighty than I had imagined. I new it would come, the missing. And it has. Periodically hitting me when I least expect it and not knowing what exactly to do with it so I just let it come because with it I know healing comes too.

Justin told me tonight that when he and Caeden were in the store today that Caeden squeezed his hand 3 times and Justin was surprised and didn't know what it was but when Caeden grinned at him, he knew. I remembered that last week Maleiah squeezed back too, that's the sweet part, when they squeeze back. A silent, "I love you" that only you share.

And hold close.

Everyday Unwrapped...a little late :)

This past Monday, Emily hosted Everyday Unwrapped, having eyes wide open during this holiday season and noticing the gifts of everyday. Since I have been sick and making computer changes I wasn't able to post on Monday so here it is a little late. :)

I found Maleiah in front of the tree with her Little Blessings Bible (upside down of course). She loves this Bible and we read it everyday. It's hard to get a candid shot of her, she is always on.

We found the kids on our bed before bedtime, looking at books together...it was so quiet and they weren't arguing, until we came into the room of course. :)

We have been observing a dandelion for weeks, finally we came outside and it was open! Caeden decided to leave this one alone and let the wind blow the florets but he found some others we had not been watching and had fun sending them to seed anew.

Justin took the kids to get the mail and Caeden came running in telling me I had to come see the moon and the clouds. I attempted to get a picture and this was the best I could do. It was fun watching the clouds moving over the moon.

Shredded Paper & A Good Day of Coloring

In my quest to find things for Maleiah to do during school time I have come across a curriculum for 2 year olds! Each month they recommend a new Sensory Tub to entertain little people. For the month of September we are playing with, (or tossing all over the living room if interest is lost) shredded paper. Luckily my Dad has a paper shredder so all the paper comes out looking like confetti. And because I LOVE color I used some old neon colored card stock and shredded away. It is beautiful, even all over my floor and underneath my chairs. Even with dog hair mixed in and old popcorn kernels, it's beautiful. Despite the mess, she had fun and it kept her busy! That equals success!After the shredded paper play but before the flinging of the shredded paper we had a successful table time while Caeden did his Math. Remarkably, Maleiah sat for nearly a half hour and colored...(just a side note, my daughter needs a purse. Right now she is in the backyard carrying Caeden's backpack around and my purses? Can't find any of them.) So back to the coloring...here is the proof:

I think she looks so studious in this one. :)Dot stickers. Need I say more?

Remembering

Today is our 10 year wedding anniversary. I am more in love with Justin today than ever before. I can't believe it has been 10 years...

"I take you...as a gift from God, to be my lifelong companion, to join with you and to share all that is to come, to give and to recieve, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond, and in all our life together, to be loyal to you with my whole being, as long as we both shall live."

Have I always thought of him as a gift or even treated him that way, honestly, no but I truly see him that way now. There was a time I thought (and he thought) we had made a mistake. We laugh now at the hard times and how they made us who we are today. He truly is my lifelong companion, my best friend and the one I share everything with. The one I can truly be me with, in all my quirkiness, truly me. When I think about all that we have shared it is crazy! All the moves, jobs, the kids here and not, the laughs, the tears and through it all we are stronger today. I am in love with him, he is my treasure.

A year ago I was still in the hospital and I woke up to my first day of freedom. I would be able to sit up in bed, YEAH! I would even get to go for a wheelchair ride which was the one thing I could not wait to do so I could actually see the outside of my room that I had been in for 2 1/2 months. Instead I got a call that my mom had passed away. I stayed in bed that day.

So today is a day of mixed emotions. A day of remembering so many things. A marriage to a man I love dearly, a mother, and a time in my life that produced something wonderful.
My life is so blessed and I am so grateful to God for giving me this life and the faces I get to smile at everyday...

Good Times

I am having the time of my life right now. We have the greatest friends and we are having so much fun! We can just be ourselves and there is no judgement and I am so thankful to be free enough to just be me.
Silly times and Downhome Punch.
I love being a mom, everyday is so stinkin' fun. Caeden started soccer last night and he is so excited. He lost his second tooth this week and was so excited that it didn't hurt. He starts kindergarten in 3 weeks! I can't believe it. He and Justin went away for their first guys weekend with friends and they had an awesome time in the woods. Maleiah is getting so big and she is doing so great! She isn't even behind that much for her prematurity, she's right on target and I love looking into her blue eyes. She is so much fun!
Lifepointe is a blast! God is good and teaching us so much about trusting him and his provision in our lives. I am so thankful for the teaching we recieve and the quiet times that I have with him. We are truly blessed!
I love Justin more and more. We will celebrate 10 years in October and though we laugh now at how awful it all began we are so thankful for the painful years and where we are now. SO IN LOVE...