Spring Cleaning

Now that spring has finally sprung in our little corner of the world, I took the first available opportunity to vacuum out the van.  The combination of three little bears and a lengthy road trip at Christmas time has not been kind to the interior of my trusty steed.

 

Similarly I’ve been feeling the need to do an emotional “spring clean.”  Over the long winter months, I’ve found myself packing up baggage that I thought was neatly stored away.  It’s starting to affect my gas mileage.  I’m slowing down.  I’m tired and worn out.  I wonder if I’m ever going to learn the lessons that I previously believed I mastered.  I question myself, I question others’ affections, and ultimately I question my worth.

As I crawled in between seats, vacuuming up crumbs and gathering up miscellaneous snack wrappers, I found a penny.  It was worn and corroded.  A sticky substance lined one side.  Keeping focused on my goal of a clean and de-cluttered vehicle, I simply tossed it into the trash can.  And then as I turned back around toward my van I was struck by the thought of whom was I to decide that penny’s worth.

 

The value of a penny, a dollar, or any other denomination of currency is assigned solely by its creator.  I could have taken that sticky, corroded penny to any bank and it would not have been worth any more or less than a nice shiny new one.

As I discussed my weary state with a friend yesterday, I actually admitted that I knew what I needed to do.  The only thing holding me back was that it required being “a little more Christ-like than I cared to be at the moment.”  It’s so easy to justify this behavior when I’ve convinced myself that my worth is tied in to other people’s opinions of me, or that my value is determined by how I’ve been treated.  I cannot tell you the numbers of times in the last month alone that I’ve had the mental dialogue that my worth is based on my performance.  And the truth is that I’m tired of performing.  It’s simply easier to pull away from those who’ve hurt me.

But the scriptures tell us that each one of us is created in the image of God.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him;

male and female He created them.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. 

Nothing that happens to us is hidden from Him or surprises Him.

Psalm 139: 13-16

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

And that God loves us so much that He allowed His one and only son to die on the cross as payment for our sins so that we would not have to spend eternity separated from Him.

Romans 5:6-8

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He loves us and wants us to love others.

John 13:35

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

And that’s impossible to do if we don’t recognize that only our Creator determines our value.  He created us with unique gifts and skills.  He can use all that we offer Him, both good and bad, to accomplish His good purposes.  No one else, our own actions, or any other life event can change our value.  Not only do we have worth, but the God of the Universe loves us fiercely.  And that changes everything.

Romans 8:31-35, 37-39

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

 

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dishcloth Dolls

When I started homeschooling, I had all kinds of ideas about how I wanted to teach my children.  One of my primary goals was to make real life applications from what they were studying.  I don’t want my girls to think that learning only occurrs behind a desk.

 

Let’s fast forward to now, the end of Boo’s second grade year.  Ever since we extended our trip home this past fall, we’ve been playing catch up in terms of schoolwork.  While we made a point to have the girls do worksheets and took them on several educational field trips during that visit, I really, really want to finish the curriculum that we’d previously purchased.  So we’ve been doubling up as we can over the last several months and it hasn’t left a lot of time or energy for extra projects.

It's probably going to sound silly, but I finally found an opportunity for a quick and easy project while we were reading this book.

The book takes place during the early 1900’s in Florida and chronicles two families trying to make a living in the brutal backwoods environment.

At one point early on, the book mentions how one of the older girls made dishcloth dolls for some of the younger ones.  Remembering a handkerchief doll my own grandma gave to me many years ago, I decided we could try making some ourselves.

I searched the internet, but the few patterns that I did stumble across were too intricate.  I wanted to make something close to the dolls illustrated in the pages above.  I wanted the girls to realize that children just over a hundred years ago found other things to occupy themselves than the mounds of plastic toys that have infiltrated our own home.

 

Although I tend to be a pattern follower myself, we decided to wing it.  Armed with just dishtowels, elastic hair bands, and some ribbon, this is what we were able to create.

 

 

Simple, fun, and easily accomplished during Bitty's naptime.

 

 

Based on the smiles, I think it was a success.

 

The Solid Rock

 

Last week was tough.  It started with one friend being diagnosed with cancer and ended with another set of friends losing their sweet baby girl halfway through their pregnancy.  Life just seemed hard everywhere I turned.  Marriages struggle, jobs falter, and children stumble.  So much suffering makes my mind start to spin.  Ironically, it was our friends battling cancer that provided some much needed encouragement.  As they tried to wrap their brains around this new normal, the wife posted the words to the hymn, The Solid Rock.

1.)    My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.  I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Chorus:  On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.  All other ground is sinking sand.

2.)     When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace.  In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

3.)    His oath, His covenant, His blood, support in the whelming flood.  When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay.

4.)    When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found!  Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

And another often unprinted verse

5.)    I trust His righteous character, His council, promise, and His power; His honor and His Name’s at stake to save me from the burning lake.

When nothing seemed to make sense, I often found myself singing, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”  And in those moments, I consciously remembered that “all other ground is sinking sand.”  I might not always know the next step to take, but I’m grateful for the reminder of where to plant my feet.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character;

and character, hope. 

 

Now hope does not disappoint,

because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the

Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Spring Soccer

We've been watching and playing lots of soccer lately.  Having lived abroad, the term football still falls more naturally off of my tongue.  Whatever you call it, I forgot how much I enjoy watching my oldest compete in her favorite game.  She willingly chose to forgo playing this past fall while her grandpa recovered from an almost deadly septic infection.  As I was trying to juggle responsibilities here and 2000 miles away, she made the decision to stay close to our families easier when she didn't hesitate in her response of "Family is more important."  I wasn't sure how taking a season off would affect her skill level since she's moved up a larger team this year, but it's brought much joy to see her slip back into the game like a hand slips into a glove.  It's always been a natural fit for her.  And that is why we get out three days a week and stand around in some pretty miserable weather conditions.  Spring soccer is known for its awful weather up here in Siberia and this past Saturday didn't disappoint. 

 

One word:  Sleet.

 

 

Little sister Bella is still content with Pee Wee Soccer, or Kiwi Soccer as she called it for the longest time.  Thankfully her practice only takes place once a week and we've been blessed that most of Boo's Saturday games have been at the same park as Bella's.

 

Right off the bat, I got to make one of those questionable parenting decisions last Saturday morning.  Bitty and Bella made a beeline for this mud as soon as we arrived.  Since Hubby was filling in as coach, I weighed whether I really wanted to fight with Bitty about this muck for the next hour.  After deciding that all of her clothes were washable and that she had on old shoes, I let Bitty march right in.  Not more than 2 minutes later, she was stuck.  Literally.  Fortunately Bella came to her rescue.  (Mom was too busy documenting the moment in photos.)  Problem solved.  Bitty wasn't the least interested in the mud after that. 

 

A good snack seems to solve most problems at this age, and Bitty was feeling much better after drowning her tears in fruit snacks.  Since then I've decided that I would like to hang Bella up by her toes for teaching Bitty the phrase, "Eew Gross," at some previous point in time.  These are the words that Bitty has exclaimed every time I've thought it necessary for her to wear those same boots this past week.  She is not impressed with the dried-on mud.

 

Since Bella's practice was the same time as Boo's game I didn't get to take as many photos as I would have liked.  Boo was so excited that her Daddy had agreed to fill in for the coaches who had other obligations last weekend.  I wish I had gotten a picture of him coaching because he did a great job.  Instead I was chasing Bitty who kept trying to escape to the playground that was up the hill from both fields.  At one point I was mortified because I looked up and realized that Bella was standing still while all her teammates were kicking their soccer balls with their parents.  I quickly ran and scooped up Bitty.  While juggling a crying toddler up front and a mega camera bag hanging off my back, I made my way over to Bella who giggled her little Dr. Evil laugh and then took off with the ball in a full run.  It was a pretty comical sight.

 

At the end of the morning, braving the sleet was all worth it just to see Boo heading to the car hand in hand with her Daddy.  You can literally see the pride she has in him by the bounce in her step.  And to tell the truth, I was proud of him too.  I'm always amazed at the wealth and variety of information he possesses.  It reminded me of the time that Boo was only 3 or 4 years old.  In earnest sincerity she looked up at him with her big blue eyes and exclaimed, "Daddy, you're my hero."  It was so sickening sweet that I almost gagged a little at the time, but it means the world to me that he's still a hero in her eyes.

Let's Celebrate

Maybe it was because we were all starting to feel better after a full week of mystery illnesses floating from one family member to another, maybe it was finally getting to open their coveted Easter parcels from England, or maybe it was simply because it was Tuesday morning, but regardless of the reason our girls decided it was time to celebrate.

It doesn’t take much to convince our girls to have a pardy, I mean party.

There were proper invitations

 

and party hats.

We were greeted by beautiful hostesses in party dresses

 

who invited us to sign the guest list

 

and offered to serve us snacks.

Bitty's favorites were the balloons, music, and dancing. 
She was quite pleased that her sisters had built her a dance floor.

On second thought, maybe this was all an elaborate plot to con us into allowing candy consumption before lunchtime.

Whatever the reason, I think these three smiles are always cause for celebration.  I’m incredibly grateful for these creative and generous girls.  And just in case you were wondering, they planned all of this by themselves.  We simply had to show up.

 

Not bad for a Tuesday morning.  :)

Isaiah 32:8

But a generous man devises generous things,
And by generosity he shall stand.

 

 

 

Adventures

(Whenever I post photographs and receive compliments on them, I always feel like I need to add the disclaimer that I do not consider myself a professional photographer.  I recognize I have much to learn and honestly I don’t have any aspirations to turn my hobby into a business.  I think it would take something that I truly enjoy and turn it into a ton of stress.  Right now my goal in photography is simple, learn more in order to capture the fleeting moments in the lives of people I love.)

And the couple pictured below is loved by our whole family.

I had been dreading March 2.  Hubby has an annual work event every first weekend in March and too often I’ve battled loneliness with its proximity to Rosebud’s passing.  This year was especially hard as one of my favorite little people was celebrating her second birthday with family and friends 2000 miles away, and one of my favorite big people would be there as well celebrating 85 years of her own.  As I’ve struggled with discontent at the distance between us and our families, I’ve begun to ask for purpose in this lovely little town when I pray.  The answer that day was a joyful task that kept me so preoccupied that I didn’t have any time to wallow in self-pity.

Back a few years ago when our oldest started playing soccer with the community sports program I was nervous, real nervous.  I hoped and prayed that she would be placed on the team and with the coaches that was best for her.  I could have never imagined that my prayers would have been answered so perfectly when she was matched up with Coaches Matt and Maggie.  They taught, encouraged, and tied lots of shoelaces that season and soon my timid kid was excited about throwing herself down on the ball as goalkeeper even while the other team was kicking at her head (her own words).  We’ve had the privilege of keeping in touch with M&M through the years and soon they will be graduating college and starting a new chapter in life.

 

Because they are starving college students, I gladly agreed when they have occasionally asked me to take photos of them.  They are very much in love and incredibly easy to photograph.  Spending an afternoon watching them through my viewfinder is always refreshing.  But on the morning of March 2, sheer panic filled me when Matt called to say that he was planning to propose to Miss Maggie during the shoot we had planned later in the day.  The rest of my morning was spent looking at Pinterest and praying that I didn’t screw things up.  It was an absolute pleasure and honor to witness their engagement.  And I was so very thankful to have been given a very real purpose that particular day for being 2000 miles away from some of my most loved ones.

They humored my little assistant and comforted her

a few minutes later when her big girl camera fell into the pond.

 

At the top of a hill, nestled between 2 evergreens,

Matt got down on one knee and asked Maggie if she would go on adventures with him.

 

 

They seemed unfazed as a certain 5 year old yelled "EWW, Gross" during their first kiss as fiancés.

 

 

And as if being there when their favorite coaches got engaged wasn't enough,

the girls received these very special invitations this past weekend.

 

Congratulations Matt and Maggie!!!

We can't wait to hear about the many adventures to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kittens

Last fall while we were visiting Papa and Granny's farm house, a little yellow bundle of fur wandered up to their back patio.  Within minutes our oldest had made him a bed, gotten him a water bowl, and named him Angel.  And that’s how this dog-loving family came to own a cat. 

 

Part of the reason I was inclined to guilt, I mean encourage, Hubby to bring little Angel home was that Papa and Granny aren’t necessarily cat-lovin folk.  Two of their three kids are allergic to cats and one of Granny’s pure joys in life is watching the birds that congregate outside of her picture windows.

 

So it was kind of a joke when I teased Granny about leaving her a Crazy Cat Lady Starter Kit earlier this year.  As we were packing up to leave after Christmas, Papa accidentally mistook Angel’s bag of goodies (litter pan, leash, blanket, food bowl) that were packed in a trash bag as an actual bag of trash.  Granny rescued them before they were hauled to the dump, but I was a bit shocked when I wound up at our next stop 27 hours later without the kitten’s bag.

 

The day before we left in September, this little lady showed up at Granny’s place and Bella named her Bubbles.  She apparently came to visit Granny a few times after we left, but never stayed very long.  So imagine our surprise when Bubbles magically appeared the day after we arrived at Christmas.  After two weeks of our girls feeding her on a regular basis, she decided that living at Granny’s might not be such a bad thing and has been there ever since.  She doesn’t even bother the birds.

 

Two weeks ago Bubbles completed the Crazy Cat Lady Starter Kit with the arrival of these five cuties.  They were about a week old in these pictures.  I’m just glad that I can vouch that Angel was neutered in October.

 

(Thank you Cousin Nettie for all the adorable photos.)

And for the record, the only thing that I think is crazy about Granny is the way she loves our girls.  I'm incredibly grateful that our girls have been blessed with wonderful grandparents all around.  They all love, love, love our kids and stay connected with them and their interests even though we live 2000 miles apart.

 

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Dr. Bella

The week before last was chock full of good things, but I distinctly remember looking forward to when it was all over so I could get a little rest and return to our routine.  Now I realize I didn’t know what I asking for as I set my sights on Monday.  Everyone but Bitty has taken their turn being ill this week, all with slightly different things.  It’s been a good reminder to embrace the right now because none of us knows for sure what lies ahead tomorrow.  Poor hubby has been off work sick all week and after several days of trying to be Super Mom, I finally wound up in bed myself all day today.  After lots of rest and fluids, I think I’m on the mend.  The quick recovery is probably due to this cute little doctor making a house call when I first started feeling yucky last night.

 

Dr. Bella has been particularly attentive while I've been ill. 

She's made a point to give me lots of cuddles and even drew a card for me.

And I couldn't help but feel better when this cutie threw her arms around my neck

and exclaimed, "You're the specialest momma I've ever had."

 

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Almost Wordless.  Taken last week, I love how this picture captures this particular moment in time.  So many things scream that my firstborn is on the verge of becoming a young lady and yet, for now, I'm reminded that she's still my little girl.