sour lemons

It is no coincidence that stressed is desserts backwards.

today I was dragging along.

partly because of the rain ... I mean it was pouring today.

its June!  c'mon Mother Nature.

not funny.

I have kids, so I can't just hibernate and excuse myself from the rest of the world.

they are the reason to keep going.

every single day.

with watching eyes, I am encouraged to set goals and follow through with them.

as tough as it may be is.

my heart is officially broken.

I can't seem to find all the pieces.

all this will be a memory one day.

a story to tell.

a testimony for someone to get encouraged by.

its a season where my skin gets thicker.

I become more aware of myself, my kids, my whole world.

its bittersweet

right now its more on bitter.

I'm so sick of lemons ... but this might help.

and now

my kids are in bed

I'm about to have a bowl of ice cream.

the end.

You Capture - Water & Purple

I love the blooms that come from lily pads.  so pretty.

when I think of or see lily pads, I think of toads & frogs, and when I think of or see toads & frogs, I think of Prince Charming ... and this was before Princess & The Frog.

(I'm actually not a fan of that movie; watched it once and the voo-doo struck a cord with me to make our first and last time watching it.)

Can't say I'd kiss one to find out if he was my Prince Charming ... would you?

I do like Kermit though. :)

These pictures were taken at the gardens at Turtle Bay in Redding, CA.  We seemed to have the place to ourselves.  it was very peaceful & just beautiful.

Water

Purple

Join the fun @ I Should be Folding Laundry

Thankful Thursday

"Drink and be thankful to the host! What seems insignificant when you have it, is important when you need it."  Franz Grillparzer

1. I had some issues getting into an apartment last month, but happy & thankful to report, we are moving into a place tomorrow.
2. There is a swimming pool there, and boy, we will definitely be using it this summer!  a lot.
3. Help - the physical help to move & the emotional help to stay sane.
4. My son NOT having night terrors for 2 months now.
5. Optimism.
6. Painted toenails ... this week, its purple.
7. The song "clean up, clean up ... everybody clean up!"  it seems to work for my kids :)
8. I have not killed the African Violet I got for Mother's Day ... my thumbs are not exactly green.
9. When actions & words come together.
10. Dancing to The Laurie Berkner Band with my kids!  I hope that is a childhood memory they keep.

It should be easy to find 10 things to be thankful for.  From the details of life to life's bigger, seasonal lessons learned -  blog it, and join us HERE @ Curious Georgi.

... its just apart of life ...

bedtime is a usual battle of the wills in our house.  your house too?
sometimes its just 1 or 2 times of me saying "ok, so what is our bedtime rule again?"  and unanimously they say "stay in bed"  so they get it ... but do they care?  other nights its more like 10-20 times.  sigh.


last night, after the usual 1-2 time lecture, Samuel comes out crying.  I knew it wasn't his "hurt cry," it wasn't his "freak out, I'm scared cry," it was one I wasn't too familiar with.  how funny, he's 6 1/2 years old and here's new one.


he comes out to hug me tightly and says, "mom, I don't want you to ever leave me.  I don't want you to die."  my heart instantly breaks.
I do my best to reassure him that part of my purpose for being alive is to be his mommy.  "God has a plan," is what I kept telling him, and reminded him of why we are thankful every night in our prayers for THIS day.


he has asked about death before, but without much concern.  for whatever reason he has taken it one step further.
I suppose I could look at it in a good way; he's thinking, he's applying principles and following through ... sort of.  but of course we all know where that "what-if thinking" gets us ... usually unnecessary anxiety.


I can't help but think of my favorite movie - Forrest Gump - and recite those words his mother told him as she lay in bed with cancer.  "death is just apart of life.  its something we're all destined to do."
I wouldn't say I'm comfortable with death, but when I think of it as the way God designed it, it brings a little more peace.  yes it will be sad to leave my loved ones, and enter in to an unknown, BUT I do look forward to meeting my Creator.


my 2 cents -
unless there is some freak accident, I don't have the sense my time to go is anytime soon. I have been told so many stories of that 6th sense kicking in when their time is near ... to me, that 6th sense is from God and its more than just a voice inside your head.




how have you handled the "death talk" with your kids?

cuuuuuuuuuuuute

I love love love when kids loose both of their upper-front teeth!  well, my big boy lost 1 of them tonight. he was SO SO SO excited!

they talk sort of funny, they sluuuuuuurp noodles (and whatever) else through there, but what I love the most is all the pictures.

those big 'ol grins without teeth.  maybe it reminds me of those baby pics ...  no need to worry, it is not triggering that!  no more babies for me.  really.

and here he is ... not willing to smile "normally" ... this may be his "normal" face ... I think he will be the class clown, don't you?

what does the tooth fairy bring your kids?