Hailey is 7!

I cannot believe that my little girl is 7! We celebrated Hailey's 7 years of life with a fun day together. I can't imagine anything more special than taking turns thanking the Lord for our precious girl and the great qualities she brings to our family. I am SO thankful for a daughter who loves the Lord, who's heart is tender towards people and their needs. I'm thankful for the comic relief that her jokes and fun-loving attitude brings to our home. Her willingness to help with any need we have, and her joyfulness in carrying out that task is truly an example. I'm so greatful to the Lord for seeing fit to bless us with this beautiful girl! Hailey-Bear, I love you!! I look forward to a lifetime of laughter and memories with you!

Snow!

We have had several wonderful days together as a family! It has been a joyful New Year, and we are only 2 days in! One thing we love doing together as a family is playing games. The past few days we've done LOTS of that. We started off with a new game we received from our friends the Kwasts. It's called Enchanted Forest, and it was so much fun! Perfect for the older 3. Then today, Jonathan and I played, Ticket to Ride with Lorelei. It is so nice to be able to play older games with our oldest daughter. I won (bonus!), but we all had a fun time playing. It snowed today... which is a big deal because it's January now and we really haven't had any snow this year. The kids bundled up this evening and went outside to tromp around in it. That lasted about 10 minutes tops, but it was nice to get a breathe of fresh air!

New Year!!

Blogging is never quite as easy as I always envision. In light of already losing one post I'm going to keep this short and sweet! I don't really do New Years resolutions per se, but one thing I would like to try and do this year is to record more of our family life, adventures, and plans God is carrying out in our lives. I am excited for 2012, for children who are growing way too quickly to hit new milestones, for new challenges, and hopefully a whole lot of new growth and wisdom. Here's to a year with a bit more journaling.
Happy New Year!!

Lions and Tigers and BIBS... OH MY!

So, in addition to taking on a new project of making bibs, I have also been perfecting my elephant sounds for the kids! Let me just say that my dad is the reigning champ of the elephant call and I come NO where near close to him! I must do it well enough because the kids seem to like it! Well, even better than my animal noises, are my cute little bibs I've made. I'm really proud of myself at taking on this project. I have always considered myself to be one that has a sense of style. I enjoy seeing something in a store and knowing that I could do a few thing to it, or use a better print and have something even more fantastic! My only problem is time... or lack thereof. I often let the fact that I have little time for my "crafty" pursuits keep me from even attempting a project. So, for the past few years I have told Jonathan many times that I would love to get a sewing machine because I could just see myself making so many cool things with it, but never doing it. I have seen so many boutique outfits that I have loved but would never pay $300 for (especially when it's for a 3 year old who would wear it a handful of times!). "I could make that!!", I would cry to my hubby. Sadly though, I never would. So, finally I bought a machine and taught myself how to use it (another thing I didn't know how to do). So this is doubly rewarding... I taught myself a new skill AND I made my first project with it! So, here are a few pictures to show you my work... and let me just say they are way cuter in person! I got the fabulous fabric online by Sandi Henderson and just LOVED them!

Being Ministered To...

Recently, in a summer Bible study I am doing, the subject of letting Jesus minister to us came up. Let me just say, wow. What a new concept for me. When I really looked at it I guess that sure, I've let Jesus minister to me, but I didn't realize that was what I was doing. Or for that matter, what it even looked like or how important it is. As I've thought more about it these past few days I've been really convicted. And tonight on the way home from a quiet evening out I heard this song on the radio that reminded me of it again. Tenth Avenue North sings this song, "By Your Side"... take a look at these powerful lyrics;

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

'Cause I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

As I listened to this song I was struck by the line, "And please don't fight these hands that are holding you, my hands are holding you". How often am I fighting His hands from holding me in His comforting embrace... truly allowing Him to minister to my heart. Healing my hurts, holding me when I tell him who's hurt me, what I'm afraid of, what I don't like about myself. This is Jesus ministering to us. When can this happen? Only when we are still and we let him. Only when we put ourself in His hands... trust Him with our lives. Truly give him EVERY detail of what's going on. Not just the obvious stuff... the scary stuff, the stuff we're afraid to admit, the hidden stuff. Let Him minister. Let Him heal and work.

It's a Clean Day!

I have been happily scrubbing away the past hour or so with these amazing new cleaning products that I am hooked on! Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products are amazing!! They have a wonderful aroma because of the amazing essential oils that are added. I have used the lavendar dish soap and countertop spray today and it is... amazing! I used the geranium surface scrub on the sink and bathroom and not only does that smell amazing, but it works so well! Have I mentioned that I think these products are, AMAZING??!! Here is something from the Environmental and Safety section of their website that got me interested to begin with...

"There are no solvents, no petroleum distillates, no bleach, no phosphates and no ingredients that could cause harsh fumes. In addition, most of our products have a near neutral pH that makes them safe for skin contact."

How much more amazing can you get than that? Oh, and here is the link in case you want to see it for yourself!

www.mrsmeyers.com

Musings and Ponderings...

I truly love my life! I am so thankful that the Lord created such a place for us to live, however temporary it be, that is filled with such beauty and wonder. Sometimes even as an adult I get so excited about things; a sewing project, a picture, a good book, a cup of coffee, time with friends, my children's discoveries, a good movie, date night, beautiful flower beds, lavendar scented dish soap and fragrant candles... and the list goes on. I'm so grateful that I do not get more cynical and stodgy as the years pass by. I do not let life sweep me up and carry me off where I can't enjoy the everyday things. Something I am passionate about, especially since having my last two children, is slowing down. I am just absolutely enamored with the simple life! Go ahead and laugh, but I am talking Little House on the Praire simple. I thrill at the thought of a quaint house in the country with little more than a wood floor, broom, fireplace, stove and some great books! Sometimes I feel like everything we have clutters up our interactions together. Just last week I decided I was going to let each of the kids pick 15 toys a piece and the rest were going in bags to the basement. I had steadily seen those piles of toys as barriers to them living in harmony with each other. The excess is just too much! As I strive to be the woman that God has plans for me to be, I am learning much along the way. It is incredible the way He has changed me and the desires of my heart, and I am so thankful! I love making a home for my family, and making that home peaceful, lovely, simple and full of Christ's love. What a challenge and at the same time, what an honor. It thrills my heart to get that opportunity!
I love good music, books, and especially great quotes! Here are some things to ponder and enjoy, I know I have. Enjoy this treasure of a day~


"The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." -St. Thomas Moore

"The secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life, and in elevating them to art." -William Morris

The family is the place where loyalty, dependability, trustworthiness, compassion, sensitivity to others, thoughtfulness, and unselfishness are supposed to have their roots... -Edith Schaeffer, The Art of Life

"Simplicity of life, even the barest, is not a misery, but the very foundation of refinement; a sanded floor and whitewashed walls and the green trees, and flowery meads, and living waters outside.” -William Morris

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. ~Thomas Jefferson

"Pooh began to feel a little more comfortable, because when you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find that sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it." -The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne