Please, by all means, (DO NOT!) help yourself...

Does this posting even need an explanation?

I think the pictures speak for themselves...

Bucket List...

Today when I logged onto msn.com I noticed that there was a photo with the caption, "Last Lecture Professor dies of cancer..." - for whatever reason, I clicked on the link and read the brief article. I had not previously heard of this gentleman or the video of his last lecture that become a You Tube phenomenon (10 million + hits).


When I was done reading the article I felt sad... I know that it was supposed to be inspirational, but I always feel sad when I see a photo of a beautiful family and one of the members has too prematurely been taken from this earth. Though I have not seen his You Tube video- perhaps I will check it out sometime- I noticed in the article that some of the things he had talked about were things he had hoped to accomplish in his life that he had, indeed, accomplished.... "being in zero gravity, writing an article in the World Book Encyclopedia and working with the Walt Disney Co." I began to think of my own mortality and what I would "do" or say, or wish to "accomplish" if I was given 6 months to live.


As I sat in deep reflection, I at first felt like a bit of a boring person. Because as I sat and thought - the truth, I realized, was that I don't have a "bucket list" - at least not in the traditional sense of the phrase. Deep sea diving? SKY diving? Touching all seven continents? Nope. Not really. Don't get me wrong. There are definitely things I would love to do throughout my life. Most revolve around traveling and getting involved in missions. But, when it comes down to it, the only thing that matters to me- the only thing I truly wish to accomplish in this life is to serve God, the very best I can, in the calling He has placed on my life... the calling He has given me to raise my children to not only be "Christians" but to LOVE our God and Savior - to be passionate about Him and for my children to want to love, honor and serve Christ throughout their lives.



That's it. That's my "bucket list." It's not something I can "cross off" on a piece of paper, not something I can "do" in an afternoon. It's a lifetime. It's a lifestyle. And it's the only thing that matters to me. When I die.... whether it be in 6 months or 60 years - that is what I want to have accomplished more than anything. I want to leave my children a legacy of true HOPE in life everlasting.



Don't get me wrong- I love the life God has given me right now. I love being a wife, a mother, a teacher, a sister, a daughter, a friend. I am grateful beyond measure for the blessings God has heaped upon us. I pray every day that God will protect the health and safety of myself and my loved ones because while I am on this earth, I couldn't bare to go a day without my husband or my children. And, of course, I SO badly want the opportunity to raise my children.

But the truth is, when it comes down to it- the life I live on this earth really is not about LIVING life on this earth- it's about the eternal life I seek in heaven. Because the day my life on earth ends will be the day that my life TRULY BEGINS. And more than anything, I want my children and my husband with me- and all of the people that I love so dearly.

So that is my "list," my friends. The one thing I want to achieve, more than anything... children who love God and who, in turn, raise their own children to love God. And it is my daily prayer that He will help me accomplish this, that every choice I make would help, and not hinder me towards reaching that goal... for it is only through His grace, His love, His guidance, His forgiveness and His mercy that we can accomplish anything that GREAT.

the only way to "fix" things...

The background- Grace awoke last night, again, with pretty bad "growing pains" - this happens from time to time in our house, as our oldest girl is growing quite tall at a rapid pace!

The setting- The breakfast table this morning

The conversation- Grace talking to Alex about how she didn't sleep well last night because her leg hurt.

The question - Alex: "Why didn't you just fix it?"

The answer - Grace: "Because I can't fix it, Alex. Jesus is the only one who can fix things for us, who can reach down and touch our leg and make it better. He's the only one who can open the door."

The moral of the story - Even a 5 year old can remind us of simple truths... try as we might, we just can't "fix" it... Jesus is the only one who can open the door, reach down and make things right- and acknowledgement that it's only in our reliance on HIM, and not on our own abilities or actions, that we can make things "right" in any situation.

Wordless Wednesday

Good times were had by all... (round 2)

*alternately titled, "are you tired of seeing this photo yet?"



If you have visited my site by linking from other blog sites, you have likely seen the above picture- oh, say, maybe 6 times already. But, if you are one of my few little lurkers who found my site on your own- let me fill you in...

On Sunday afternoon, we had the privilege of not only getting to hang out with my super cool, hip, artsy, organic, baby-wearing, eternally pregnant friend Jennifer to celebrate her BIRTHDAY (which happens to have come just a little more than one year after my own... i.e., she's younger!) , but I also got to meet some wonderful, FUN, adorable, funny, friendly and sweet women (Hillary, Rachel, Tiffany, Kristi, and Yvette) whom though I felt like I already "knew" - I had never quite yet 'met' in person. There. That is the longest run-0n sentence I have ever written.

Truly, GREAT times were had by all. My kids had so much fun playing with new friends in their beautiful HUGE backyard- and even in the front (note to self: must buy a big wheel now after I could hardly peel Alex off the one at Jennifer's house). My husband had a really fun time meeting some really cool guys and, finally, meeting my friend Jennifer who I've talked so much about! And as for myself, I had a happy/sad time because I was Soooooooo much enjoying spending time with my new IRL friends, that I was a little sad knowing that after that night I wouldn't see them for a looooooong time again- and wishing, the whole time, we all lived much closer. But God has a funny way of bringing people together- and that night as I was going to sleep and reminiscing about the fun time I had, I was chuckling to myself and thinking what an odd way to meet some really incredible women... over the computer! But, perhaps, it wasn't all so "random" after all. God has ways of bringing people together in unusual ways.

I am so glad to have met each of them in person and I know it will not be the last time.

aha!...

Perhaps, like me, you are familiar with and fond of Real Simple magazine - a periodical chocked full of interesting and useful information. One of my favorite features is their "aha" articles which give creative ideas for alternative uses for everyday items.

And, at 20 months of age, my little adventurous one has thought of quite a few "aha!" uses of her own for a common everyday kitchen item...

Behold!

The fencing mask....

The tennis racket...

(check out that backhand!)

The bee-keepers hat...

And, last but not least -

The butterfly net!

(aka...

...the kitchen strainer

*you're NOT all my favorite...

in our house, we have an adorable little book called "You're All My Favorite"

It's a sweet little illustrated children's book about bears. The Momma bear gently convincing all of her precious Cubs that they are, indeed, all her favorite. Now, normally, I feel just like that Momma bear. And I always love them all the same- but times, like tonight, I do NOT feel that they are all my favorite!

First, let me note that this post will not be included in my Blurb book that I make from my blog at the end of the year. Second, it is likely that I will not feel this way tomorrow.

And I will say this- I had a hard day. I am battling a cold and I'm a little sleep deprived. But today was frustrating. I heard too much complaining. Had to intervene in too many arguments- as in arms swinging, legs kicking arguments. I had to discipline too many times for sassy mouths and disrespect. I have one son who won't eat a bite of what I cook and another son who complains about everything I make. Kids who nag and beg and badger until they get what they want.

All except one....

My little peanut. My happy girl.

She's always smiling.

And she always makes me smile (even when she's doing something she's not supposed to be doing, like banging the floor lamp against the wall)...

She's always happy to see me. She always eats every thing I serve her - even her vegetables - and she never complains about it.

And after a long hard day with the other kids... today she's my favorite.

*alternately titled "I'm mad at the big kids"

or "I hope tomorrow is a better day"

or "I need a good night of sleep"

or "My kids need a good night of sleep"

or "How could she not be my favorite- I mean, look at that smile"

good times were had by all...

Celebrating the 4th of July in typical "American" fashion, we went swimming at Mike's brother's pool, we ate hamburgers and hot dogs (albeit, organic, 100% vegetarian fed, nitrate-free... wink, wink), spent the entire day outside, and finished off over at my Dad's with fireworks and s'mores (the non-organic kind ;)

Heinrich (aka Alex) LOVED going down the slide!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee.........

Grace had a blast on the slide, as well!

Ariana was quite a handful at the pool (no surprise there)... she had so much fun being IN the pool, that when everyone was done and OUT of the pool, it was all we could do to keep her out, too!

This, perhaps, was Ariana's favorite part- jumping with Daddy!

After many hours at the pool party, we headed over to Dad's and met up with my sister and her kids. As you can see from Grace's face, below, they were delighted at the fireworks display...

... even if it was just a small "ground display" done by their big cousin, Samuel....

Here is a quick moment of smiling, in between constant mosquito slapping...

When it's all said and done, a good time was had by all...