here...

The other day, I looked over and caught a glimpse of this...

And my heart melted.

I wondered what they were talking about...

... but I didn't want to interrupt.

So I just took pictures from afar so I'd never forget what a beautiful picture that was impressed on my heart of my two loves... Daddy and his daughter.

And speaking of my loves, I cannot forget these other squirrels.

How lucky for us that scooters fold up compactly and travel easy.

Arrive at your destination, unfold, and wallah!

Instant smiles ;)

 

And, of course, I have my baby boy love. Pictures of him another day.

But come to think of it, speaking of baby and love... now there are 2 things that go hand and hand. Baby waking early = a guarantee I will catch my beloved sunrise.

One of my very favorite things about coming here is the sunrise. I will never, ever tire of watching it peek up over the ocean and warm the entire earth.

It's breathtaking.

It's awe inspiring.

Every. Single. Time.

Enjoy the beauty of your day- wherever you may be reading this.

And, for a taste of what's rolling off my camera que next in line is some beach pics I snapped today.

Ariana found a mermaid in her imagination.

So, from her creative fingertip to the sand...

The End.

In one week...

From Good...

(ba bye snowy countryside) 

(gettin' closer)

... To Better.

To Perfect.

The End.

Love.

I've recently had a beautiful thing happen to me. It involves a storyline that goes back way too far in history and includes way too many details (I'd just as soon forget) to share.

I'm sorry. It's a pretty good story.

But the moral of the story is something that I do, however, feel compelled to share.

And it's simple and something you've heard a thousand times...

Love never fails.

If there is someone in your life who you don't feel like forgiving much less loving, let me encourage you to step out in faith and just do it anyway. Extend the grace you didn't think you had. Forgive the person who doesn't deserve your forgiveness. Take a chance on someone who doesn't deserve a second chance.

As my Dad has said...

"The strongest healing agent God uses ... is love. Unconditional love. It isn't always accepted. Sometimes it is abused. But the one who loves, as God does, can be certain that He is honored and people can be healed."

And to that I would add...

You just never know, the person who's healed might actually be you.

Miracles happen in places you never thought they possibly could. And sometimes, it takes us stepping up and reaching out and living out the change in others we hope to see. If you take a chance and do it, you might be surprised at what God can do in peoples live- beyond what you'd ever imagined possible.

Someone once gave you a second chance when you didn't deserve it and it if you accepted it, it saved your soul. On a human level, loving the "unloveable" is the least we can do to honor what was done for us.

When you don't think you can, just make the choice first. The feeling will follow. I promise. Because God's word is true.

Love never fails.

-------------------------------------------

Thank you for sticking with my blog. I know my posts have been few and far between in recent months, which is unfortunate because I love blogging. Not a day goes by where I don't think of something I'd love to share. I create the post in my head and then by the time I've finished my day and put the kids to bed, I'm just so tired I can't get the words out on the screen. That being said- I am not going to quit blogging. I'm going to try to step it up and post more. Not because I think readers are waiting for it- or because I feel compelled to check off blogging as a "to do" on my checklist. No- It's because I go back to the whole reason I started this blog, which was to keep a record in thoughts and pictures for my children to have. I gave up scrap booking long ago. This is my "scrapbook." And in recent months I've left too many holes!

This has been a busy time of year, preparing for Christmas- for Florida- for hosting family gatherings. Nevertheless, I have still found opportunity to pick up my camera to capture some snippets of a "day in the life" of us in our home.

One of my favorites is of this moment when Daddy hugged the kids goodbye to catch an early flight for a recent business trip.

Before they said goodbye, he sat on the couch and snuggled with them and told them a story or two.

This man loves his children with every ounce of his being. There are few men I know who tear up at having to leave their kids for a night or two for a business trip. You'd think that after years of traveling, it would become common place to say goodbye and return with little fanfare and no regret. But that's not the man I married and I thank God every SINGLE day for the father he is to our children. I'm so grateful that my children have the privilege and blessing of having him for their Daddy.

It's been cold outside and ridiculously snowy. So we are forced to find ways to entertain ourselves inside. Even I get cabin fever and go a little stir crazy.

Exhibit A.

Balancing Christian on my knees and playing "airplane" while manhandling a (more heavy than light) DSL camera and snapping pictures. But it was fun while it lasted.

As far as the girls go, all they need to do to entertain themselves is open up their closets. Give 'em a hat and presto... we've got a coupla cowgirls and a few hours of dancing and singing and performing "shows" around the house.

And just for fun, because people often ask me, "Does Ariana ever stop smiling?" I thought I'd answer the question for you all right here...

So... Yes.

But of course, not for long.

See?

She just can't help herself. God hard wired this girl with 99% pure joy. It's in her DNA.

And though big sister is much more the "serious" type, I can get her to crack a smile, too. Maybe not quite as often... but that's okay. It makes it that much more special when it does come out.

Have a wonderful week. Enjoy your family. Enjoy your blessings. Forgive the unforgivable. Watch God move and miracles unfold before your eyes.

Love.

Priorities

Because we home school, we belong to a "co-op" of other families who meet together twice a month. Just the moms and the kids (Ok, well, there is ONE dad)- and we meet during the day. We call it "school" even though it's a far cry from what "real" school is actually like, but it's as close as the kids will ever get to the real thing.

I like co-op because there are yummy snacks for the moms and for those 3 hours (2 times a month) I have a break from Mom duty while my kids are in their classrooms (and my baby is in the nursery screaming his head off... but I'm upstairs eating snacks, remember, so I'm blissfully 'unaware.")

Each co-op meeting the Moms get a newsletter telling us all sorts of little tidbits of upcoming information. Additionally, each time, 3 different families are "featured" and we can read a tidbit (or paragraph- whichever the mom submitted to the editor) about a family in our co op. Honestly, they are a bit of a snoozer to read. I read my 2 best friends features, and that's about it. I say "snoozer" only because, really, does anyone care how many activities your 8 year old is in, and what your favorite curriculum is? Maybe- but probably not. But one week, I peeked down (after reading 1 of the 2 said best friends profile) and noticed another Mom's entry. I'll call her "Ingrid." (because that's her name)

The reason I happened to notice Ingrid's entry was because it was so short. The other reason I decided to read it is because I like Ingrid. Ingrid was in my prayer group last year. If there's a woman who knows how to pray, it's Ingrid. She's tight with the Holy Spirit- of that there is no doubt.

I cannot quote exactly what she wrote, but to paraphrase, she very succinctly wrote that at one time, years ago, she was very diligent to ensure that all her lesson plans were meticulously followed  and that her days were filled with following rigid schedules but that those days are long gone. Now, she spends her days teaching her sons about God and about life through a Biblical worldview, and if they learn something academic, that it's an added bonus.

I read it, smiled and thought, "Yep. That's Ingrid."

And then I thought, "I want that to be me."

More than once scripture reminds is that our life (on earth) is short. Several scriptures reveal this truth.

"You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath." -Psalm 39:5

"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." - James 4:14"

Does this mean, then, that I find no importance in teaching academics? Reading, writing, arithmetic? Of course not. But Ingrid's thoughts reminded me to evaluate my priorities.
Life changes, the unexpected happens, dynamics are ever changing. So, as one Bible commentator puts it, "Who can build any solid hopes on a mist?"

In the light of eternity, there is, truly, only one thing that matters- our response, and our relationship, with Jesus Christ. And so, from my perspective- Ingrid's got it right on.

I will continue to teach my children strong academics. But I will strive to ensure that what comes first in my priorities, is teaching them about our Creator, Our Heavenly Father- our Omnipotent Savior.

Inside the beautiful chapter of Deuteronomy 11, we are told to...


"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."

I owe everything to Him. And I want, more than anything, to give back my first fruits... of my minutes, my days... my whole life. To invest in and plant the seeds that will bear fruit in the lives of my children and my children's children for HIS name sake.