small joys...

today~ things that made me smile, made me have a swell of happiness in my heart...

Nursing my baby Emma in her dim room. Fan blowing. Rocking in the rocker. Admiring her blond curls.

Olivia and I quietly watching a green lizard hop from rung to rung across my deck banister.

Measuring with a precious little lamb that my mom gave me.

Feeling Elijah wrap his arm around my leg while I am busily cleaning in the kitchen. He wanted to be close...

Ethan smiling up at me asking for "Just me and mommy time"...

Thank you Lord for these priceless gifts today...

Strawberries

This weekend we went to a strawberry farm and picked our first fresh produce of the season. A true delight. My Sister and her kids, my mom, myself and my four children, headed off to Baker, Fl. It was about an hours drive, on a cool overcast March morning.

The grass was high around the strawberry plants.

Sometimes I thought the kids would get lost in it all.

They loved the freedom of being able to run up and down the lanes.

The kids had a wonderful time. We picked a flat worth of strawberries. 17.5 lbs.

It was a lot of work but a lot of fun.

As a reward for all of our efforts, we enjoyed a yummy strawberry frozen yogurt!

Such a mem... :)

Little Blue

This is my newest knitting project. I do not have a lot of time to knit but when I do it makes me so happy. I love to knit for my children most of all. When I knit I think of the scripture in the bible that says the Lord knit us together in our mother's womb. He must like knitting too! :)

This is the start of a blanket for Elijah. I have one going for Emma (pictures to come later), and I am enjoying it so much I decided to make one for Elijah. He loves blue.

I am weird in the fact that I name my knitting projects.

So, without further ado...

Meet "Little Blue"

(In honor of Elijah-the sweetest little three year old in the whole wide world!)

Mommy loves you!

my silent prayer...

"Life happened today during school. I tried to smile but I frowned. I tried to speak kindly but I snapped. I reacted to situations when I should have responded. Lord, help me be stronger, sweeter, and calmer next time. Protect my little Lambs' hearts and spirits from their floundering sheep mama..."

PB&J

The weather is becoming springlike here in Florida. It is a joy and something to be delighted in before it gets unbearably hot! So today we decided to eat lunch on the back porch. It was the first time Emma had eaten Peanut Butter and Jelly! She loved it!!!

Olivia and Elijah enjoyed their lunch under a fort...

Emma in her high chair...

Elijah deep in thought...

My girls...
There is no greater joy than my children. I love having them around me all day. I love eating lunch with them and hearing all the sweet things they have to say...

Sweet Ethan and I had our sandwiches on the swing...He's such a heartbeat!

It happened again...

Today when I was driving to the gym, with all four children in the van with me, I had that feeling again. The split second panic that someone was missing, or left behind, or something. I have not had that feeling since December 2009 when Elijah was 15 months old. I was desiring to have another baby at that point. My husband, and I, and three children (at that point) were entering Trinitas on a cold December evening to watch our neice and nephew perform at a school function. It surprised me just as much then as it did today.

That feeling was a little more unexpected today, because I feel unready for another baby at this point in my life. I want the Lord to be in charge though, not me.

We have a plan, but Lord have your way :)

Teach me to understand my children...

~to patiently listen and answer all questions as best I can.

~to treat them with respect and dignity that I expect from them.

~to discipline them at the right times and for the right reasons.

~to always temper this discipline with love.

~to remember, at all times, that they are children.

~to give them the room and support they need to grow.

~to answer "yes" to all reasonable requests.

~to say "no" -even if it hurts- when it's in their best interest.

~to be a fitting model that they can both love and respect.