Snapshots of the Heart ~ Gratitude

I really do try not to love things.  But it's not easy.

I often need to make a concentrated effort to not get caught up in the value of my possessions.  Instead, I want to be grateful for the people who surround me, this life that God has blessed me with and the good health that I enjoy.  I want to focus on the joy that my kids give me, the pleasure of sharing a good laugh with Brett and the privilege of being home with my babies.

But sometimes ...

I just really love my stuff.

In particular, the new sectional we bought about a month ago.  I'm afraid I have fallen in love with it!

I love that it fits our room so well.

I love that our entire family can sit on the couch together to watch a show.

I love that there is actually room for us to grow.  And still fit.

I love that when we have guests over, no one has to sit on the floor or hearth.

I love that the kids like to nestle into the corner-seat, snuggled under a blanket.

I love that Brett and I still sit side-by-side, even if the sofa is vast.

I love that it still looks clean.

And I love that from about two to three o'clock, the chaise portion of the couch is in the sun.

That is my absolute favoritestest seat in the house.

Just this past Sunday, I sprawled across that particular cushion as it lay bathed in sunshine and read a book.  For an hour.  When I finally pulled myself away from the story, my sun-baked brain felt foggy.  It was awesome.

So while it's true that I am grateful for Ashley's hysterical, maniacal, wet-my-pants-able laughter, Aaron's sneak-up-behind-you hugs, Norah's cartwheel-from-here-to-there trips to the kitchen, Lydia's speedy rendition of "Jingle Bells" and Brett's willingness to admit that Cowboys and Aliens was a terrible movie ... I love my sunny seat.

Just don't tell the kids.  I'm trying to teach them not to put too much importance on things.

And I don't want them to take my place in the sun.

"Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing 

with thankfulness and always giving thanks to 

God the Father for everything,

 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  

Ephesians 5:20 & Colossians 2:7

__________________________________________

Prompt #3 ~ My spot in the house.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

The kids moved the snowflake in the advent calendar.  And Surprise! ... It's December 22nd.  Just a few more hours until we get to open all those goodies under the tree and see what treasures we've been given this year!

Fourteen years and two days ago, I was still giggly and smiley about a gift I received from one of my most favoritist people in the whole world!

I remember that Brett came over to pick me up for the first leg of my journey home for Christmas.  We were headed to his folks' house in Boulder and then we would head down to Ridgway for Christmas with my family.  I made us lunch and when we prayed together, I noticed Brett's hands were ice cold (a condition I now know to be associated with extreme nervousness), but he played it off as the result of loading up the car.  After carrying my bags to his Subaru, we got ready to leave, but Brett said he had left his coat in the house.  As we walked back into the kitchen, he took my hand and invited me to walk down the hall to the living room.  My heart suddenly started hammering!  Without saying a word, I knew something big was happening.

We sat down by the Christmas tree and he pulled out a plastic bucket with circus pictures on the outside.  I recognized it immediately as a memento from our first date ... fifteen or so couples all going to the circus in Denver together.

As he opened the bucket, he began pulling out ticket stubs and keepsakes of our years dating.  With each little souvenir, he recounted how each event and activity with me had captured his heart.  A tender walk down memory lane from Brett's perspective.

And there at the bottom of the circus bucket was a little box.

With that little ring and that little question and that little, "yes", I was the recipient of the best Christmas present ever!

I could never hope to list all of the blessings of being Brett's bride, but here are a few that come to mind ...

Spending my days with my very best friend ~ and wishing that pesky work didn't take him away,
Four fantastic kids that fill our days ~ and give us lots to talk and laugh about later,
The bliss of "just the two of us" evenings after the kids are in bed ~ sometimes just to be quiet,
Sharing the same love of quirky TV shows ~ Ed, Arrested Development, Community, 30 Rock, Psych, to name few,
Laughing at the same lines in our favorite movies ~ "Oooh, would we say that?",
A game playing buddy ~ Gin Rummy, Cribbage, Yahtzee ... and only if absolutely necessary, Trivial Pursuit,
Amazing in-laws ~ truly a second family,
Someone who gets me ~ and doesn't question when sudden laughter or tears flow in unexpected moments,
Inside jokes, winks and knee grabs under the table ~ no words necessary, and
Patience, patience, patience ~ and patience, oh my!

I was hard-pressed to find a Christmas song for this Musical Christmas Count-Down today that would paint a picture for you about this most amazing gift.  Strangely enough, there is no holiday song that sings the virtues of a man willing to get up in the middle of the night to help the little person declaring, "My bed messy."  Neither could I find a Christmas tune that sings about the wonders of a husband who will bring a glass of wine to his wife as a surprise when she gets out of her one shower of the week at 9 o'clock on a Tuesday night.

But here's a familiar song about the desire we each have to receive the best present ever ... the gift that they've always wanted:

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five and ten glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in ev'ry store
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door.

A pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben;
Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen;
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas; 
Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.

(As kid, I would have loved to have a doll that could talk and go for a walk ... and now I have four!)

Truly this sweet marriage is gift from God.

Neither Brett or I alone could redeem this friendship to be a rewarding and renewing, sensible and satisfying, edifying and enjoyable marriage.  If left to our own devices, selfishness and general crabbiness would run amok!  And you can't buy this intimacy and contentment at the "five and ten" either.  No indeed.  This friendship is straight from God.

We are both most assuredly the joyful recipients of the best gift ever.  Thank You, God!

And as for this Christmas, my gift request would be for You to please help us to keep loving each well ... and forgiving often ... and extending grace ... and being friends.
_____________________________

Prompt #2 ~ Best gift ever.  Evvvooore.

Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Thankfulness

Last Friday at about 7:45 pm, poor Norah reached her threshold.  And not because she was Black Friday-ed out.

We had been playing hard all day at Auntie Allie's house.  We were settling into night #3 out in my mom's art studio.  She took one look at the air mattress and burst into tears!

"I just want to sleep in a real bed!"

After twenty minutes of full-body sobbing, Daddy managed to convince her that she was really tired and that she would feel tons better in the morning.  She sniffed.  She blew her nose.  She mumbled something about not being comfy.  And she pulled her blankets up around her chin and buried her face in her pillow.

I felt her pain.

As we watched poor Norah melt down, my mom, brother and sister stifled a snicker.

"She's her mother's daughter for sure."

Let's time-warp back to a similar misery, eh, I mean, vacation ...

My family was wrapping up week two of a trip to California.  We had spent time with my aunt and uncle in Camarillo and then headed to Yosemite for several nights before heading home.  

This is night two:

Oh, the pain of it all!

The story goes (and let me tell you, they love to tell the story...) that I spent much of this night moaning and groaning.

"I just want to go home."

"I just want a real bed."

"I just want my clothes to be in my dresser."

We all have our limits and this was mine!  Because of this powerful memory, I could empathize with sad, sweet Norah.  It's wonderful to run away for a vacation, but it's also wonderful knowing that eventually you will find yourself back home.

Today I'm thankful for my home ~ where everything is where it should be.  

And my clothes are in my dresser!

Thankfulness {day seven}

Last week the kids were off school.  And, consequently, off balance!

It is glorious to have a break from the daily routine, to toss the schedule out the window and shake things up a bit!  I really do love when my kids are home for a break.  Our mornings are slower - no need to bustle and tussle out the door at eight thirty.   We set the course of the day - no one else's schedule dictating our mornings, afternoons and evenings.  We play a bit more - less "should-do's" and more "want-to's".

But all that freedom can make our household run a little off-kilter.  That's when it's doubly sweet to jump back into the predictable, plot able, programable plan each day.  Discovering again that a little routine goes a long way towards having a happy home!

Yesterday I sent the three big kids back to school.  They almost skipped out the door and I happily hummed as I watched them drive away.  Then I closed the door and smiled.  I still had two little people to care for, but as they quietly played and slept, I was able to put our home back on track.

It went a little something like this ...

Selecting "Christmas Medley" on my iPod,
Washing the breakfast dishes and wiping down kitchen counters,
Rummaging through the kitchen for all the parts for dinner,
Cleaning Petey's cage and refreshing all his dishes and water,
Sweeping the kitchen floor,
Taking down Lydia's birthday decorations (finally),
Stacking all the clean laundry for kids to put away,
Answering e-mails and leaving messages,
Making phone calls and wrapping up loose ends,
Helping Lydia with her new puzzle,
Freeing our Christmas tree from it's netting,
Filling the tree stand with water,
Vacuuming up the first of those pesky pine needles,
Feeding and cuddling Baby S.,
Snuggling with Lydia on the couch,
Preparing lunch for us girls ...

The beautiful humdrum of life!

It may have seemed like just an ordinary morning, but in reality it was sacred.  The holiness of haven-making ... creating a shelter for my family!

Today I am thankful for the natural rhythm of our lives and the opportunity to be home with my kids ... allowing me to make this a place of refuge and refreshment.

Thankfulness {day six}

Hmmm ... Looks like my Thankfulness posts are overflowing into this week!  And that's not a bad thing at all.  There's no better way to turn a Monday around than to start off with a little gratefulness.
________________________________

A year ago today ... quite possibly to the date, I'd have to check my calendar to be sure ... but a year ago today I was sitting with my mom in the ER.

I sat in the plastic, pushed to the corner, "family or friend" chair while my mom tried unsuccessfully to find a comfortable position on the exam table.  She had been experiencing a new, more severe back pain and we were there on the Friday after Thanksgiving with the hopes of finding the cause.

She went for several different tests.  I sat and thought about calling my sister with an update.  But I really didn't have any update to give.  Eventually they sent her home with a generic prescription:  rest, pain meds as needed, follow-up with primary physician.

That weekend we had plans to visit the tree farm and cut down our Christmas tree.  My mom rested up a bit, but she was adamant about coming along.  She is a bit stubborn when it comes to family time and she really hates to miss out on seeing the kids excited about anything.  She joined us in feeding the Clydesdales, Sam and Gus.  She helped the kids roast marshmallows and she took a few pictures of the kids climbing the hay bale pyramid.  But when it came to climbing up on the flat bed trailer and bouncing along behind the tractor out to the cut the tree, she had to say, "no".  She headed back to the car to wait and probably had a good cry.

That weekend was the beginning of a long and difficult season for her filled with chronic pain and empty of any feasible relief.  For the next six months we watched rather helplessly as my mom's back problems went from bad to worse.

She saw a variety of doctors, each with their own thoughts and plans, but any alleviation of pain was temporary.  She grieved the loss of her ability to walk, sit, move without pain and we grieved the loss of family-time with Nana.

Then came June ... and the promise of relief.

The doctor called a it a "lumbar fusion".  I called it hope.

Hope for freedom from pain,
Hope for my mom's quality of life to be renewed,
Hope for time for Nana to enjoy your grand-babies,
Hope for the mom I know to be restored,
Hope for God to heal her.

Next came six more months and they weren't any easier.  The first two were doozies filled with an arduous recovery, full-time care provided by my amazing sister, shuffling steps and groggy-headedness.  We watched as my mom wrestled with fluctuating blood pressure problems, loss of appetite (unless you count creamed spinach as actual food) and a bit of the blues.  She didn't have the original back pain, but her nerves were shouting from all the poking and prying from the surgery.

There were a few times after visiting on the phone when I wondered if I would ever talk to my mom again.  She looked like my mom, sort of, and her voice sounded like my mom, kind of, but it wasn't my mom.  She didn't have much to say ... and my mom is a talker.  She didn't want company ... and my mom loves to be around people.  She resisted seeing the kids ... and my mom will jump in the car in a moment's notice to see her babies.  We were still waiting and still hoping.

Then came the day when she realized that she didn't hurt.  Not her back, not her incision.  Nothing.  She cautiously celebrated.  We watched as she took baby steps back to her new normal.

This past Saturday, we headed out once again to the tree farm with my brother and sister-in-law and their kids.

The fourteen of us fed Gus and Sam.

The fourteen of us roasted marshmallows around the fire pit.

The fourteen of us took pictures as kids climbed the hay bales ...

... and carriages.

And the fourteen of us climbed up on the flat bed trailer and bounced along behind the tractor in search of our Christmas tree.

We have seen our hopes for Nana come to life!  Freedom from pain, enjoying life, loving on her grand-babies, restored as the woman we know and healed by God!

That's what I'm thankful for today.

Thankfulness {day five}

Today is the day when a good number of our country's population flood the stores and fill their carts with loads of toys, clothes, electronics and other gift items all at rock bottom prices.  (Actually I guess they started last night, which ranks right up there with crazy and absurd.)

Today is the day when I ponder not actually getting dressed.  I mean, I'll probably change out of my pajamas, but I'll most likely end up in something else equally comfy.  (Getting dressed with the sole purpose of lounging around ranks right up there with silly and foolish.)

I am actually quite intentional about having a wardrobe that doesn't just consist of knit pants and sloppy shirts.  I feel better about me when I wear flattering clothing ... jeans that fit and slim me down in all the right places with a top that not only compliments my figure, but enhances the good parts.

But on days like today, I'm intending to forgo fashion and enjoy a little something comfy.  My anticipated outfit of today consists of my GoodWill-found, coffee-colored fleece pants.  The tag says, "Old Navy".  I say, "Favorite pants ever."  They are warm, cushy and their elastic waist band will make my midsection oh-so-happy today ... just in case Thanksgiving dinner takes an encore!

I also packed my newish knit poncho.  This is my slightly more fashionable and significantly more functional Snuggie.  I'm not entirely certain what Stacy & Clinton would say about this addition to my wardrobe.  I think it's cute and I love how I feel five degrees warmer within a few moments of putting it on!  And when I go to the kitchen for another cup of tea, I don't have to unwrap first or drag it along behind me.

It's not so much that I'm thankful for my couch potato clothes, but I am grateful that today is a day to be a couch potato.  An extra family day this week without a schedule to keep!  I would love to find a verse hidden away somewhere in Isaiah that encourages us to take one day to stay in our comfyiest of clothes ... but alas, my concordance doesn't turn up any such wisdom.

Neither could I find any Scripture references to setting aside a day to play Wii, work on a puzzle, nosh on Thanksgiving leftovers and spend most of the day curled up on the couch.  But I still think God will bless it!

Here's to taking time to recharge ... in our comfy-est clothes in the closet!

Thankfulness {day four}

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are in the midst of family, friends, food and fun!

We are currently packed to the gills in my sister's home ... fourteen people, four dogs and one bathroom.  It's how we enjoy our holidays!  Packed cheek to cheek to cheek to cheek to cheek around the table and on the couch and in our blow-up beds.  I wouldn't have it any other way!

Thinking back on past Thanksgivings, I was surprised at the many different ways we have spent this holiday.  We have celebrated under many different roofs, eating many variations of the traditional good eats and among a variety of family and friends.  Sometimes we share food responsibilities, sometimes we just show up with a can of whipped cream and some rolls.  Sometimes we spend our time cuddled on the couch watching football while other times we hover over the dining room table, tackling a 1,000 piece puzzle.  We've watched the wonder and delight of each of our kiddos eating their first turkey, first cranberry, first pumpkin pie.  We have laughed and reminisced with older family members who have since passed away.

So many memories packed into one single day.

But one of my absolute, hands-down favorite memories would have to be my mom's annual turkey dance.  Each year before stuffing the bird, my mom would slide her hand into the cavity and entertain us with a little turkey cha-cha!  At least until her arm gave out ... those 20 pound turkeys are not light on their feet!

Several years ago, we decided to for go the traditional turkey and instead served individual cornish game hens. This allowed us to each have our own delicious bird ... and a feathered friend chorus line:

Today I am thankful for laughter that cheers our faces, memories that warm our hearts and food that fills our bellies!

¹³ A happy heart makes the face cheerful! 

(Proverbs 15:13)

Hope you enjoy a little silliness today!  And maybe a little dancing. :)
_____________________________

Prompt #2 ~ What traditions do you carry on with your family each year?

Thankfulness {day three}

We have been living in this house for 1,987 days.  (For those of you who really like numbers, that is 2,861,280 minutes; 47,688 hours or 283 weeks.)

I like that number.  Not because of any real signicance to the number itself, but because that is 1,987 days that we haven't moved.  That we haven't packed or unpacked the house.  That we have been settled.

We have new neighbors across the street.  I met the mom and her two little kids a few days ago and she is one tired Momma.  There is nothing quite like moving across the country, towing your car and riding in a moving van with your six year old and your two year old.  I feel her exhaustion deep in my bones.  Several days later, their garage is still full of boxes and furniture is haphazardly placed here and there.  There are a few bits and pieces that give evidence of their settling ... a wind sock hanging from the front of the house, the little girl's pink jeep parked by the garage and the trash can sitting at the curb, bursting with packing material.  But it will be a while before this young family will feel at home.

We have some friends who are literally right in the middle of their 13th move.  They are our traveling friends as their roots having been put down in a variety of states, including, but not limited to Washington, Florida, Oklahoma, Colorado, California and now, Tennessee.  Following on Facebook their last few weeks of packing and re-packing and pitching and packing, I was tired and excited for them.  But mainly tired. :)

I am a creature of habit and I am grateful for our settled and established home.  To say that I am not fond of change would probably be an understatement.  And the bummer is that change is inevitable.  Like my Mom would say, "The only thing that doesn't change is the fact that everything changes."  So true.

Even in our established and rooted home we experience change on a regular basis.  Birthdays, milestones, growing pains, tussles for independence, too-short pants and endlessly shaggy hair.  As soon as I feel settled in a season of life, the kids move on and I am traveling to the next stage of life.  And just as I get my Mommy-toolbox unpacked, they're on the move again to another big-kid phenomena.

Change is the only thing we can be 100% sure of.

My thankfulness today is grounded in the glorious truth that God is unchangeable.  The only Constant in a world of change.

¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17, emphasis mine)

Only God knows what twists and turns are ahead for our family and gratefully we can face those changes while trusting God to be the same today, tomorrow and every day thereafter.

It still doesn't mean I want to move anytime soon!

Thankfulness {day two}

The chime of the clock tells me it's two o'clock.  The baby girls went down for naps (or in Ashley's case, a mandatory stay-in-your-room-and-keep-the-volume-level-down-time) an hour ago. The past sixty minutes have not been idle.  I have travelled upstairs several times to shush Ashley, fold laundry and check on the sleepers.  I washed up lunch dishes and traded out a load of laundry.  I spent a few moments scooping up the toys that have been pollinated on the steps and under the dining room table.  I made a quick phone call and made an oops-I-forgot grocery list.  My to-do list sits on the kitchen counter and demands some attention.  But.

But.

But.

The corner of the couch is quietly calling my name.  For just forty-five minutes a day, the sunshine creeps in through the glass slider doors, crawls across the carpet and rests on the end of the couch.  Just forty-five minutes and only during these chilly months when the sun dips below the edge of the house.

I look at chicken lying frozen on the counter
 ... I should work on dinner.

I look at the pillows, plump and warm in the sunshine 

... I should rest a minute.

I look at the computer
 ... I haven't written anything all day.

I look at the quilt on the couch

 ... I haven't sat all day.

I look at the laundry
 ... It won't fold itself.

I look at the sunshine

 ... It won't last all afternoon.

The beckoning comfort of the slumpy, lumpy, sun-kissed couch wins out.

As I lean back into the cushions, I can feel the heat from the sun.  I pull the quilt across my lap, prop my feet on the ottoman and nestle back in the corner of the cushions.  The sun is so bright, I have to close my eyes against the glare.  The warmth, the comfort and the stillness are the ultimate trifecta for rest.

I guard myself against actually falling asleep, however.  If I nap, I know I'll spend the remainder of the afternoon trying to wake up!  But a few minutes of quiet are a enough to renew and refresh me.  I'm not ready, however, to move on.  I resist the urge to get back to the busy-ness of the day ... the never-ending chores that I'll never actually be done with.

I reach for my Bible on the end table next to the couch with the intention of reading a chapter or two from 2 Peter.  I am in the midst of a reading schedule that takes me through the Bible in chronological order ... all in one year.  I am currently in year two.  Another aspect of life I haven't been able to keep up with.

The brightness of the sun forces me to close my eyes again and as I sit there, I am reminded again of my tendency to be a do-er.  For right now, for the next thirteen minutes, I want to be a be-er.  I want to cast off the belief that my clean house, folded laundry and hot-n-ready dinner define me as a good wife and mother.  I want to cast off the belief that my not-on-schedule reading plan defines me as spiritually lacking.  I want to cast off the belief that my value and importance are defined by my productivity and performance.

Here on my sun-drenched corner of the couch, for a few brief minutes, I am free to just be.

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9, emphasis mine)

Not by super organization.
Not by incredible talents in the kitchen.
Not by faithfully caring for the laundry.
Not by stellar reading schedules.
Not by thoughtful and heartfelt essays.
Not by going and going and going.

But by grace.

That slouching, cozy, welcoming couch reminds me of God's grace.  And that's what I'm thankful for today.

Where do you find God's grace?  

It might be where you least expect it!

Thankfulness {day one}

The kids are off this week for fall break.  I love having my kids home, but I'm quite certain that between bee-bopping around with them and heading to my Sissy & Mom's house on Wednesday, my blogging may go by the wayside.  But I still want to share with you little snapshots of thankfulness this week.

Before I begin, however, I want you to take for granted that I am grateful for all the traditional stuff:  great kids, wonderful hubby, God's word, our loving church, terrific family, our cozy house, running water, indoor plumbing, my household appliances, my flannel sheets and an abundance of food to eat.  I am grateful for all those things and plenty more that I didn't get on the list.  But, I'm also grateful for ...

Pandora Radio.

I love that I can choose the station of my choice, be it Ella Fitzgerald, Mamuse, Broadway Show Tunes, Jack Johnson, French Cafe, Gypsy Kings or Adelle; and enjoy whatever music I am in the mood for.  Sometimes I want something a bit perky to get me moving in the morning ... then when I've had enough of Aaron's obsession with Erasure ... I can flip over to Hymns and get my spirit energized, too!  And I don't have to have an enormous library of music.  This in-exhaustive supply of music all fits into that capital "P" on my iPod.  And now with Christmas on the horizon ... I'm itching to listen to my Christmas stations:  Christmas Medley Radio and Messiah:  Hallelujah Radio.  But not until after Thanksgiving!  It's all in the anticipation! :)

This is coming from the kid who for a five week trip in a motor home with my grandparents brought two ... two cassette tapes.  Two.  Five weeks, fifteen songs tops ... listen, flip over and repeat.  For five weeks as we drove up and down the eastern seaboard I listened to The Bangles and Wilson Phillips.  (I confess that with the hopes that you won't un-friend me.)  I am quite certain that I never listened to either of those tapes again upon arriving home.  Ever, ever, ever again.

So you can only imagine that with the vast musical talents quite literally at my finger tips, I am like a kid in a candy story!  So many musicians to choose from!  Who to listen to next?

I am still in amazement (read puzzlement) over how this program works ... I'm sure it involves algorithms and statistics ... but still I appreciate it on a daily basis.  In the same way, I am in great puzzlement about how God works sometimes.  (Ohhh ... see how God sneaks into every little aspect of life?  I think that's how He likes it!) I don't understand why He chooses to do some things.  I don't grasp His plan or His purposes on tough days or when life gets bumpy.  But, in reality, I don't have to comprehend Him to love and be grateful for Him.  In fact, in Paul's letter to the Philippians he addresses this need to rest in God's goodness without having first answered the "whys" of life.  And when we settle into Him, He promises to give us a peace that we can't comprehend ... and a rest that we can't unravel or exhaust.

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, emphasis mine)

So there you have it ... I'm grateful for God and all of His mysteriousness.  And that goes for Pandora, too.

One more thing about Pandora -
While it's fantastic to have such a variety of music to accompany any and all activities in our house, we have run the risk of introducing our kids to music unintentionally.  Music that will forever change our children.  And not in a good way.  Have a listen ...



So yeah ... there's that. :)

ooo ee, ooo ah ah ting tang
walla walla, bing bang,
ooo ee, ooo ah ah ting tang
walla walla, bing bang,
ooo ee, ooo ah ah ting tang
walla walla, bing bang,
ooo ee, ooo ah ah ting tang
walla walla, bing bang,
ooo ee, ooo ah ah ting tang
walla walla, bing bang.....

Sorry about that.

Friends

I really want to say "Thanks!"
You've given me such help.
Taking on the screen-time strain,
Stopping my nag and my yelp!

Now I just type in some numbers,
With a beep and a boop and a beep,
I'm off to do laundry or cleaning
And my Mommy-mouth makes not a peep.

Instead of me nagging and whining
When the screen time should come to an end,
I'll let you do all the reminding,
Oh, Kitchen Timer, you are my friend!

What's that?  Of course, you're great, too!
You're one of my handiest gadgets.
Not only do you keep my food fresh,
But you also connect with my magnets.

You are stuffed of good things to eat,
On you, all my veggies depend,
The milk, cheese and butter are cold
Refrigerator, you are my friend!

Oh, please, please, please, do not grumble!
Of course, you are important, too.
Without your scrubbers and sprayers,
I'd be scouring and feeling so blue!

I delight in loading your racks,
Plates, cups and bowls turned upend,
Forks, spoons, and knives to be cleaned
By you, Dishwasher, my friend.

I hear whining from behind the door
Your wails can be heard upstairs.
You know you are precious, too.
And I'm grateful you came as a pair.

You wash all our grubbies so well
And leave them fluffed and dry at the end.
No need to beat them on rocks,
Washer-n-Dryer, you are my friend.

Oh brother, are you whining, too?
You see action most every day!
Nuking our lunches and dinner,
Watching food rotate round on your tray.

You're essential when it's time to cook.
But I'm even more grateful to send,
My coffee and tea for a reheat,
Yes, Microwave, you are my friend.

Did I hear you let out a groan?
Now this is getting absurd!
From you Cuisinart food processor,
I don't want to hear another word!

I'm grateful for each of my helpers,
Whether you clean or toast or blend,
But this is feeling like high school ...
Why can't you each be my friend?!?
_________________________

Prompt #4 ~ Write a poem where the last two words are "my friend".  It's possible that I need to get out and be social with some actual people! :)  But in reality, without these sweet friends, I would never have a social life.  I'd be too busy hauling water from the creek and heating it in the fireplace!

Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Little Me

Today is a fun day!  I have a guest post over at faithblogs ... so pop over there and you get two posts for this wacky and wild Wednesday!  It's kinda like it's your birthday week, too! :)





________________________________________________

This past Monday I turned 36 ... which is really weird because it's absolutely impossible that I am actually that old!  Of course, my creaky hips and achy feet tell me that, "yes, indeedly doo, you are that old", but in my mind's eye, I'm more like this:

My mom has said the same thing - experiencing jaw-dropping shock after catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror and realizing that she's 60 ... even if she is still young at heart.  This age-business can really mess with your head!

I have also become a bit more aware of my age in regards to sports figures.  Nothing is more humbling than seeing a star athlete at the height of his or her career and realizing that I am A DECADE older than they are.  A decade.  Proof that it's probably time to put my aspirations to be an Olympic synchronized swimmer to bed.  It's not gonna happen.

Or, discovering that celebrities, of whom I have always projected as much older than me, are actually my age.  Or younger.  The biggest shocker recently was discovering that Angelina Jolie is my age.  And Ashton Kutcher is three years my junior.  I'm not sure why that struck me as strange, but it did.  Maybe it's because I picture them as above me in age and stature as opposed to a peer.  Not a peer in the sense of fame, fortune or fan-club status, of course, but we could have been in school together, bumped into one another in the hall, traded secrets for fighting acne.

Maybe my shock at crossing over to the "other side" of 30 is due, more than anything, to the surprisingly swift passage of time and the seasons of life that are behind me.  I have two possible responses to this discovery:  cling to the past or fling myself into the future!

Gratefully, God orchestrated my days long before even that adorable little snapshot above was taken.  While my future may be hidden from me, it's already written out in great detail in God's book.

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being; 
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
   your works are wonderful, 
   I know that full well. 
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you 
   when I was made in the secret place, 
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body; 
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book 
   before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16, emphasis mine)


And with the peace that comes from that sweet knowledge that God has my days already planned out, I can smile at the future.

With the same goofy grin from when I wore teeny-tiny overalls and had a lot less hair!

_______________________________

31 Days of Mom in the Midst

Day 1:  Mom in the Midst

Day 2:  My Button is Lame

Day 3:  Splendidly Lavish

Day 4:  Keeping My Head Above Water

Day 5:  Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Little Me

Shade, Sweet Shade

As we trudge up the hill to school, my five year old trots alongside me.  There is room next to Lydia in the double stroller, but today Ashley has opted to walk.  She feels a little more grown up that way, I guess.  Being on the ground also enables her to fulfill her role as look-out.

Yesterday on our way back from school, Ashley spotted a few little cactus plants that had cropped up along the sidewalk.  She is determined to keep us safe from those pokey little pests.  She has also taken it upon herself to alert me of broken glass, cars on the road and red ants.  Who knew that our quarter mile stretch between our house and the elementary school could be so fraught with danger?

As we near the crest of the hill, however, it isn't the cactus, glass, cars or ants that have my attention.  It's the heat.

Wow.  It is a hot one today.

The intense sun is blazing.  I feel a trickle of sweat run down my back.  The heat off the pavement is scorching.

I look down at Ashley and her flushed little face tells me that she's about done in.

"Just a bit further, Honey, and we'll be under that tree."

As we roll under the branches of the cottonwood, there is a noticeable difference in temperature.  I put on the brakes and reach for the water bottle in the stroller.  After a cool sip, I hand the bottle to Ashley, who has collapsed in the spare seat.

At that moment, another mother on her way to the cross walk pauses under the tree.

"The shade is lovely," she sighs.

This little patch of shadow is an oasis on this blistering day.  For just a moment we find relief, respite and rest.  We still have to continue on our trek, but briefly we have found a bit of much needed refreshment.

In the same way, God has promised to be our shade on this sometimes exhausting, tiring and taxing road of life.  

⁷ Show me the wonders of Your great love, 
   You who save by Your right hand 
   those who take refuge in You from their foes. 
⁸ Keep me as the apple of Your eye; 
   hide me in the shadow of Your wings (Psalm17:7-8)

He promises that He will hide us there in the shadow of His wing.  In that shadow we will find relief, respite and rest.  We will also find refreshment.  A spiritual refreshment that will restore us for the remainder of our trek.

Of course we have to head back out into the heat of the day, into the heat of our trials, but we start again with a sense of renewal and a reminder that we are not on this road alone, but with Jesus.  

And He's trudging alongside us as our faithful Look Out.

Happy To You!

Little Lydia loves her Leap Frog alphabet show, "The Letter Factory".  In just 30 minutes (watched ad finitum) she has learned that the, "'F' says fffff, the 'F' says fffff, Every letter makes a sound, the 'F' says fffff."

Now go back and sing that line about the letter "F" to the tune of, "The Farmer in the Dell" .... and you'll be singing it the rest of the day!  And you have 25 other letters you can substitute to keep you busy.

But, Liddy being Liddy has to spice it up a bit.  She finishes off her "fffff" with her rendition of "Happy Birthday" (Happy to you!) and then with an additional "fffff", "fffff's" out her imaginary candles!  Much to the delight of her older siblings, "Ha, ha, hee, hee!  Do it again, Lydia!"

And, because she loves when people cheer her on, she does.  Again.  And again.

Along these same lines, I wanted to say a quick thank you to all my readers here at Snapshots!  You are my cheering squad, and because of your encouragement, I keep coming back to the keyboard to write something new.  And I marvel that you keep coming back to read it!

I realized a few days ago that yesterday was my blog's first birthday.

(Happy to you, Snapshots!)

I was quite surprised that an entire year's worth of words had spilled out into the blogosphere to be read by you.  There were a few other feelings, too.

I am ...

• Grateful for the opportunity to put my thoughts down on paper.  (It gets pretty crowded in my head.)
• Joyful at being able to chronicle a year in the life of the Kellums.  (And some weariness at seeing how busy that year was.)
• Thankful for my readers.  That's YOU! (And my commentors ... it's fun to hear from you, too!)
• Honored that God has allowed me this place to share about my life with Jesus.  (This is one of my favorite parts!)
• Humbled that any of you experience any encouragement, delight, help, or even a good laugh because of my mere ramblings.  (This is by far the the scariest part!)
• Astonished that God continues to give me inspiration in my writing. (I have yet to run dry of things to write about ... oh, to have the time to get it all on paper!)
• Tickled Pink about the opportunities I've had to write! (My words, face and name at in-courage and in the MOPS MomSense Magazine, July/August 2011 ... eek!)
• Inspired to keep writing and looking for opportunities to "put myself out there". (Okay ... maybe this is the scariest part!)
• Overwhelmed by the sheer thought of how to reach more readers with my blog.  (I'm a pretty quadrorillianth fish in a GINORMOUS pond of bloggers!  See the -Ism to the right.)
• Challenged to refine my writing and hone this gift that God has given me to invite others to pause, ponder and celebrate life's littlest moments with me.  (I would love this blog to be a bench where you feel free to come and rest a moment.)
• Curious about what else God has in store.  (What will He use little ol' me for?!?)
• Excited about the next 260 posts in the coming year!  (That's a nutty number!)

It has been a fun year!  Here are some of my favorite posts:

What if my kids never learn table manners?
What if my life had a soundtrack?
How motherhood transformed/revamped/remodeled my life.
How can we see real, actual, tangible change in our lives?
What a day in the life of Mommy actually looks like.
The "bummer dude" parts of motherhood.
Keeping motherhood fun ... mostly!

Thanks for taking the time to read again ...

I'll be here all week!   Don't forget to tip your waiter.  :)

Yep ... Pretty Thankful!

What a fun weekend ... a fun looooong weekend!  Kind of hard to come back down to the reality of Monday after a sweet family time like that!  But I guess we have to have something like "normal" in order to enjoy the "special" of the holidays.

We started our holiday weekend off with the Great Pre-Holiday Toy Purge of 2010 ... do we know how to have fun, or what?!  The kids were home from school on Wednesday and so, being such a great mom, I put them to work.  But just for the morning.  After making our way through the house, top to bottom and side to side, we pulled out three bags of trash and 4 boxes of toys to give away.  Boo-yeah!  I love that feeling of less:  less to pick up, less to search through for the toy you really want, less to keep contained.  I was really pleased with the kids and their willingness to let go of some of their things.  We wrapped up the morning with a trip to McD's.  No ... we didn't get any Happy Meal toys! :)  In reality, we are only making room for the gifts to come ... but for right now, we feel tidy.

Then it was Thanksgiving Day ... gobble, gobble!  We started the morning with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ... which ended up being a lot of talk and a little itty-bit of parade.  Poor Ashley was still asking about 45 minutes into the broadcast, "When is it going to be the parade?"

"Sorry, Honey, this is it."  Lots of yakking, some reporter kept taking other people's coats (what was that all about?!?), a few glimpses of balloons and a photo shot or two of some famous person on a float.  Oh well ... I'll bide my time until the Rose Bowl Parade and enjoy it on HGTV ... no commercials and no silliness.  Just the parade!

Eventually we got dressed and headed to my brother's house.  His family hosted Thanksgiving in their new home ... new memories to make together!  The kids played.  Hard.  While we adults lounged, ate and Boggled.  Hard.

Somehow, we worked up an appetite and that was a good thing because we had a delicious spread to enjoy:  turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cranberries, bread, wine, pie ... I'm stuffed just thinking about it again!  Thanks, Joshua & Jill, for hosting us in your lovely home!

Then it was the mad dash to Montrose that night.  The Goal:  get there before anyone fell asleep.  Mission Accomplished!  Maybe it was the contagious giggling from the backseat, maybe it was the pecan pie coursing through our veins, or maybe it was the Christmas music blaring from the iPod ... either way, we pulled to a stop just as Lydia's eyes began to droop.  Whew!

While in Montrose, we made our traditional trip to the tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree.  This is such a delightful tradition!  As you will see from the Smilebox ... we had a great time!  It was warm, the sun was shining and everyone had smiles on their faces.  A true Christmas miracle!

Customize your own free slideshow design

Now our tree is standing in our family room waiting patiently for us to decorate it.  Tonight, we will be having my other favorite tradition:  The Christmas Transformation!  Christmas music, boxes of ornaments (each with it's own sweet memory), bins of decorations to transform our house, angel and snowflake dishes to eat from, lights twinkling inside and out.

Ooohhh, yeah ... I'm getting in the Christmas mood! :)

Counting My Blessings

A few weeks ago, I shared with you some of my random acts of thankfulness.  Little bits of life for which I'm grateful.  It was definitely random!

On Tuesday evening, my family and I made our Thankfulness chain ... another great way to be reminded of all we have to be thankful for.  The kids had a lot of fun working on this project together and, "we broke our record of last year!"  Yes, we did.  Our beautiful chain goes all the way around our family room and is made up of our gratitude for:  socks, video games, hot running water, the Bible, fire-fighters and yummy food.  And a whole lot of people!  Here are a few snapshots of our time of thankfulness:

What are we thankful for?  Lots!

Big girls stapling our chain.

Aaron supervising :)

Hanging the chain ... all the way around!

Four of my biggest blessings ...

Acting silly!

During this holiday season, it has been great for me to return to this practice of counting my blessings.  Especially since the "hurry, hurry, rush, rush" tendency of this time of year lurks around every corner.   I want to savor this time with my family.

Speaking of "savor" ... that's what I'm doing today!  Today is one of my favorite holidays - Thanksgiving.  While I love Christmas, it's easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of that season and lose my perspective.  On this special day, there is no gift-unwrapping fury, disappointment when the kids realize they didn't get their own iPod, deep fatigue from holiday preparation or a sense of, "hmm ... guess it's over."

Instead, on this day, we are focused on the people we love, the God who loves us and the richness of this life we've been given.  And our lives are full ... kinda like our stomachs after the big meal! :)  There is a wonderful sense on this day of God's sweet and abundant provision for us.  He is our Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider, and He is generous in His giving.

We sang an old hymn at church this past Sunday that reminded me of this promise of God to meet our needs.  While my family doesn't farm (we're city folk!), the imagery in this verse is a wonderful snapshot of our dependence on God ... and His care for us.

Come, ye thankful people, come; 

Raise the song of harvest home. 

All is safely gathered in 

Ere the winter storms begin. 

God, our Maker, doth provide 

For our wants to be supplied. 

Come to God’s own temple, come; 

Raise the song of harvest home.

_____________________________

"Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" by Henry Alford & George Elvey

Thank You, God, for gathering me safely to You.  I am truly thankful.

Random Acts of Thankfulness

You know how it is ... you try to teach your kids something and then you discover that it's YOU who needs the lesson!  After working on yesterday's post, I had a grumpy day ... a "what about me" sort of day. :(  That's just the way God works sometimes ...

At first I felt grumbly ... then I felt a bit convicted ... and then I got busy!  While the baby girls were in the tub this morning, I sat down with my journal and started jotting down all the parts of my life that I'm thankful for.  As is usually the case, it was a little tough getting started, but then I got my gratitude-juice flowing and I ended up with a long, lovely list of gratefulness!

And now in no particular order ... my random thoughts of thankfulness:

Hot running water ~ I'm so glad that I don't have to head down to the creek with my bucket to fill and then heat on the stove before getting anything clean.

Listening to my kids giggle ~ It's one of the most contagious "germs" around.  And the only one I like to "catch".

Sunny spot on the couch ~ For about 5 months out of the year, the sun hits the end of the couch everyday at about 2 pm ... just in time for a nap or a football game ... or both! :)

Microwave ~ Also an instant heat-up ... of food, that is.

Kids' forgiveness when I mess up ~ I'm so grateful that they don't hold a grudge when I'm demanding or unreasonable.  When I ask for forgiveness, the give me a clean-slate.  Whew!

Christmas music in November ~ We have decided to study a Christmas song for our next KEBL night... which gave me free license to listen to a couple holiday albums last night.  :)  Love it!

Brett's servant's heart ~ You can't out-serve this guy ... it's impossible.  He's a professional.

Cordless phones ~ I can get to where my kids are when they need me ... or get away from them when they need me.  It's a win-win situation!

Washer & Dryer ~ I love the thump-thump-thump of the machines working hard, while I'm doing something else.  Also see the "hot running water" entry above ... and add "beating clothes against the rocks".  Ugh.

Relaxing enough to be silly with my kids ~ When I make my kids giggle because of something I said or did, their laughter is that much sweeter.

After-Kids-Go-To-Bed bliss ~ The quietness of those first few minutes after they are in bed is delightful ... until the first, "Mom, I need..."

Aaron getting goofy with his sissies ~ Even if it's not cool, it's fun and funny.

Warm scarves ~ 'Tis the season of knitted scarves knotted at my neck ... and the warm toastyness that comes along with it.

Sweet words from one kid to another ~ Simple sweetness to my ears!

Baskets & bins ~ They give the illusion of a tidy house ... at least everything has a place.  Somewhere.

Spontaneous "I Love You's" ~ Especially when I don't quite feel like I deserve it (see intro above).

Things my kids can do on their own ~ When their independence frees me up to take care of something else, it truly is a gift!  Currently its the fact that my older kids can wash up in the shower on their own - yipee!

Lydia reading her own books ~ And giving herself hugs while reading "Hug" by Jez Alborough.

Window-shopping through the holiday catalogues at my kitchen table ~ No hustle, no bustle, or bundling up to go out ... and it's cheap, too!  Add a hot mug of tea and it's an absolute treat!

When my neighbors are also our bus drivers ~ When I don't do school drop-off or pick-up, I gain a whole hour of my day!

Hugs in the kitchen ~ 100% un-expected and 100% enjoyed.

Tantalizing smell of dinner in the afternoon ~ Let that crock-pot do it's job!

Ashley singing along at bedtime ~ Even if she makes up half the words ... her heart's in the right place.

Our Veterans ~ So thankful for the freedoms we enjoy because of their sacrifice ... and the sacrifices of their families, too.

Kids who are proud of themselves ~ Whether it's a spelling test, coloring in the lines, finding their shoes or a back kick-over ... they know they rock and their smiles prove it!

Reminiscing ~ Time with family and friends and the many memories that are revisited ... and the laughter that inevitably ensues.  Throw an album in there and it gets hysterical.

Double Stroller ~ The only way I have been able to get out of the house with multiple little people for the past 8 years.  I love that thing!

Soft-hearts ~ And the unexpected tears when our hearts are touched.  (Click here for the perfect example of surprising tears.  Be sure to watch until the end ... that's when it got me.)  I'm also known for crying during commercials and when people are eliminated from the Amazing Race.  I feel.  A lot.  And it's a good thing.

That I'm not a Casteller ~ And neither are my children.  See above.

A hubby who likes to hold hands ~ And snuggle!

Music that sings what's in my heart ~ Thank you, Sara, Jack, Bebo and many others!

Freckles on my kids' noses ~ I want to kiss each and every one of them.

When my kids eat their veggies ~ Nope ... vegetables aren't evil!  They can be pretty tasty, actually.

My Pampered Chef Scraper ~ It stands up to the most stuck-on, stickiest messes ... and comes out the winner!

Our doctors ~ High-quality health-care at our fingertips.  And the kids get stickers at check-out ... boo-yeah!

Brett's faithfulness at work ~ Even if it's not his "dream job" he works hard to provide for us.

Slippers and throw blankets ~ Snuggled up in my cocoon ... mmmmm ....

Disposable diapers ~ No words necessary. :)

Norah's servant's heart ~ She loves to be a super helper - and that's super!

Kids' goofy smiles and funny faces ~ Unless I'm trying to get a nice family picture.

Kids' curiosity ~  Their pure amazement when they learn something new is terrific and I get to see the world brand-new again through their young eyes.

Inside jokes between Brett and I ~ Yarp!

Being in the kids' classes ~ Volunteering in their school lets me see my kids in action ... and watch them shine!

Unintentional clothing matching ~ When the girls all match, it's so cute.  When Brett and I do, it's scary.

Cameras & Computers ~ Capturing the many snapshots of life and the memories I want to keep.  And revisit.

I'm sure my list will be going on ... and on ... and on ...