multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here on a wonderful, amazing blog that I read each day.

"One Thousand Gifts":

1674. sleepy superheros::1675. seeing my stuff in an actual shop where people who don't even know me actually buy it::
1676. llamas {and their fabulous teeth -- they only have teeth on the bottom. did you know that? i didn't until today.}::1677. kids celebrating their dad {a whole birthday "program" planned without adult intervention complete with skit, violin duet, gifts and treats}::

1678. laundry on the line::1679. fun crafting {LOTS of it!}
1680. a 2-birthday week
1681. seeing my aunt
1682. continued amazingly glorious weather {80's in October . . . in Minnesota! WOW!}
1683. music and how powerful it is in my life
1684. shopping with my mom, an introduction to a fabulous little occasional shop and some amazingly fun {and did I mention cheap?} "new" dining room chairs. so very exciting to me!
1685. learning a fun new skill::1686. fun Friday morning coffee with the moms
1687. Kirbs making it through his really busy {and stressful} week of work {he put in about 14 hours on his birthday . . . what a trooper!}
1688. a 4-generation spread around the dinner table::1689. our kiddos :: what a blessings they are. each and every one of them. that I've been entrusted with them is truly grace!::1690. the fun of being "boo"-ed
1691. crossing things off the list {LOVE that!}
1692. a wonderful sermon by a wonderful friend

Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

twelve

can i say that she's twelve months instead of saying that she's one? somehow that doesn't make it seem as bad. i can't believe she's been here for a year already. at the same time, though, i can't even remember life without her and can't ever imagine our family feeling at all "right" without her as a part of it. she's a keeper, that's for sure. and a walker too. did i mention that? well, it's true!
happy, happy first birthday sweet sara. we love you more than you could possibly know {at least until you become a parent anyway}::

good morning sunshine, happy birthday::

her cake {thanks Ama!}::

check out those big toofers::

dancing with Anna::

mmm, good::

flashback friday saturday

exactly one year ago::

Happy Birthday

Happy (39th) Birthday to the most wonderful husband & dad we can imagine::


We love you!

thankful thursday

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

"Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
and let your glory be over all the earth"
psalm 108.5
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty,
the whole earth is full of his gory."
isaiah 6.3b
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in therm.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;"
psalm.96.11-12
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing."
john 15.5

Enjoy your day!

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here on a wonderful, amazing blog that I read each day.

"One Thousand Gifts":

1659. cool, old cars {complete with wood paneling}
1660. fun mail
1661. a beautiful moon
1662. kids playing on a trampoline in the dark
1663. grilled chicken
1664. football games
1665. seeing friends
1666. a glorious October weekend . . . amazing weather!
1667. kind people who drive my kids places
1668. a lovely afternoon walk
1669. a fabulous concert with my love::1670. kids excited about their new Bibles::1671. the very best of friends and time together
1672. very thorough doctors, modern medicine and a baby who can breathe::
1673. a "good" nights sleep :: better than I expected, all things considered

Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

flashback friday

Halloween 2006::

{still with a house full of wallpaper :: LOVE my walls now!}

thankful thursday

I'm so thankful for the glorious fall we've been having. The weather has been just perfect! It's a bit windy today, but the sun is out. The kids have enjoyed their walks to and from school. The laundry has been flapping on the clothesline nearly every day. The crafting has been done outside rather than in. The swings make their squeaks as they go back and forth entertaining the kiddos. Bikes, helmets, rakes, scooters, bats, balls and jumpropes litter the driveway and make coming or going in a vehicle a bit of a chore. Fall is my absolute favorite season! Enjoy.

a letter to my daughter

Dearest Sara,

That might be the stinkiest poop I've ever smelled . . . and I've smelled LOTS of poop!

When I'm sick I like to sleep more, not less. Just sayin'!

I promise the snot sucker will help you feel better. It wouldn't be quite as much like torture if you would just hold still.

You are adorable and a blessing to our family. I can't imagine life without you. I love you so very, very much.

Always,
Mom

P.S. I am happy to change your stinky poop and wrestle with you to suck huge amounts of snot out of your nose and get up with you multiple times in the night even though I prefer to be sleeping at 2 am (and midnight and 4 and 5 . . . ). Just wanted to clarify that for you. It's my job, I know. It's what I signed on for and I wouldn't trade it for anything (although sleeping through the night and being healthy would be fabulous!) Love you, honey!

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here on a wonderful, amazing blog that I read each day.

"One Thousand Gifts":

1641. volunteering with friends and being stretched and coming out of my comfort zone
1642. a {wonderful} home to live in :: safe and warm
1643. 15 years a marriage
1644. an adventure with my mom
1645. a powerful message
1646. a wonderful, wonderful concert :: and sitting only about 10 feet from him made it all the better!
1647. a new family member :: our family decided so sponsor another child {through Compassion International -- we've sponsored Marilyn from CSC for years now!}. Melvin is 7 and lives in the Philippines. Welcome to the family, Melvin!
1648. worship
1649. fabulous, much-needed, wonderful night away for our anniversary::






1650. 1 football win and 2 soccer wins during the 27 hours we were gone
1651. a massage
1652. wandering around the farmers market on a chilly morning with my love
1653. a long, leisurely walk::

1654. the History Center :: I'd never been there without kids and it was such fun to take our time and look around
1655. the majesty of an eagle in flight
1656. home!
1657. dinner with friends
1658. a good, hard laugh

Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

awake my soul::

this view earlier today had me humming track 5. give it a listen::

Third World Symphony by shaungroves

actually, give the whole thing a listen. it plays on repeat at my house these day. it's fabulous! and powerful. and my 3-year-old has nearly the whole thing memorized. i got to hear him speak this week and heard him sing too. he's a pretty great guy! enjoy!

flashback friday

another couple wedding pictures in honor of 15 years::

thankful thursday

Today I'm thankful for all the years. Yesterday was our 15th anniversary. 15 years since that day of excitement, shared vows, a motorcade of VW Beetle convertibles, light rain showers, bubbles hanging in the air, clinking glasses and kisses. A decade and a half. Lots of life lived and unimaginable adventures still to come. I am so thankful for the blessing -- the grace in my life -- that is my husband. I love him more each day!

{I'm also SUPER thankful for, and excited about our just-over-24-kid-free-hours that begin tomorrow afternoon. Whoo Hoo!}

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here on a wonderful, amazing blog that I read each day.

"One Thousand Gifts":

1627. the whir of the washing machine :: soundtrack of my days
1628. first game of the football season ending in a win
1629. fall is here!
1630. looking forward to Friday and a kid-free night with my love {thanks Mom!}
1631. a new season of Parenthood {my FAVORITE show}
1632. making it through the first full week of school
1633. good conferences with Rebekah, Lydia and Joe's teachers
1634. fans at Jacob's first home game {in addition to his whole family he had :: 1 youth pastor, 1 grandma, 2 cousins and an aunt -- thanks for coming guys!}
1635. 3-year-olds singing along to some great music ::
"Without you we all fall down
Without you we all fall
You make life with living
You make me want to start giving
More and more away to you
It's not mine anyway
I could never try so hard
I could buy a place in your heart
But here I am
My name written on your hands
Because you paid the debt I owe
Without you we all fall down
Without you we all fall ::

1636. crafting
1637. almond latte for a chilly Saturday morning soccer game
1638. scrap wood {thanks Catherine!}
1639. rainy Sunday afternoon naps
1640. another week underway



Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

flashback friday

football in the yard
fall 2009::