Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Mid-week Likes & Links


Were gold bars just a New Mexico thing in the school cafeteria?  If so, make these as fast as you can and taste the goodness!  Brings back so many memories.

A peek into Easter for the girls

Maybe the best movie I've seen in a long time.

This makes my make-up last so much longer.

I love this as much as I love The Crown.

I've made this soup meatless for Lent, and I love it!

If you are ever going to spurge on Lulu, get these pants.  Trust me.

What are you loving these days?

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Thirty-Six

Another year, another sweet birthday from the family!  Jeremy ordered hotdogs from Portillos, since we love a good Chicago dog, and it's always a crowd pleaser.  He added some tamales this time, too.  While they weren't the typically New Mexico tamales we are used to, they were still so good!  My sweet mom made a strawberry cake (a childhood favorite), and they came to celebrate with us!

What I love most about my birthdays now is the excitement from the kids!  Sure, I love celebrating with family (I am not that into a big party with everyone singing me happy birthday, though), but seeing the kids' faces when they wake up to scream happy birthday to me is really what makes it all.

We had to have hats, and Henry even wore one.  


And, he wasn't too sad about a piece of cake to celebrate another birthday either!

God also painted the sky so beautifully that February evening...reminding me that it's not really about me at all, ever.  It's always about Him and noticing the very life He's given us.  


Sure, I love a good giftcard or a fun surprise, but as each birthday comes, I'm able to reflect a bit more on the life in these years and not just the packages on this day.  I've got my seven greatest blessings in my home every single day, my two greatest examples living just minutes away, and a way of life that allows for a slower pace and the opportunity for a bit more reflection.

Sure, I often fail in the day-to-day to sit and reflect on those blessings.  I notice them in waves, and I fail to notice them, too.  But, on my birthday this year, they were so obvious.  I know I said it's been a long winter in my last post, and it has in ways.  But, there is always good.  Always.  And, I really have so much to thank God for. 

You included!

Monday, March 12, 2018

Not Something You See Every Day

It has been a long winter.  Usually it's one of my favorite times of year.  But, it hasn't snowed here this year (the part that creates the coziness that I love).  And, we've been sick most of it.  Flu B, strep, stomach bug, ear infections, RSV, Flu A and sinus infections.  We've had something every week since January 5th, with a few days of reprieve here and there.  None of it was anything we couldn't handle, and as always, it could be so much worse.  Then, my grandmother passed away.  It's all life, I know -- it just seems like it has made for an interesting first part of 2018.

I mentioned it to a friend the other day, and her response was, "Have you been praying for patience lately?"

Umm, yes.

Based on her follow-up, praying for patience isn't for the faint of heart.  In fact, it's almost like asking God to test your strength.  But man, do I need that patience.

I feel like I start my days thinking, "I will react calmly and lovingly to everything today."  And, then someone opens their mouth, and I'm already failing.

I get tired of telling my kids to quit fighting, quit arguing, and quit pouting.  I struggle with the homeschooling days that take much longer than they should simply because a task isn't fun.  I, sadly, even get frustrated when at times, I cannot walk because a crying baby is attached to my leg.

Yes, I love these little ones with every ounce of my being, and I pray daily that they know that.  But, some days (and those days seem an awful lot lately), I know I'm not showing them enough.  I know my actions are glazed over with a coating of frustration and irritation that even those two-year-old eyes aren't blind to.  And, I hate that.

I've made Lenten promises that I don't even remember (that's how great Lent is going this year).  And, I feel like I wake up to the same resolutions to make this day a new day, only to make the exact same resolution the next because of a(nother) failed attempt.  Every day I think, oh "I'll do this or that today" and almost every night comes, and I haven't done it, and I just go to bed instead.  It feels somewhat like the same day on repeat.

I haven't picked up my camera in weeks.  I haven't blogged in longer.  The winter projects I wanted to do...undone.  How I wanted to give more energy to homeschooling and making it fun...still haven't.  The time I wanted to carve out just for Jesus...still not carved out.  So, here we are, almost mid-March.  And, there isn't much to show for it around here.  

Except this...



This is how I found these two the other day.  Reading together.  Sitting together calmly.  Even sharing books without hitting, screaming or otherwise hurting the other.

I took it all in.  

You see, I get in these little funks here and there where I feel like either I'm not doing things "right" or I'm not doing enough.  I'm not sad.  I'm not throwing a pity party (please know that as you read).  I'm just getting this out there on paper, because sometimes, it just feels better.  I know how blessed we are, and I truly love my life.

Sometimes, like this winter, I just wish I was doing a bit better job of it all. 

Maybe I just need to pray for detachment instead ;)


Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Mid-week Likes & Links



I received the sweetest little bows in the mail for the girls.  If you know me, big bows are just not my thing.  So, you can imagine how much I love these precious ones for Sophie's braids!  And, I love the vintage material for Gen's.  Check out Baby Wisp for more adorable options!

I thought this was a good article on fasting.

My girls are loving their little mice, (no, not real!), Dorothy and Toy.

I love this Matt Maher song

We've loved watching these little guys do their trick.

I don't think I've ever listened to one of his homilies I didn't love!

I am loving this new workout gear line - particularly these pants.

I'm reading this book, and it's hitting WAY too close to come, as much as I hate to admit that.

Send me your new favorite things!