For Those Days….

I came across this yesterday, and I wish I knew who to give credit to, because it’s a beautiful heart behind all this.

It’s for those of us in the thick of it with kiddos and parenting and messy houses, when we feel like we’re getting nothing done ~ to sit, to drink deeply of this bit we call life, to treasure what really truly matters.

I was blessed and encouraged  and I hope you are too!

// blueberry picking with the kiddos //

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//  he’s walking everywhere! //

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// Edited: someone so kindly informed me that this was written by Lisa, of LisaJoBaker.com.  All credit to her for the following beautiful words! //

For the days we are running… on empty. For the days we just don’t think we have it in us to read one more story, play one more game of Uno, wash one more round of sheets. For the days when we think everyone else has it together. For the days we’re sure anyone else would do this job better.

For those days. You know the ones.

Repeat after me:

1. I shall not judge my house, my kid’s summer activities or my crafting skills by Pinterest’s standards.

2. I shall not measure what I’ve accomplished today by the loads of unfolded laundry but by the assurance of deep love I’ve tickled into my kids.

3. I shall say yes to blanket forts and see past the chaos to the memories we’re building.

4. I shall surprise my kids with trips to get ice cream when they’re already in their pajamas.

5. I shall not compare myself to other mothers but find my identity in the God who trusted me with these kids in the first place.

6. I shall remember that a messy house at peace is better than an immaculate house tied up in knots.

7. I shall play music loudly and teach my kids the joy of wildly uncoordinated dance.

8. I shall remind myself that perfect is simply a street sign at the intersection of impossible and frustration in Never Never land.

9. I shall embrace the fact that in becoming a mom I traded perfect for a house full of real.

10. I shall promise to love this body that bore these three children out loud, especially in front of my daughter.

11. I shall give my other mother friends the gift of guilt-free friendship.

12. I shall do my best to admit to my people my unfine moments.

13. I shall say sorry when sorry is necessary.

14. I pray God I shall never be too proud, angry or stubborn to ask for my children’s forgiveness.

15. I shall make space in my grown-up world for goofball moments with my kids.

16. I shall love their father and make sure they know I love him.

17. I shall model kind words to kids and grown-ups alike.

18. I shall not be intimidated by the inside of my minivan this season of chip bags, goldfish crackers and discarded socks too shall pass.

19. I shall always make time to encourage new moms.

20. I shall not resent that last call for kisses and cups of water but remember instead that when I blink they’ll all be in college.

… with love from one tired mother to another.

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Be encouraged to BE today before the Lord, not only DO.

Happy Day!

~clarita

 

 

 

 

 

Festivities of the 4th.

So the 4th of July is several days past, but since it’s a big holiday, can I be excused if I still post pictures? Especially since they are mostly kiddo pictures, and I want my sisters and mommy to see them. :)

Festivities of the 4th, I said.
Well, to be perfectly honest, that might be stretching it.

It was a stay-at-home, project-working day with Husband.
It was a picnic day for the kiddos.
It was a grilled-burgers kind of supper.
It was a rained-out fireworks kind of night.

But the day goes down as a good family day.
There can never be too many of those, especially when it seems we haven’t had much of them recently.

There were a few minutes at the end of the day for a few pictures.
Little Man got into the patriotic spirit and was waving the flag with all his heart.

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And then paused for a moment of respectful silence.

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Give him a mower, or a mower ride, and he’ll be set for hours.

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Add in a screwdriver and he’s happy as a lark.

I am amazed at the differences between boys and girls.

He’s so little, but already he notices the train a block away, and trucks that pass and just NOISE, whether it’s a piano or an engine.

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And, it keeps him off of fire-ant piles.

Poor little guy got into one and each little foot had scores of bites. :(

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It’s hard work driving a mower, so a snack of hummus and carrots is a perfect snack any day.

Especially when mommy forgets to keep an eye on the snacking.

#hummusbaby

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Meanwhile, Husband and I worked hard on painting the picket fence.
Yep, real all-American we are. White picket fence and all. Ha! :)

My husband was so smart and made the fence in sections that can be pulled up and out for ease of painting.

We had only primed them before, but that was two years ago and the paint was coming off.
Let me tell you, it does not pay to wait to finish something.

We did five such sections and it took us all day to sand and re-prime and paint.
Four more such panels to go.

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Zoe and Olivia packed a little lunch and set it up on the front yard.

“This is just what I wanted to do!!” Zoe purred happily.
So she got to cross ‘have a picnic’ off her bucket list.
I must do that more often, for the simple joy it brings!

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Nothing like a bowl of fresh cold watermelon, everyone armed with their own fork.

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A few more pictures of Little Girls and Flags and New Skirts that I made last week.

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It is a gift to live in this land.
I am so grateful to all those soldiers who gave their lives for the cause of freedom, freedom they could never experience themselves, for the sake of the generations after them.

Freedom wasn’t free for them. It was at a high price, the price of their blood.
May I never take that for granted.

But even more than the freedom of my country, I’m grateful for the freedom that comes from Christ Jesus alone.

No bondage or slavery is too great for my Savior to free, and even when a body may be enslaved, the spirit can be free indeed.

Freedom wasn’t free for Him either. It was at the price of His own blood for the sins of the world.

May I never take His freedom for granted, and may the life I live bring honor to the sacrifice He paid!

Have a blessed weekend, everyone!
Clarita