Apron Hugs and Baby Silverware

Almost six months ago I took this sweet picture of number 2 hugging me while I was getting supper ready.


Note the long hair-SO cute!

And just three weeks ago I captured the same picture with number 1 needing a hug from Momma before supper.

Note the tired eyes.

Thus my creation of Apron Hugs.  I hope they never grow too big to need an "apron hug" from their Momma while she cooks supper.  Maybe they should be called "supper hugs".  They are the best!  The boys are usually hungry, cranky and a little tired and need to hang hug their Momma.  I am happy to stop whatever I am doing to get a quick hug.

After taking this picture of Ryan I knew I had to have them both framed and near my aprons.  I also had been wanting to do something with their first silverware set-a fork and spoon.

With leftover fabric from that apron and some amazing frames from my grandmother I created this.

I absolutely LOVE this little arrangement in my kitchen.  It is a little crowded, but I love walls crammed with love.  I am not that crazy about the two pictures together though.  I may reorder and have each hug picture in it's own frame.  For now I'll keep it up so I can see those sweet faces and remember those warm apron hugs.

Thankful Thursday-Seeing Beauty

I find it hard to go a day (a minute or hour) without taking in beauty.  Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, forms and textures.  It can be a person, a place, a thing, an object--whatever you see with your eyes.  It can also be an action where you see beauty.

I also find it hard not to pick up my pitiful camera or phone to snap a picture of what I see.  The saying usually goes in my case......beauty IS in the eye of the beholder. 

I squealed with delight as I opened the boys' blinds and saw this mushroom in the flower bed.  I quickly grabbed my camera and called the boys.  I do this often.....squeal and call anyone around to see what I see.  They come running, but most of the time they do not see what I see.

The Boys-"Mom, it's just a mushroom".
Me-"I know, but look at the details God put into creating it!  And the way the sun is shining on it!"

They pay notice, but it is just not as exciting to them.  I will keep calling them and I will continue to take pictures.

So here is the beauty I have seen over the past couple of days.

 

 

I see beauty in learning too. 

I see God's hand in this child's ability to read without really ever being taught.  His love and desire for picking up a book to learn is beautiful.  And writing stories too!

 

I see beauty in this child as his reading improves.  I hear beauty in every little words that flows from his mouth.  It's like angels singing sometimes!! And it is beautiful to this Momma.  So are his awesome Lego "longest 18-wheeler trucks" too.

I have always loved pictures of my sweet boys from behind.  I like to think about where they are off to as I go back and look at such pictures.  Here I see beauty as they are off to a class to LEARN about leaves.

They may not remember every single thing, but to hear them explain what they learned (saw, heard, tasted, felt, etc.), AHHHH, that is beauty.

 

Are you seeing (or even looking for) beauty today?

Summer Memories-Little Things Part 3

When an idea pops into your child's head you must quickly decide if it is doable.  Especially when it is a child that will bug you into you want to pull your hair out.  My thoughts are---you just find a way and DO IT!

Yesterday on the way home from church for some unknown reason Matthew had an idea of us having a tea party.  It wasn't like we were talking about Downton Abbey, which is where I introduced them to tea parties , but a tea party was on his mind.

So the rest of the way home my mind was quickly coming up with a plan.  They were serious about this.  The minute we walked in they were off changing into their tea party clothes.  OK, wait...let's stop and realize something right now, this is a boys tea party, so they changed into shorts and a tshirt.    They were on a roll clearing the table, helping get the tea cups and tea pot down out of the china cabinet. Next they wanted to help with the food.  FOOD?!  What on earth do I have for a tea party?!  Oh right, its a boys tea party.  Easy enough.  BTW-I made ham and cheese crustless sandwiches for the boys.  They also devoured shortbread cookies dunked in their tea.  I was the lucky one eating cheese and cucumbers.

They didn't care.  They were just excited to sit at a "fancy" table, drink from Momma's tea cups and have dainty finger food.  Besides we are talking about boys here and it lasted all of about 15-20 minutes.  It was a light Sunday lunch and they LOVE Earl Grey tea with real cream and lots of sugar.

It's all about the little things.  Something that seemed SO BIG to them was not that big of a deal to me.  And that is what I must always remember as a mom.  It's the little things to them that mean so much and will make a warm summer memory. 

Besides I do love a cup of tea.  And actually dunked my cookie too.  YUM!  As I hand washed all the tea party dishes I realized how much they enjoyed our tea party.  I have raised them making many "little" events into BIG events in our life.  This was special.  We don't have tea parties every other day.  As they helped prepare the table yesterday they were simply excited because I have created boys who can find beauty and joy in making things special (and pretty in this case).

My beloved Highclere Castle tea towel from a friend who visited the castle.

I decided maybe we will have a tea party once a month now.  And maybe next time we'll leave out the chats of farts and poop.  Sorry ladies, this was like I said a boys tea party.  Moms of boys will so get this!  Maybe it's time to talk about tea party etiquette.

I am now on a hunt for more masculine tea cups.  They really want to have their own cup.  Although they do not mind drinking out of the pretty ones.  As long as I have them by the new season of Downton Abbey-----Season 4 premiering January 5, 2014!!!!

So what little memory are you making this week with your children? 

My Little Tub of Sunflowers

 

I pretend my little tub of sunflowers is a giant field.  I watch them grow and imagine visiting a field of sunflowers one day.  I have thought of starting a practical bucket list before fifty.  This would be on the list for sure.  Five years to find that field!

 

When they are young sunflowers follow the sun.  They gain their strength and energy to grow and reach their full potential from the warmth and light the sun provides.  As they mature they learn which direction to face to obtain the most light possible.  Then they stand tall and firm. 

By this point they permanently are facing the direction that offers the greatest opportunity for growth.  There they will receive the most light and strength.  They continue to grow and share the blessing of growth they have received from the sun with everyone they come in contact with.  They share seeds of hope, joy and love.

~Author Unknown

I can only dream of visiting a field of sunflowers one day.  For now I am thankful for my little tub of sunflowers.  My walk with the Lord is very similar.  If I follow the light the Savior provides I can learn to gain strength from Him & His teachings.  I can stand firm in my convictions.  And share that light with others.

"Out beyond ideas of rightdoing and wrongdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there."  ~Rumi

We're half way there!  Hope your week is going well.  Have a great Wednesday!

Tuesday Tip-Make Your Own Flower Arrangements

I love making my own flower arrangements.  I try to remember in the spring to make sure I plant seeds or buy baby plants.  I really should be planning for next year right now.

Planting flowers in our yard that I can bring indoors is just another way I enjoy living a simple life.  The cost is next to nothing!  A seed packet is less than $2!  And I get flowers for months!  I love being able to walk out whenever I want and cut flowers to make an arrangement.  Or to have just a single flower.  This summer (and spring) I have had a single flower in a tiny vase in the bathroom every week.  It's a nice way to brighten up a little room.  By the way Marigolds make a great cut flower.  I try any and all flowers growing in our yard.  What's the point in growing them if you can't enjoy them indoors too. 

 

In this vase I have sunflowers, zinnias and spearmint.  By the way the vase is actually a plastic container (Sunsweet prunes).  I just knew it would come in handy for something. 

Vase inspirations is from Monica over at The Homespun Heart .  I simply glued the sheet music to the container and added a piece of burlap and tied. 

Homemade flower arrangements also make a perfect little sussie.  Now if I can figure out what flowers I could plant in our yard to last through fall.  Happy Tuesday to you.

**sussie- a small "just because" gift.**

Thankful Thursday-Sunflowers

 

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to plant sunflowers.  I finally got around to it with seeds this year.  I wasn't sure if they would have time to bloom, but I have been pleasantly surprised!  These are not the BIG tall ones like I was wanting, but they are an amazing sight to my eyes.  And a treasured blessing! 

A sign of hope and a flower I will surely plant every year. 

 

I could hardly wait for the sun to come up this morning so I could find my gifts.  It was a delight to see God's creation!  They made me smile and were smiling back at me.  I try to make a point of going outside every morning to see what new has come from all of nature. 

It reminds me of the newness God gives us each day.  And if we start our day out with the Lord and in prayer (I saw a sign in front of a church the other day......a day hemmed in prayer seldom unravels) things seem to go much better. 

 

 

 

Happy Thursday y'all!

When Hope Fades

This week the friendships I made in Fort Worth have been on my mind.  Some days heavier than others.  It's coming up close to a year we have been gone.  We lived there for close to eighteen years.

It all comes after receiving a text from a friend telling me she is going be induced Monday.  When I read the text all sorts of memories came rushing back to me.  This is her third baby.  I was there for the birth of her first two and can remember vivid details.  But for this one I will not be there.  Not even close.

I thought about the friendship we shared through the years.  So many FUN memories!  Tons of laughs and lots of hard times too.  Working together, our weddings, the talks about life over shared meals, the growing pains, the new houses we got excited about, welcomed news of long desired pregnancies and so much more!  We were there for one another through it all.  And now that friendship is simply through texts.  Funny how the world has become so crazy that friendships are now through texting, emails, Facebook, Instagram and or blogging.  Don't get me wrong I am all for it.  It might be strange to you to think of having friends via online/through an electronic device, but it has literally got me through this past year on some days.  I have "met" some amazing women through blogging that have made an impact on me.  I have the privilege of sharing a little bit of their lives daily.  And to be able to stay in contact with friends was a mood saver to say the least.  There were days I would receive a text or email from an old friend that helped brighten my day.  Would I have rather heard a voice through the phone?  Oh sure, but I'm not so hard headed that I will not enjoy hearing from them none the less.  You can knock if you like, but there are positives in social media, texting and email.  Not a ton, but there are some there.  And just so you know I do believe there are down sides to it as well.  Part of the reason I removed myself from FB at the beginning of the year.  But that is for another day and time.....this post is not about social media.

This post is about when hope fades.

Everyone has crummy days and weeks.  This week I have been especially tired and my body was telling me all about it.  I already knew it, but it is certain I require more than six hours of sleep.  Lack of sleep and recalling memories of friends just makes me down right miserable. My hope was beyond fading.  It was GONE! 

What do you do when hope fades?

For me it is finding one little piece of happiness to bring me back.  It could be an afternoon alone drinking coffee and reading a book.  It might be a walk out in nature really opening your eyes to the beauty all around.  It might be gathering your littles on the couch and watching a beloved movie.

But today, for me, it was looking at what is to come.

Sunflowers

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

It makes me SMILE!

Any day now my sunflowers will be blooming.  To say that I am excited is an understatement.  I will warn you I will probably post way too many pictures of them as they bloom.  So get ready! 

I planted these in May and have been watching and waiting.  And had just about given up hope.  Until this week.  On the last day of this week I finally saw it!  There was hope!  Right there in front of my eyes.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

A hope only my Heavenly Father can give me.  It's not hard to find once I open my eyes (and my Bible) and realize this life is already all planned out for me.  And I just know it will be amazing!

Even on those crooked crazy days when life knocks you down there is hope to move back up.

See it!  It started growing crooked and now straight again!

So today if your hope is fading I encourage you to find one little piece of happiness and hold on tight.  Don't dwell on the negative.  Find the positive even in your struggles.  And whatever you do on this Friday get outside and have some FUN!!! 

But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Our FUN Friday is actually happening.  Slow morning, rewards for good attitudes and pizza night.  And......did you know July is National Ice Cream Month?!  Guess what we are making this weekend? 

You Just Have to TRY!

I'm participating in While Wearing Heels photography challenge for June. This month Amy asked that we share a self portrait with a quote.

While Wearing Heels

 

 

You might remember a few weeks ago I decided I would TRY to paint.  No, I did not paint anything spectacular, but it is something I had never done.  And I totally surprised myself.

 

While trying my hand at an abstract painting there was one quote that kept coming to mind...............

 

 

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you TRY!
Dr. Seuss

Summer Memories-Little Things

What will we remember from this summer? 

 

I hope to remember the little things.  I know the boys will.  Countless times they will talk about "little moments" of past years that I have totally forgotten about!    

 

This summer I hope to savor the moments and look at them differently.  I want to stop and think about the little things.  And you know me, the pathological picture taker, I will try to capture each moment in a picture.

 

Feet walking on wet sand....it never grows old.

 

Little boys riding waves.

The feel of sand-mud. 

Arms and hands full of treasures.

One eyed sand crabs-the first for the boys to see! 

Fresh seaweed washed ashore.

Small treasures from my love....oh that man!  He makes my heart skip a beat!

Sister time.

Tired little boys.

 

Even if life is good one day and bad the next, savor the little things.  Because really in the big picture they are all that count.  Remembering to savor a moment, to pay attention, to enjoy the little things is essential for my mental and physical health. The ability to allow myself to delight in little things is an essential part of being happy.