The house

Some of my friends are not on facebook and have been asking to see pictures of the house, so here are just a few to give you a little glimpse...

From the entrance looking into the living room
From entrance looking up the stairs. Living room on right, kitchen on left.
Back of house.
Front of house.
Some things will really have changed this week because they're putting on the siding and painting the interior this week. Yeah!

I'll post some more pictures of that next week.

This is the life...

Calvin and Daddy spent some 'boy time' in the hot tub this morning as the girls and I were doing school. Calvin's comment to Daddy as they got into the hot tub was, "This is the life, Dad! NO rules in the hot tub!". The look on his face says it all.

Country life

Since the snow melted a few weeks ago we've been spending a lot more time outside, playing and working. One of the chores that I've been working on with the kids is picking up all the broken branches and debris from the yard - this has brought back many, many childhood memories! I grew up in the country with 2 acres of yard and Spring was always the time for yard clean up. My dad would get out the rakes and pails (for collecting debris, especially rocks) and then we would get to work. The older I get, the more amazed I am at my dad's patience with us as there was often more complaining and arguing than actual working! Anyway, one way I chose to motivate us all was the promise of a bonfire when we were done! It was fun but next time we'll make sure that we have marshmallows on hand!

Pressed but not crushed

Whew! The kids and I spent last week with Andrews parents and though we had a good time, the packing and unpacking of stuff is always a huge job. We came back to a very busy weekend and so I'm actually still in laundry/packing recovery mode.

Yesterday, Andrew took the kids outside for a bonfire and while I was taking pictures of them I noticed these little plants growing in the cracks of the sidewalk. Although I've seen this many, many times, I really noticed them yesterday and decided to zoom in for a closer look. What you see in the pictures is the result. The squeeze that these little plants are under reminds me of what my life feels like right about now, especially the first photo. Talk about being under pressure from ALL sides, yet growing! Maybe even thriving. I pray that God would be using the pressures in my life to shape and form me for His Glory.

He's not a tame lion.

Absolutely not tame. In fact, at any given moment he can be quite wild, ferocious and defiant. Then moments later, he can be gentle and compliant, cuddling up to me and giving me sweet, lion kisses. Yup, he's all boy - my boy, and I love him!