Grains of Sand

FOR TODAY December 3, 2013 Outside my window... powdered sugar dusting of snow on the ground with gray skies and a mix of snow and rain still falling. I am thinking... of the weather outside, decorating for Christmas and of my busy Friday. I am thankful... for those who challenge my beliefs. In the kitchen... chicken thawing for chili, frozen pizza for dinner tonight and no leftover turkey. I am wearing... blue yoga pants with a black top.  Guess you could say I'm black and blue from head to toe. I am creating... a wish list of books for my library, a list of potential projects to make for Christmas presents and a list of things to bring to our first Christmas celebration of 2013. I am going... to put up the Christmas tree today.  Hopefully I'll get the lights on so we can decorate it as a family tonight. I am wondering... what to do for a Christmas card this year.  I am way behind in this and feeling a bit of pressure to get it done so I can send ...

I entered the laundry room, What did I see?     Laundry a plenty, Just waiting for me.   I groaned and I cried! Why oh why did I not try, To do small loads before they piled to the sky?   I grumbled and began to attack, I'm going to conquer that stack!   My face was stern and my attitude abysmal, Doing laundry makes me need Pepto-Bismol®.   Then I began to see not with my eyes but with my heart, The loved ones who piled the clothes like art.   A leg growing so long and lean, The pants can't keep up with my almost teen.   Cute little feet to fill those socks, That are often repurposed as bags for rocks.   Goodbye Dora, Boots and Yo Gabba Gabba, Make room for tie-dye shirts and leggings of fuchsia.    Football and soccer shirts were themes for awhile, Now hoodies with snowboards or skateboards are more his style.   Plaid or striped...

FOR TODAY November 13, 2013 Outside my window... beautiful sunshine!  Oh, how I've missed you. I am thinking... of Christmas in Africa.  For those who celebrate, what might their special family traditions be? I am thankful... for a God who cries when I cry and knows my pain and wants to comfort and heal me. In the kitchen... I'm anticipating eating the butternut squash I picked up from the orchard the other day. I am wearing... a bright yellow t-shirt that says, "Smile, God Loves You!" and black yoga pants.  The t-shirt was my dads and I imagine him giving me a hug every time I put it on. I am creating... an art "corner" for the kids; since we'll be learning and trying a lot of art this quarter. I am going... to the library to pick up some books about renaissance painters and then drive through for some fast food lunch. I am wondering... how my sister is doing?  She is preparing for another surgery for her 10 week old daughter that is s...

When the weather starts to cool and the leaves change colors and drop to the ground, my husband and I have a disagreement on what the season is called.  I say autumn, he says football season. As you can imagine, there are a lot of leaves to rake in autumn and a lot of football to watch during football season. This past Sunday, while watching a football game or two, my active three year old grabbed his football and enlisted dad's participation in an indoor game of football.  Sitting on the sidelines I cheered as Mason improved his eye-hand coordination and strengthened his throwing arm. My attention wandered at the umpteenth throw and my thoughts focused on how quickly Mason imitates the activities or behaviors he sees around him.  I find that three year olds are very good at copying.  The good and the bad. This presents a unique parenting challenge.  If copying is the action, then I must consider that everything I watch, read, listen ...

Acrobats!   Can you see the extra pair of feet?

  The kids snapped this photo.  It looks to me like some sort of circus performance.  Milo (the dog) decided to get on the same chair as Logan.  Wonder how many more family members we could fit on one chair?

"Hey mom, I'm a fireguy." I love how Mason can re-purpose a tiara into some sort of fire apparatus.