What I wore Wednesday and I need a full length mirror

   I worked a lot this week and sometimes didn't have a chance to take pictures.   I wish I had a full length mirror so I didn't have to ask the hubs to take all my photos.  So some of these lovely pics are in the hallway at school. Some are in the classroom when I asked my daughter to snap it pre-class.  So bear with the lighting, please.  It is not my best round of photography.

The Dress- Kohls a million years ago.
Sweater- Marshall's
Shoes (I know you can barely see them) I can't remember 

   

          This is my church pic, some short people joined me for this one.  They totally stole the show.  Bella is in a red tank that she got from her Nanni, her skirt is from Children's place; Arydona is in a cute polka dot dress she got for Easter a couple years ago; The Mamma- a Black House White Market top from MIL, capris from Sam's club of all places!!!

This is my driving to Phoenix dress.  I got it at a cute boutique in town called Rainbow's End.  I love the flowiness of the dress and the lace at the top.  Shoes are from Charlotte Russe

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy

Blessings and Butterflies

I don’t understand those parents who are excited for their children to go back to school- ok so maybe by mid August I am ready for school to start, but with in a month I am ready for them to be home again.  I don’t feel complete unless all my children are home with me.  Psalms 127:3-5 Sons are a heritage from the Lord , children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

 I love my reward!! The short people in my home are amazing creations of my Lord and I cherish them dearly!

For the summer I didn’t want to have the kids just sit around watching tav.  We are going to go camping- look forward to some posts about the vacays we are taking this summer later in the season.  But we needed something more day to day and educational along the way.  (Hey, that rhymed!)  So I searched and we are doing some projects- crafts (I will post on them later in the season also), we are doing some reading plans, some math drills, playing with American girl dolls (wait for the upcoming post about detangling doll hair...that was fun!!! yup that was sarcasm).

  And the best of all???  We are hatching caterpillars!  We ordered ten live caterpillars and are watching them turn into butterflies.  We are going to let the butterflies lay eggs and then release the butterflies and hatch a new generation of caterpillars.  It all is happening super fast, so I am truly hoping that it doesn’t run into our vacation!!

It has been really interesting to watch the transformation from caterpillar to now chrysalis. When the butterflies come out to play, I will post the images of them then.  The kids are so interested and have learned about the life cycle of a butterfly because of this.  They are super into insects now and have started hunting worms (I haven’t informed them yet that worms are NOT the same as caterpillars and will not turn into butterflies).  

I love finding interesting ways for the kids to get involved in learning and enrich the summer- I don’t like them just wasting away all summer long!! So doing these summer activities, I hope, will encourage their brains to keep working and keep them entertained as well as build memories that will last a lifetime. 

I used to homeschool- if you have read my blog before, you know that.  I miss it terribly but know that right now the kids going to public school is the best for our entire family.  However, summers are MINE!! I can “homeschool” all summer and educate my children on top of the public education that they are receiving and the kids can get the best of both worlds.  It is an amazing thing.

Remember- Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. That includes your parenting.  Parenting is something that God chose ahead for me to do and He expects my best in that endeavor!! I encourage you to consider doing some summer projects that will help your blessings’ brains and hearts grow! 

 If you have any amazing summer ideas, what are they? I would love if you would share them!!!

Fun with Cousins

I had such a great weekend!! My sister in law came up for a visit with two of my nephews.  We had so much fun!!!! The kids got to have a fun sleepover (we even made a sweet little tent for the big kids to sleep under).  We pulled the bubbles out, took the kids to parks, went to Bearizona and saw some sweet baby bears, had movie night, and so many other fun things!! It was so great for the kids to play with the cousins.  

It was a busy weekend.  But so good.  I was able to sit down with my sister in law for the first time in  a long time and just talk.  We talked, and talked, and talked.  It was so good.  I love that I have such sweet sister in laws! I always had wanted a sister growing up and she has become that to me.  I feel so blessed.

It is so great to have another woman around who loves God so much and is such a great mom who inspires me to be a better mom and a better person.  I am so thankful for my family!!

Do you have a family member who inspires you? Do you have an in law or a friend who is like a sister/brother to you???

Biblical Milestones

I love reading God's word.  It is the only book that no matter how often you read it it still majorly impacts your life because it is alive.  It is the only book where you don't realize it has changed you until you are faced with a decision, with a circumstance, to do what you have always done and be who you have always been, and it changes you to choose differently.  Seriously.  How often can we say that you read The Hunger Games and didn't know it changed you until you were put in...a battle for your life?? Ok, not the best example.  But I am sure you get what I mean.

This week has been amazing! It was a long hard week....I worked everyday but Memorial Day (monday).   But I discovered #shereadstruth.  They have just today launched a website shereadstruth.com .  It is a bible reading and devotional guide.  It has been amazing- right now they have a Youversion ( a free bible reading ap on iPhones)  reading guide.  I have been reading through, trying to catch up so I can share it on instagram- I started a little late.  I didn't know that the word was effecting me like it was until last night.  I knew that I was remembering God's truth more and more. I was conscious of my efforts to be a better mom, be a nicer wife, a harder worker, etc.  But last night I realized that God has used this to change something in me that I have struggled with for years!!!

 Last night I was cruising through a social networking website and there was one of my friends.  She was excited about something that was happening for her- it was new and exciting.  My flesh craved the attention, the same thing had happened to me and I should tell her that, since mine was more special right! Have I ever said pride is one of my big issues???  I started justifying saying- I am only supporting her if I  telling her my joy.  In a flash before I could move the curser, God held me back.  He taught me to let her have her joy be hers alone.  It didn't matter if I had the same joy and had not celebrated with her.  I had not thought about the hurt that my "joy sharing" would cause her.  But God did.  He reminded me of that.  I am so thankful that God teaches us new things even when it is something that we have worked on for soooo long!!

James 3 :6 (the message) says it only takes a small spark, remember, to set off a forest fire.  A careless, wrongly placed word out of your mouth will do that.  By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

What we say- or in this digital age- type, makes a big difference in our world.  Each word we say, each comment we make, needs to have all our thoughtfulness behind it.  It is life or death sometimes- and we won't even know it.  Take heart.  God can curb out tongue.  Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.  Be wise my friends.  Hold your tongue and be wise.  Trust God for His wisdom and speak the words He gives you.  They will be more impact-full than 1,000 of your own, well impacting in the right way.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Parenting and tests

  I love how God teaches us something, then immediately tests us.  As a trained teacher, I know that the assessment is an important part of the learning process.  I know that it “seals” in the learning and shows where our assimilation of the new skill is lacking.  

  Well, go figure that was the day I had yesterday.  God opened my eyes about how I spoke to my children.  I love them dearly, but I get so frustrated and tired at the end of the day.  I try to be patient, but sometimes I just lose it.  I know- I am human, it happens to the best of us, etc, etc.  But that is not good enough.  I know God doesn’t expect perfection, but He expects that I would choose His way over the world’s excuses.

I will never be a perfect mom, but I can be the best one possible for my kids’ sake.  God expects my best and actually calls me to put aside my anger, rage, and self and clothe myself with patience, compassion, kindness, humility, and gentleness (colossians 3:12).  That is not exactly what I did today.  I hung on- until 8 pm and the 15th time telling them to go back to bed.....

Today is a new day.  Thank God children are forgiving and resilient!! 

What I Wore Wednesday! it's almost summer

Happy Wednesday!! I can't wait for summer, also since I substitute teach, it means I can be home all day everyday!! Since my oldest is in school, it means we all (except poor Daddy) will be home all day everyday and that is something to be excited about!!

.

The jeans- Sam's Club!!! 

the shirt- Ross

The Sweater Walmart (I was out and got cold and needed a cheap sweater.  It was $5)

The necklace- a gift

 
The shoes- H&M                                          The earings a local boutique- "The Happy Hippy"

                                The bracelet- I honestly can't remember.  But I loved it and had to get it in the shot!

                                                   Sweater- Old Navy, tank- gifted
White house Black Market, skirt- thrifted










             Apparently someone was using my camera!! I had to sneak in this to "What I Wore Wednesday"!  Pajamas- hand me down from her sister.   And we are linking up with The Pleated Poppy

A recipe for Tuesday

Yesterday we were going to have some friends over and a little dinner and have a good ol' time.  We were going to have some friends come up from Phoenix and hang out and celebrate the day with us.

In the morning we decided to go to the local drive through animal park- Bearizona (kinda cute). They have bears, mules, buffalo, goats, wolves, and a few others.  Midway through the drive I noticed Kai had very, very, red cheeks.  I started thinking- he had had a fever over the weekend- Fri it was 103.5.  I knew the red cheeks meant something. I thought for a minute and it clicked- fifth disease (for those who don't know it is not serious, it is a mild virus that effects mainly children.  They get a fever and a rash.  It is called 5th disease because it is the 5th of the 5 infectious rash illnesses in children).  He has to go to the Dr today to confirm....but his cheeks didn't look as red later in the day.  We will see. But since my friend is pregnant and there is a chance she could have complications if she contracted this, she couldn't come. 


But we had one fabulous potato salad!!!  It almost made up for the lack of company.

vegan potato salad-

1 lb organic potatoes

1/2 bunch green onions

1/2 cup veganaise

1 cup carrots chopped

2 tbs thyme

1/2 cup flat leaf parsley

2 tbs lemon juice

salt

Wash and quarter the potatoes. Place them in a pot of salted water.  Bring the pot to a boil and keep at a rolling boil for about 10 min or until the potatoes are soft all the way through.  

While the potatoes are boiling chop carrots, parsley, onions, and thyme and place in a bowl.  When the potatoes are done drain them well and put them in the bowl with the herbs.  Mix in the veganaise and lemon juice and salt to taste.  I used about 1/2 tsp of salt.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  If you refrigerate over night the flavors will mix better.