cottage coziness

 
 
 
 
we spent a lovely two days at my in-laws cottage, and i love how slow things get there. even in our life of no TV, SAHM, preschool living I love stopping it all and just being together, walks in the very brisk fall air, playing hide and seek in the surrounding 15 acres of bush, just enjoying family.... I love it and them.

Happy Thanksgiving

 
 
 
 
OUr family making our poster of what we are thankful for, and creating some Thanksgiving hand turkeys...fun family day!

For them I am thankful

 
 
 
 

this is how you do it

 
 
See Brielle, this is how you stick out your tongue........Good job you got it! =)

What kind of mom would I want?

 
 
 
That one question has done more for changing my heart and responses to my girlies in the last few months than anything else, that, and a beautiful post highlighted by my friend about saying Yes.
IN the moment I am trying to ask myself 'If I were in my girls shoes, How would I want my mom to respond?' When Taliah shows up covered in top soil and green tomato seeds covering her brand new sweet summer dress, in my heart I ask the question, and then I laugh. I laugh and with gentle tones change clothes and remind her that we want red tomatos, and patience is needed.
The other mom would have had a very cross look and huffed her way through the clean up process mourning the loss of precious "clothes" and "tomatos" instead of celebrating the precious girl.

When Eiley asks to put on her swimsuit and play in the rain instead of having a quiet time, I remember that life is short, memories are powerful and I would want a Mama who would rejoice in my creativity and ideas. It definetely takes a heart adjustment.

I like things orderly and clean, and managing three children under the age of 4 often steals my graciousness, but I am learning, I am trying and I am loving the process of changing and growing. Today for our weekly Family Day we went to the lovely St. NOrbert Farmers Market for the whole morning. I asked myself, what kind of mom would I want? and so the little girlies had face paints and kettle corn and balloon toys and we drank slurpees ate homemade butter tarts and then stopped at a splash park on the way home and played in the water in our clothes, because, clothes dry, sugar eventually passes through their system, naps can be postponed and summer is short. It felt so good to enjoy, engage, celebrate our family and love on our little people. The biggest compliment came at the end of the day when Eiley bubbled over with thankfulness for" all the things we did today" and then drew me a picture asking me to marry her :)

Because i don't want to forget

 
My girls say the funniest things, and I so often forget about it, but I remembered a few things today.
While chatting and walking to the store yesterday, we were desperately trying to avoid the hoards of ravenous mosquitos. Eiley fell suddenly silent. Stealthily she glanced at me and in an almost imperceptible whisper, she said " Maybe if we are really really quiet the mosquitos won't hear us" .......OH if it were only that simple =)

Then this morning I reminded Eiley to use the potty before we left the house. Taliah, my determined, anti-potty, diaper wearing two year old cheekily said " I oos potty ah reedy" ( I used the potty already)..... Oh if only that were true.

I can't wait to see what Brielle will say.

one out of three

 
 
 
 
When you try to photograph three children under four years old at the same time it is rather like attending a circus. No one is doing the same thing at the same time, so I laugh at my attempts to capture perfect smiles from all three at once. I am not a great ringmaster. Oh well they are super cute anyhow. btw my incredibly talented sister made the adorable matching pillowcase dresses for my girl.

we love summer

 
 
 
 

Brielle

 
 
 
 
Sweet baby girl you have captured our hearts. The last 10 weeks have been a joy with you in our world. Thanks Noreen for capturing her one months pics so beautifully

little intercessor

 
I was walking with Taliah holding my hand. She noticed an old scar on my finger and put both hands on my hand and said " Amen amen amen amen amen amen amen ......humenahhumena..mommy.....humennna Jesus....amen heal amen amen amen."
Made me smile

Yes, Jesus loves me

 
There are a few things that I hoped my girls would glean in our home as they grow up. First that they would know God's unconditional love through us, and then for themselves as they get to know Jesus. David and I pray daily that God will show our girls who He is. In the past week I have encouraged Eiley that she can hear God speaking to her. Taliah, Eiley and I made some mini cakes one morning and I told her we were going to ask God to tell us who needed a blessing and then we would take them a cake. So I said" Jesus, would you show us who needs a blessing?" I then asked Eiley who's name God was showing her. She mentioned the man who works at the local hardware store, as well as some friends of hers. So we took each one a note and a little blueberry cake. Then yesterday I was preparing supper and Eiley was sitting next to me. Out of the blue she says " Thanks God". I looked at her and said "hmm?"
"Oh God was just talking to me", she replied. "He said 'I love you', so I said Thanks God"
My heart swelled with joy. I told her that she was hearing God and that telling us how much He loves us is His favorite thing to do. "He just said He cares for me too," her little voice piped up. "Wow that is so great," I chimed in. A few minutes later she giggled out loud and said "Again?!?!....God just keeps saying 'I love you I love you I love you' God must love me alot Mom."
" Oh He does Eiley," I replied.
All day I just was thanking Jesus for speaking to my little girl, that the first time she spontaneously heard His voice, she heard Him say I love you.

4th of July

 
WE had a fun day celebrating American INdependance Day since my girls are half American. Granna brought shirts and flags. Fun Fun

Brielle Sara Shalom

 
 
 
 
My little button is one week old....we are so in love with her sweetness.
My mom brought this adorable handmade hat and booties ( we think she looks like a little baby Nepali Sherpa)

Sisters Sisters

 
 
 
 
Sisters sisters there were never such devoted sisters ( song from Bing Crosby's White Christmas)

true faith

My little Eiley girl has been speaking to my heart lately with her simple faith. Often I will hear her say " thank you Lord!" when she finds something that had been lost and prays for help finding it. Kinda precious out of a three year old's heart. WE were talking the other day about farm animals and she so sweetly said " I would love to have a lamb and a cow and baby chicks Mama" I explained to her that I too thought it would be so fun to have these pets but we did not have a place for them to sleep and grow and that farms were better for that. "I am going to pray and ask Jesus for them," she said, and then promptly " Lord Jesus please let us have a lamb and chicks and animals thank you amen" Later that day on the way to the city she asked me if we could buy some grain and seeds, when I asked why she explained that she would need them for her animals. "Well we don't have animals," I replied. and in a very matter of fact voice she said " But I asked Jesus for them and so we need to have food for when they come." Sigh,.... I wish I could get her a whole farm, and more than that I wish for myself to have her faith, simple expectant unfettered and precious.

a though provoking message

Little Pearls By Michael Pearl

“The Instructor”

Jeremiah, three years old grandson, follows me around just like my shadow, talking every minute. I usually try to answer his endless stream of questions and teach him something useful, but after a while I get exhausted. He is not content to just talk; he finishes every statement with a question, “Isn’t that right?” The other day I was working on a project and was trying to concentrate on something tedious. I was trying to ignore him, but was growing a little irritated at his interruptions of my every thought. So when he next “demanded” a response from me, I answered him in an absentminded, flat, clipped tone that didn’t welcome any further discussion.
I was drawn back to reality when his tone changed from that of a constantly prattling child to a serious challenge: “Why are you talking like that?” “What?” I asked. “Why are you talking like that?” “Talking like what?” I asked. “Like that,” he answered in an accusatory tone.
Wow! A three-year-old psychologist! He was perceiving my attitude and judged it to be inappropriate. Rebuked by a three-year-old, indeed I was! He was simply expecting the best from me, nothing but love and support, complete appreciation and dedication. Instantly I repented and started pouring “interested,” rapt attention into this three-year-old’s important conversation.
How do you judge the age or maturity of a soul? When can it be hurt—perhaps even permanently scarred? I fear that we may be doing the most serious damage to a child’s soul in their youngest, most formative years, simply because we can’t see what is behind their “childish” prattle?a God-instilled love for and desire to be with “their” grownups. Is it any wonder that Jesus said so poignantly to his disciples (and to us!): “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)?
Lord, please give these old eyes renewed incentive to see what you see in the lives of all the little ones you send my way. Amen!
This post can be found at:
No Greater Joy Ministries

Sisterly love

Eiley has long since discovered a way to get rid of food she does not want to finish. " I will share with Taliah". I must admit, it is too cute, so most times i don't stop her. She is quite smart, that one.

Happy Easter

EAster is such fun and reminds me of the best of what life is about. Jesus alive for us! I am 30 weeks pregnant and really starting to feel it, one day at a time, that is my motto.

Multi-tasking

Randomness

So lately I have been inspired by a cookbook maing meals in 1/2 an hour. My favorites so far are Morrocan Chicken Tangine with Apricot Couscous and Cheesy Pita bread , Spinach and Chicken Enchiladas with CostaRican Rice, Fish Tacos with spicy slaw and Southwest Sloppy Joes with warm sweet/red potato bacon salad. I admnit the weather makes me desperately want to do anything to brighten our home even if it means getting my little people involved in some new experinces. and of course no dinner is complete without diessert. My girls had chocolate pudding for the first time... it was a hit! On family day last week we made painted shirts we picked up at the thrift store, Eiley was proud of her multicolored tower. We desperately want spring, but we are holding tight, holding each other and keeping happy.