hello monday. goodbye baby rattlesnake!

linking up with lisa leonard and hello monday.

5:30 p.m. ~ saturday evening, emilie discovered a baby rattlesnake on the drive way. michael came to the rescue, killed it, and chucked it over the hill.

7:30 p.m.  ~ kids get out sleeping pads, bags, and pillows for a camp-out under the stars in the backyard.

7:40 p.m.  ~ me: uh, did you trap the rat yet? (a rat which has been busily building a nest behind our house for the past week. welcome to mountain living).  

michael: no.  

me: are the kids going to be okay sleeping outside with rattlesnakes and rats?!? 

michael: they'll be fine.    

8:30 p.m. ~ kids are in their bags (right outside my bedroom window and slider) giggling, star-gazing, counting shooting-stars.

10:45 p.m. ~ me: are you sure they're okay, what if someone takes them? 

michael: no one's going to take them.

me: are you sure, someone could come and take them. 

michael: they're going to be fine. they're happy.

i "sleep" with one ear open all night.

5:45 a.m. ~

hello monday. 

hello to another week of over-thinking and freaking out over these three.  hello to another week of not letting that over-thinking and freaking-out hinder them from living a full life. 

hello to new friends we met saturday coming to dinner tonight!  i'm looking forward to getting to know you... and to holding your delicious baby!   

hello to wrapping up school work this week!  i see the light at the end of this year's home-school tunnel...just a few more steps.

hello to reading aloud the last two chapters of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to the kids, and to  the conversations the book inspires.  *cherish*

hello maycation!  4 more "sleeps" until you're here.

hello to kicking off summer by spending 2 weeks with new and old friends! 

what are you saying hello to this week? 

BLESSED.

How blessed is God! 

And what a blessing he is! 

He's the Father 
of our Master, Jesus Christ, 

and  takes us to the high places of blessing in him. 

Long before he laid down earth's foundations, 
he had us in mind,

had settled on us as the focus of his love,

 to be made whole and holy by his love.
 

Long, long ago he decided to

 adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. 

(What pleasure he took in planning this!) 

He wanted us 

 to enter into the celebration of his 

lavish gift-giving 

by the hand of his beloved Son.  

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, 
his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, 

we're a free people—

free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. 

And not just barely free, either. 

Abundantly free! 

He thought of everything, 

provided for everything we could possibly need, 

letting us in on the plans 

he took such delight in making. 

He set it all out before us in Christ, 
a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together 
and summed up in him, 

everything in deepest heaven, 
everything on planet earth.

It's in Christ that we find out 

who we are 

and what we are living for. 

Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, 

he had his eye on us, 

had designs on us for glorious living, 
part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. 

It's in Christ that you, 

once you heard the truth and believed it 

(this Message of your salvation), 

found yourselves home free 
signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. 

This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, 

a reminder that  

we'll get everything God has planned 

for us, 

a praising and glorious life. 

 

Ephesians 1:1-14

The Message

wiww

linking up with  the s.i.l., for another week of "what i wore wednesday."

the temps have been fabulous here in our neck of the woods-

 low to mid 80's. 

the kids have been outside, A LOT. 

i love it.

temps in the 80's make pairing pants and tee's bearable.

here are a couple pairings from this week.

 

outfit #1

necklace: the honey pot.  wearing this necklace reminds me to embrace the victory that i have in Jesus, and to praise Him for that victory with song.

{the honey pot is temporarily on vacation. stephanie is celebrating one daughter's graduation and another daughter's wedding. her shop will reopen the end of june}. 
top: forever 21

pants: maurices
shoes: hand-me-over from my sister

outfit #2
necklace: lisa leonard
top: forever 21
pants: target
flops: surf shop 

what's that?
you like the clock in the back ground. 

michael made it.

want a closer look? 

it says,

"Time Flies
when you're having fun"

we like the clock so much, that michael decided to whip up another one to sell in our etsy shop, "kiss the sky," which will open on june 15th!!

happy wednesday!

my cup runneth over

Previously posted May 2009

"Sacred" by Caedmon's Call

this house is a good mess
it’s the proof of life
no way would I trade jobs
but it don’t pay overtime

I’ll get to the laundry
I don’t know when
I’m saying a prayer tonight
cause tomorrow it starts again

could it be that everything is sacred?
and all this time
everything I’ve dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

the children are sleeping
but they’re running through my mind
the sun makes them happy
and the music makes them unwind

my cup runneth over
I worry 'bout the stain
teach me to run to You
like they run to me for every little thing

could it be that everything is sacred?
and all this time
everything I’ve dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

when I forget to drink from You
I can feel the banks harden
Lord, make me like a stream
to feed the garden

wake up, little sleeper
the Lord, God Almighty
made your Mama keeper
so rise and shine, rise and shine
rise and shine cause

everything is sacred
and all this time
everything I’ve dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

Being Made Real

Reposted from Mother's Day, 2011

From the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
A conversation between Rabbit and the Skin Horse-

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day. 

"Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"  

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become Real."  

"Does it hurt?"  

"Sometimes." For he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt." "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up, or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen to people who break to easily, or who have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.".... 

The rabbit sighed. He thought it would be a long time before this magic called Real happened to him.  He longed to become Real, to know what it felt like; and yet the idea of growing shabby and losing his eyes and whiskers was rather sad.  He wished he could become it without these uncomfortable things happening to him.

This... this "being made real" is motherhood.
This love that happens to you. 

The bit by bit, long time of becoming.
This body; physically, emotionally, spiritually~ no. longer. mine.  

Uncomfortably, wonderfully, mysteriously, graciously~TRANSFORMED!

By their love.

And this... this is understanding tangibly what it is to be made real in Christ.

To grasp His love that happens to you. 

His "the old has gone the new has come."

His "though we are wasting away outwardly, inwardly we are being renewed."

The uncomfortable, wonderful, mysterious, graciousness of  Life-giver who TRANSFORMS me...

Transforms you!

By His love. 

It is a very Happy Mother's Day Indeed!

 

You Are My I Love You

originally posted May 2009

I am your parent; you are my child.

I am your quiet place; you are my wild.

I am your calm face; you are my giggle.

I am your wait; you are my wiggle.

I am your carriage ride; you are my king

I am your push; you are my swing.

I am your audience; you are my clown.

I am your London Bridge; you are my falling down.

I am your carrot sticks; you are my licorice.

I am your dandelion; you are my first wish.

I am your water wings; you are my deep.

I am your open arms; you are my running leap.

I am your way home; you are my new path.

I am your dry towel; you are my wet bath.

I am your dinner; you are my chocolate cake.

I am your bedtime; you are my wide awake.

I am your finish line; you are my race.

I am your praying hands; you are my saying grace.

I am your favorite book; you are my new lines.

I am your night light; you are my starshine.I am your lullaby; you are my peekaboo.

I am your good night kiss; you are my I love you

From the children's book "You Are My I Love You" by Maryann K. Cusimano

Full Containers

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—
set us right with him, make us fit for him—
we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus.
 And that's not all: 
We throw open our doors to God 
and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. 
We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—
out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, 
standing tall and shouting our praise.

 There's more to come: 

We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, 

because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, 

and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, 

keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. 

In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. 

Quite the contrary—

WE CAN'T ROUND UP ENOUGH CONTAINERS 

TO HOLD EVERYTHING

 God generously pours into our lives

 through the Holy Spirit! 

Romans 5: 1-5
{The Message}

these words.
today.
so good.
this truth...
"we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit."
hmmm.
so so good.

too often i am guilty of overlooking ALL God pours into my life.
i overlook ALL THOSE FULL CONTAINERS because i'm either too caught up in self, i'm constipated with insecurity, i'm fixated on bitterness and sulking about what i think i'm entitled to, or i'm playing the comparison game.
sometimes i'm a mixed cocktail of all of these...
missing the wide open spaces of grace and glory.

but not today.
today i see those containers.
i see generous God.
and i'm telling you denise... yes, you!  
it is good here.
seeing.
"alert for whatever God."
expectant for whatever.

it's overlooking those containers that causes you to feel shortchanged.  not God. 
God doesn't leave us shortchanged.
He the "there's more" God!   
look at Jesus!

so denise, look {i'm cupping your face in my hands, turning it away from what your stuck on, turning your face, your attention, to your Generous God}.
LOOK {see. isn't that better}.
now, be EXPECTANT for whatever God wants to generously pour into your life through the Holy Spirit.

ah ah ah!  no.  no berating yourself.
no "i'm not good enough, educated enough, emotionally stable enough, financially capable enough, talented enough... blah blah blah."
you don't have to be or do or have anything.
you just need Him.  
He's got all that covered.

Oh, He wants to pour so much into you!
and out of YOU {not just me, you. yeah you, the person reading this}.
let Him.
let Him.

w.i.w.w.

i'm link'n up with the s.i.l., lindsey, for what i wore wednesday. 
it has been forever since i've linked up. 

fall.

because i suffer from brrr-itus and can't tolerate the cold, i hibernate in my red hoodie, gray tee, and black yoga pants ALL WINTER.  

it gets kinda gross after a while week.  

you don't want me to w.i.w.w. that.

but come spring i'm ready for a change {so is my husband}.

this week the weather has been perfection!

"i like big hair and i cannot lie, that's somethin' i can't deny."

i can't help it.
in my big hair defense, i am from "the cowboy capitol of the world." 

big hair is part of my d.n.a.

michael likes my hair curly.  

the lake community of 800 where he grew up is not the capitol of anything.  

i don't know why he likes curly hair.

  

where to find the threads i'm wearing-

first outfit: red top-target {old}, skinny jeans & striped tennies- old navy, petal pusher- the pleated poppy. 

second outfit- gray rose tee- forever 21, baby blue mossimo pants- target {8 yrs old}, gray shoes- payless shoes {$3 last year. score!}, lisa leonard necklace, clutch- the pleated poppy.

last outfit- black n' white striped tee & dark skinny jeans- old navy, turquoise cardi-nordstrom rack, black gladiator shoes- ? last year, red cherry necklace {gift from kristen}- lisa leonard. 

 
what's that? 
you like the canvas wrap on my back wall. 
my husband and i created that.
we're working on opening our etsy shop, "kiss the sky."
it's taking longer than we anticipated,
but it is coming.
i look forward to sharing all the pieces we have been designing together.

happy wednesday, friends!

hello monday

hello all.

are you ready for some random?
good.
so am i.

have i mentioned to you that noah has a job?
i didn't think so.
well, he does.
has for a couple months.
he works a couple hours a week with some cool people doing this and that and really likes it.
i had my first job when i was 13 {catering}.  it was good for me.  i'm "old skool" and think it is good for noah, too.  it's good for his character and his confidence and his motivation.

i stopped by noah's work place one day when he wasn't working to say hello to another handsome guy that works there.  noah was with me and i gave him the option of waiting for me in the car, to which he replied, "i think i'll come in and say hello to my colleagues."
ha!
he cracks me up.

for his birthday last week they surprised him with pie. :-)
and a card.

and a group hug.

noah is growing up too fast.

this week he is leaving me for the first time ever to go on his 8th grade trip {which he helped pay for with his snazzy first job}. he is going to be gone for 3 days. traveling by bus and boat.  going with people i am barely acquainted with with school.  i don't worry about him... okay, that is a lie.  i totally do. i worry about his safety and needs and all the stuff that i am always. in. control. of. {at least i like to think i am}. i actually worry more that i'll spend the entire time fretting about him instead of being glad he has this opportunity.  so would you pray for peace for me. pray for me to shut my imagination up.  would you pray for safety physically, emotionally, and spiritually for my boy, and that he will have fun and learn and make great memories.  thank you. really. a lot a lot.

in other news i discovered last week that "if you hit my saturn i WILL NOT kick 'uranus'."

i will actually feel bad for you, because it was an accident, which was a result of another accident.  i will also be so GRATEFUL that we are all fine {minus some whiplash}.
and i'll come away from the accident recalling that my first instinct was to "thank God." my next instinct was to tell my children to "thank God." to get them fixed on Him, rather than the fear and the emotions. i'll be surprised by that. shocked. i'll see the accident as a gift {minus the whiplash}.

speaking of tendonitis {that's what we're speaking about now}  i think that's what i've got going on in my right ankle.  i thought i sprained it 7 weeks ago, but it is only getting worse. i should go to the dr., but i prefer to pay my monthly premiums and not a gazillion dollars more.

a dr friend checked me out and gave me a prescription. the prescription causes insomnia. it is now 12:28 a.m. on "hello monday" a.m..  insomnia and tendonitus is awesome. not!
at this time of the morning my first instinct is not "thank God."

if the ankle doesn't get better  by the end of the week i am gonna  definitely probably maybe might go to my for-real-dr.

i miss walking.
because i haven't been able to walk i went on my first diet.
the south beach diet.
michael went on it with me.

this was taken the week we started sbd.
obviously he didn't need to lose any lbs.

he just went on it to support me.

mr. supportive lost 9.5 lbs. jerk.

i have lost 7 lbs, mostly in "my muffin top" region. i would like to lose the "junk in my trunk," but that ain't gonna happen.  this "baby's got back."  thankfully, mr. supportive is cool with that. :-)


there are only 18 days left till the second "most wonderful time of the year" {first "most wonderful time of the year" being girl scout cookie time}, MAYCATION!
kristen is coming all the way from idaho again, and this year we have a new blog friend with family joining us, linda, from "thoughts on these things." 
i AM SO EXCITED!
i should have made and sent them a paper-chain at the beginning of the month so they could count down the days {i always have good ideas after i need them}.

i haven't had one of kristen's cookies {video. watch it. it's funny!} since january {she sent some to me in nov. for house warming gift. i ration them out for as long as i can}. i have a feeling that after i eat her cookies i am going to have to go on the northsoutheastwest beach diet. it will be worth it.
18 more days!


it is now 12:50 and i am still not tired. sheesh!

 this is what you get at 12:51 a.m. when i am not sleepy.

fajitachiladas!

FAJITACHILADAS! 

it's my new cuss word.
i went out to dinner with my good friend, julie, for cinco de mayo on "may the 4th be with you," and there were fajitachiladas on the menu.  
{i ordered a fajitasalada}
i declared that it would be my new cuss word.
stub my toe- fajitachilada!
pms-ing- fajitachilada!
can't eat cheesecake because sbd is the devil- fajitachilada!

that night as we drove off from mexican restaurant some rude driver honked at me. so i tried out my word and yelled "FAJITACHILADA!" {windows were up, he didn't hear me}.  a few seconds later i realized that the lights in the rental car do not automatically turn on  like they do in my saturn {to quote julie, from joy's hope- "rich people problems"}.  turns out rude driver was honking at me to warn me and i "fajitachilada'd" him.

speaking of julie, she stopped by on noah's birthday to bring him some "gold, frankincense, and myrrh" {gold bowling tokens, used deodorant, and cinnamon}.

noah was beside himself with excitement huh??

she also brought him a beanie and t-shirt from the HIGH SCHOOL {ahhhh!! somebody hold me} he will be attending next year with her kids.

 

i love julie. 

she makes me laugh, lets me cry, and is okay with me saying, "fajitachilada" if i need too. she knows who i really am. likes who i really am. 

it's 1:04 a.m.
still not tired.

ergh.

thankfully i only have 3 days left of the insomnia inducing meds.

this jello has nothing to do with the insomnia.
i just like the picture.

1:48 a.m.
okay.
i think that is all the "hello" i have for this monday.
i have to be up in a few hours for jesus. he likes to hang out with me bright and early.
then it's a full day taking kids to state testing, running errands, doing laundry, avoiding chocolate, controlling my "fajitachilida" urges, NAPPING, portobello mushroom pizza for dinner, and whatever else God decides to bring my way  today.

i'm counting on His "grace upon grace" already.
i'm gonna need it!

 xoxo,