It's a rarity to actually get something exciting in the mail these days, you know? But that day I opened the mail box and there was a pretty little envelope just for me. I looove cute stationary and want to buy it all the time for all those letters I write...or think I'll get around to writing one day! I got inside and opened it up to see more sweetness - just the sweetest little note and package all wrapped up. An old high school friend, well acquaintance really, we've become reconnected through facebook and follow a common writer and value the same things, sent this beautiful thing.
I was so blessed in that moment, and have continued to be. I love that someone somewhere was thinking of me and my sweet children and cared enough to bring a smile to my face. I wear it almost daily and get so many complements. It has become very special to me. I'm blessed that she had a thought to encourage and bless and then followed through with that action.
I recycled the sweet packaging of a hymn and decoupaged it onto a mason jar so now I have a new favorite vase to place flowers in too - and the words I see, "Someone else needs a blessing", reminds me to be a woman of action in this area.
When Patricia Nadine Davis was born on May 9th, 1937, it was Mother's Day. Her mom was given the gift of a 5th daughter on that day in her farmhouse; a daughter of good luck as they say since she was delivered with a "veil over her face." Luck? I'm not all that sure about. But blessing? Oh, an indescribable amount.
If my mother was anything as a girl like she is now, she must have been a blessing to so many. It would have been fun to see. Was she as serious and such a hard worker as she is now? Was she as disciplined and modest? I'm sure many of these traits my grandmother taught her, but what characteristics were naturally hers from birth?
As a mother of three now, I reflect on my mother more than ever before. There are some who know definite ways they want to parent differently from their parents, but that's just not me and as a matter of fact, feel most of the time, I will never do as well as she did and continues to do.
At the age of 75, she continues to have one of the best work ethics of anyone I know. She works hard and efficiently and takes joy and pride in her work. She is generous with her time and resources and would help anyone out for any reason.
She told me once that all she ever wanted to be was a wife and a mother. Well mom, you succeeded beyond your wildest dreams! A wife to one wonderful man for 54 years and counting, a mom to 5 and grandmother and great-grandmother to 26 combined (and counting!) leaves you quite a beautiful legacy.
You have taught me how to manage a home - hospitality, cooking and gardening all by just being you and inviting me along side of you over the years. I never remember these things as a chore or a boring task.
You displayed faithfulness and sacrifice and commitment as I watched you and Dad in your friendships, your walk with God, your life at church, and in just raising me! Having me at 43 when you were ready to be empty nesters, required so much of you two. Night after night you played with me when I had no one else to play with and I will never forget that - sitting on the living room floor playing games with mom while dad watched sports.
You instilled in me a love of life and the outdoors by enjoying where we lived and constantly exploring new places. I grew up secure in what a loving family looked like: One that worked hard but enjoyed vacations whole heartedly. One that loved unconditionally but expected obedience and respect. I knew I could trust you and I always knew how proud you were of me.
I am just so blessed to call you my Mom. I wish there were so many others like you because the world would be such a better place. Happy Mother's Day, Momma.
me and my 3
momma and her youngest grandaughter
working next to my mom - the one thing you didn't teach me till recently :)
momma, me and my girl
And mom, because I'm honoring you and letting some other people know about what such a great mom you are, they are honoring mothers in Haiti. A maternity/child survival center in Haiti is being sponsored for an entire year so other mommas and babies can have a chance to grow and thrive. I'm linking up my story about you here so others can read and celebrate you:
So as a continuation of counting to 1,000, A.Voskamp is adding to it each month - The Joy Dare. Want to join in? Want to know more? Click Here.
I have found it to be a great exercise in really stopping, really thinking about even the small things as gifts.
3 gifts at 3pm:
136. alone at last - quiet!
137. coffee made for me by my favorite man
138. the sunshine streaming in my window, promising me warmer days
3 gifts green:
139. the bulb leaves poking up through the dirt - I'm noticing them all around
140. cucumbers on sale and children that love them!
141. avocados and all things yummy you can make from them
3 gifts wore:
142. a ring my husband surprised me with on a beach almost 8 years ago
143. a ring my parents gave me as I pledged to them and my future man, my promise
144. a little pink shirt i gave this morning to the girl in my life who loves all things pink
3 gifts hard to give thanks for:
145. an amazing ministry we are called to although that brings us away from family
146. time to love-on and snuggle and take care of loved ones during an illness that ends up slowing me down
147. god's timing - when it isn't ours
3 gifts found
148. a book I picked up at the library - The Zookeeper's Wife. It has challenged me in many areas!
149. walking in to A's room this morning and finding his bed all made
150. 3 bunches of snowdrops blooming under a pile of leaves in the garden
a gift bent, a gift broken, a gift beautiful
151. bananas? okay it's a stretch. but these yellow gems truly are a gift to this family!
152. the dollhouse I made Eli for Christmas. broken? yes and many of its pieces. frustrated? yes. i am learning through my attitude what message i am sending my children about the importance i place on "things". treat them with respect - yes. but do not cherish them above people.
153. my friend's character. she is going through a trial, yet is keeping her eyes "on the mark" and it is beautiful.
There is a new birthdate marked on our calendars to remember and celebrate year after year. February 26.
On Sunday, February 26, 2012, Addison Christian Frank joined the family millions strong. He gave his heart to someone else and began a journey he will forever mark from that moment forward. That moment he sat on the kitchen bench with Justin next to him and Eli across from him; myself standing near and trying to join in as well as keep a screaming, sick with pneumonia, Samuel, quiet for just a moment. He will remember that moment as his father and I both remember our moments we experienced at the same age.
"Do you hear God speaking in your heart, Mom?"
"I want to live forever with Him."
"He died for our sins."
"I sin sometimes..."
"He came back from the dead so we can live with Him."
We've never pushed, we've never questioned. We prayed. I've often wondered when it would happen. 5? 7? 11? And in that moment a part of me wanted to put him off. Tell him, let's wait till you're a little older. A bit more sure.
But Why? What am I scared of? Why am I making this about me and not about his little child's heart of faith.
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:14-15, ESV
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:2
“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.Mark 10:13
The never ending road of discipleship lies ahead. God has done this work in him and I must trust that He will see it through to completion.
124. antibiotics when you really need them - thankful sam is on the mend!
125. addison's creativity, especially with legos, drawing, sticks, boxes, etc.
126. daffodils in my window that bring some sunshine to our kitchen when there's none outside
127. a faithful husband who purposes in his heart to set godly boundaries
128. candles that smell like a fireplace
129. eliana telling me 100x a day that she loves me
130. the freedom to make this house our home
131. a little girl who is obsessed with all things pink, princess and "ballerina-y" but also gets the dirtiest out of everyone in the family, loves books and animals.
132. a God who reveals Himself to the little children
133. a little boy with childlike faith
134. for real friends - one who ask you how you are and really care how you answer
135. my stud of a man
I recently came across the colorful paper leaves we had used to decorate our November thankful tree. Apparently in my rush to take down fall things and put up Christmas things, I stuck the leaves in a bowl in the pantry! Of course. And today, early February, am just coming across them...
So onto November's Thankful List:
101. New Friends
102. Snow
103. Legos
104. Church Workdays
105. The Weather
106. Pumpkin Pancakes
107. Grammy and Papa H. coming
108. Baby Tree Branches...?
109. Construction Vehicles
110. Peanut Butter and Jelly and Bananas
111. Plants and Living Things
112. Candy
113. Nella (our next door neighbor doggy)
114. Fall
115. God
116. Nella
117. The smiles of my family
118. Piggy (That would be Eli's lovey)
119. My hard working men = Addison and Justin
120. Fall
121. Summer
122. Nella (we love her a lot! :)
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beautyinstead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61:1-3
DISCLAIMER: this is mostly family photos and videos...
Since Christmas was on a Sunday this year, we decided to change things up a bit. We pushed our tree and christmas day traditions to Monday. At first I was disappointed, but it's really only a mind game - what does it matter what day you celebrate on? And this way, our celebration ended up being longer and slower - it was lovely!
Sunday morning we let the kids open one present. It was a Melissa and Doug wooden nativity set. They loved it and played w/it all morning leading up to church. Church was wonderful - small, laid back, merry and worshipful. It was really great getting to see people on Christ's birth and wishing Merry, Merry and all that.
After, our friends hosted a brunch for those who didn't have other plans. There were 9 adults and 7 kids. The food was amazing, there was a fire going and the kids had a blast together.
playing operation
reading w/daddy
the boys all "herding their sheep"
handsome boy eating his lunch
We stayed most of the afternoon and then loaded the kids into the car for a drive around the Cape to look at Christmas lights. The kids were all snoring within minutes so Justin and I were able to enjoy a 25 min. quiet drive!
This is the tree in Rockport's square, outside the restaurant we had our rehearsal dinner at. We reminisced about seeing it w/snow falling all around it 7 years ago.
When we got home, Justin still had to wrap his presents (this he does every year on Christmas Eve...) so the children and I went to the church basement to run like crazy. It was a blast. They've asked to go back down there just about every night since. Once we ran them ragged, it was a quick dinner and off to bed! Justin and I stuffed the stockings, filled the tree and then settled down to watch Elf.
Christmas morning we heard the kids start whispering around 7. We laid in bed and listened to them, knowing they were peaking outside their door to the stuffed stockings hanging on the banister. Sam wasn't up yet so we just let them talk and play, turning on the heat and coffee and talking in bed. When Sam got up, we went and got everyone. It's tradition to open stockings on our bed - and yes, every stocking present is wrapped and yes, we rotate pulling out one item at a time.
Addison already discussed the order of events the evening before... "First mommy, you and daddy come wake us up and we get our stockings and go open them on your bed. Then we'll go downstairs and play w/our stocking stuff while you cook breakfast. Then we'll do the Christmas story and then we'llGO OUT TO THE CHRISTMAS TREE!!!! HA AH AH AH AH HA HA!!" (imagine that getting faster and faster and louder and louder) Yep, he's our planner. So the kids did their coloring books and such while we made dutch blitz pancakes, pineapple, pomegranites and eggnog.
doll house people
castle book
this was a huge hit, Kristin!
walking pony
veggietales worship cd
new apron...
(that she wore ALL day, juanita!)
daddy's kindle
this one plays with the house WAY more than eli. i try to not take it personally and know that one day she will love it :) oh, and a whole other post on the befores and afters of the doll house to come! i worked on and that sucker!
this guy, however, has not stopped playing with his castle!
The opening ended near noon and we had a great afternoon of playing, relaxing, leftovers and naps. We got the kids up early to go for a Christmas walk. We popped popcorn to give the birdies and animals a Christmas treat!
scattering popcorn
While I cooked our Jesus's birthday dinner, everyone played!!
Then it was time to eat!! Lasagna, salad, crescent rolls, wine, jello salad and "spicy drink" (punch) We always have this dinner w/candlelight and this year ended with the children picking out presents "for Jesus". They picked 2 chickens for a family and 2 soccer balls for a school from the World Vision catalogue.
our centerpiece - felted wool by my talented friend, deanne
