a big hunk of catch up

Hello friends!!!

My stars, it has been a while since swept off this dusty corner of the internet. 

This morning as the girls went about playing, I began researching a few things on the www's and ended up here, reading old posts, mourning a lack of desire to keep up with this place, and feeling a desire to play catch up right now.

This week marked 1 year since we packed up our little grey house in Oklahoma and moved our little family to Missouri, and it has been quite a year.

A year of travel :: we loved it and are always on the lookout for more adventures. We were blessed to have gotten to go to Colorado for a couple weeks in the mountains, across the ocean for 10 days to Osaka, Japan, Cincinnati for Christmas, and little trips to Arkansas, Tulsa, and Kansas City. My oldest often asks "What's our next adventure, Mama?"

A year of healing and growth :: everyone deals with hardships and sufferings of different kinds, but this year, especially, God's grace and love has been made known to me like never before. There are still days when the wound opens because of some memory, or someone's comments and the hurt comes back, but He is still there, and still good. New Year's Eve, best friend and I went on a date, and I remember making the comment "Boy, so glad this year is over!" and for him to look at me and remind me of all the good that came and continues to come, all the answered prayers, all the fun. So thankful for my best friend.

A year of new passions ::  Home based education has been a new found joy this year!! We all have been able to discover things we love and new avenues to serve in doing things we have always enjoyed!

A year of awesome kids :: every year I think they are awesome, and there is so much truth to each new stage is my favorite. And while Pip is the "most toddleriest toddler" we have ever experienced, she is also the sweetest little lovey girl. We love getting know these girls everyday! 

And I hope we will continue to live with thankful hearts, and joyful spirits feeling at peace in His Grace, ready to do all He asks!  

Have a fantastic weekend! I have missed this little space! Thanks for reading! 

 ::eden

my intentional season

Happy Christmas!

So I married an amazing man,

(yes, you are, Bud, so deal with it).

It's true, he is the guy who helps me

put into words the struggles of my heart,

and tries to guide me toward the only One

who can meet me in them and get me out of them.

I am thankful for you, best friend.

After weeks of clinging to anything but the Creator,

I found myself surrounded by answered prayers,

but completely struggling to find joy in them.

So after a slight sob fest,

I bucked up and set my phone alarm to wake up before the little ladies,

and put it to my mind to start my day,

seeking Jesus first.

I opened a devotional where I had already quit mid-read, 

and read the words,

"Are You Running on Empty?"

Yes.

Yes, a thousand times, yes!

It's how I had been feeling for weeks!

After talking about the importance of taking care of yourself,

she began talking about the most important part of self care,

seeking solitude for

recharging and refueling,

or for me, refocusing.

She used examples from Jesus' life,

and ended with Paul's prayer for the Ephesians in his letter.

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith --that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length, and height and depth, and to know that love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly that all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Ephesians 3:14-21

So, during this season filled with many wonderful gifts,

and after a year full of sorrow and wonderful things,

I hope to continue to seek Him first,

remember His love,

so I can be filled with Him,

and pour that out on my family this season.

I do hope you all have a beautiful Christmas finding the Son,

and remember to MAKE time to find Him, yourself!

I know I will!

**Joy to the world! The Lord has come!**

**Let earth receive her King!**

(incredible photo by Haze Nakai, Thanks Haze, and Happy Christmas!!)

Snapshots :: October Weekends

We ended our September days with a particularly warm weekend,

celebrating the life of our girl, Pip.

The following weekend, Autumn began to peep out and we began

filling our time with crunchy walks, leaf hunts, pumpkin patches,

visits to dear friends, warm days outside, moving and selling our first house,

and ended with a super pink, sparkly, girly Halloween.

October was so fun!

Now we are into birthday month!!

And this month ends with a special once in a lifetime trip!!

Welcome November!!!

two, or as Penny says, "tee-ewww"

- T W O Y E A R S O L D-

Happy Happy Birthday, Pip!

We love you and all the crazy you add to our family!
And to celebrate you, we had a simple breakfast party at the park,
complete with your favorite fruit, coffee cake, and Nana's cinnamon rolls!
You blew out your own candles, first try,
and smiled proudly while everyone cheered!
You tore into your presents, received the greatest group hug,
and climbed all over the playground.

Penelope Lee, 
you are a bright,
fun, spunky girl.
You're a complete mama's girl,
but incredibly friendly with others.
You keep us laughing with your clumsy tendencies,
like that one time you slid off the couch while reading with Dada.
You're a fast learner,
and its fun to see 
the excitement in your eyes
as you learn something new.
We are proud of you little one.

Sometimes, Pip, you can wear me out,
but while you play hard, and fight hard,
you also love hard.
You are quick to say you are sorry,
and quick to hug and kiss.
You look up to your sisters,
and always want to do what they are doing,
even if it drives them crazy.
Sometimes I call you 
"Persistent Pippy"
And I think that is a great quality to possess.

Penny, your dada and I are so thankful to know you,
and to watch you learn and grow.
We love your laugh, the way you growl like a bear,
and the way you tell us stories and jokes.
You are a beautiful child made by God,
given to us, and we are blessed by your little life every day!
So, happiest of birthdays littlest love! 
Here's to many more!

xoxox
Mama

focused on my cake and not my girl, rookie move, yeesh.

ready for birthday nap time

Autumn On Purpose

Last night was the first night of autumn,

the air was crisp, so I cozied up on the golden couch, 

under blanket, beanie on, and browsed Pinterest for all things

spiced, misty, and homey.

In the midst of all the muted butterscotch palettes, and hearty crockpot stews,

I came upon a picture with a bronze sun flare, a woman dressed in plaid (my favorite!),

and three words, "Autumn on Purpose".

I was curious so I clicked the link and read

a post from a blog I have never visited before about 

living with intention this season,

in hopes that it will carry on throughout other seasons.

I signed up for the email each week,

a joined the "season long challenge to live with intention"

shut the laptop, went to bed and didn't think any more of it.

Early this morning, I woke up, shuffled to the window, unlatched it, 

and took a deep breath in the cool, crisp air,

and smiled.

I set up a movie for my girls to wake up to, and set off to

fix my morning drink of choice, 

Americano with a splash of 2% milk.

I opened my email and my first AOP message was there.

I couldn't read it fast enough,

I pulled my blanket around my shoulder, allowed the 3 year old crawl into my lap,
 and felt the words 

settle into my heart and mind.

Laken, the author of the Peach and Humble blog,

(I feel weird addressing her by name),

challenged all of us subscribers to find our intentions for the autumn,

pointing out that my plans of visiting an orchard, pumpkin patch playing, and cider,

are goals, not intentions.

"Intentions are not goals like "go apple-picking" or "have a bonfire with family" -- although I love those things and love setting seasonal goals.  But rather, season-long intentions are bigger, more sustainable and more focused on the present moment.  I love what Jess Livelysays, "If your intention can be finished or completed, it's not an intention, it's a goal."  Truly, your intentions will probably span longer than this fall, but I believe that setting intentions that accompany each season gives us a chance for re-evaluation and change every few months."

She broke it down into a step by step process for setting these intentions,

and asks us to write them down where they will be seen every day to help us evaluate the things we let into our life, so we can live more purposeful, less busy lives.

So, here I sit working on my own list,

to help focus my intentions this season,

so I don't let the goals and transitions,

get in the way of what is truly important in my life.
My intentions with my family, our home, my ministry, and myself, 

clearly, simply stated to help fix my focus throughout this wonderful season.

I was greatly encouraged, and thought I would pass this along.

To sign up simply fill out the small info form at the bottom of this post,

and let me know, so we can do this together!

HAPPY AUTUMN DAYS DEAR ONES!!!

funky monday...

But, seriously, am I the only one feeling this? Maybe.
Oh my stars, please stop whining Pip!!
So, this list is for me,
you are welcomed to read it,
maybe make your own,
but I am reminding myself of the many simple and wonderful blessings today.

School has been going rather well, once I lower my expectations for the day, ha!
Last friday we were spending some fun time with some family, and while asking my cousin about school and her replying with a grimace and telling me why she wasn't a fan,
Nora girl piped up and said, "I really love my school."
My heart, this girl knows how to make Mama cry.

My dearest friend, just had her baby boy, and I can't wait to snuggle him!
It is an amazing thing to pray so consistently for a sweet family this week,
and watch God answer with an abundance of love!

Saturday morning we spent with the windows open, listening to light rain,
feeling the chill, drinking cappuccinos, being all sorts of lazy. 

Morning/Evening FaceTime chats with my sister in law who lives in Japan, swapping funny stories about our kids, watching those same kids see each other via the internet, and her encouraging me through this time of transition for our family. She is pretty great!

Today I like sitting outside eating chocolate, watching nature explorers find new things and figure out what they are. All during Pip's nap!

And when your house won't sell, your poison ivy won't go away, and your toddler won't stop hitting, these things are really helpful to remember. 

Thank you Jesus for these kids, my family, and my life, and help me to hand over my burdens, recognize they are out of my control and focus on you, the good in my life You give.

And because today I need a reminder that she isn't always crying/hitting/yelling/whining/pooping/destroying/taking/spitting/throwing.

School at Home

Hello Friends!

We have just finished our first full week of school at home,

and so we are celebrating with a Barbie Mermaid movie, 

(yup, I let them choose their movie to rent from the library today)

and I get to blog!

After many talks, going back and forth on a decision for homeschool vs. public school,

we felt that in light of the many transitions in our life right now,

(we now live in Nana's basement!)

we were going to take a shot at home education.

Little did I know, through my research and meeting other homeschooling moms,

that a passion for teaching my children would be awakened.

I have been reading many books on the matter:

For the Children's Sake

When Children Love to Learn

Books Children Love

Honey for a Child's Heart

Other resources I have used are www.amblesideonline.org
and simplycharlottemason.com

I was anxious to begin, and we had prepared Nora for the first day of school.

We wanted her to get some of the fun things that go along with 

attending school, so we picked up a first day of school outfit,

let her pick out her own backpack,

and celebrated with ice cream at Sweet Caroline's the night before.

She was excited, I was pumped.

We woke up early and talked through a morning routine,

and stepped outside in the shady morning and took some pictures.

And of course, Cordie needed preschool pictures and a backpack as well!

This week has gone by well,

we have established a good morning routine, 

things we do before we start our day.

We then would work on letters, reading and writing,

followed with stretching time, math and extra study.

I found though that I was saving outdoor explore time for the hottest point of the day,

and this week in Missouri was especially steamy.

So yesterday we mixed up our school day,

and spent the morning at some local waterfalls,

drawing algae and dragonflies,

climbing rocks and throwing rocks in the water.

The girls loved it, and didn't want to leave, they didn't even ask for a playground!

We then spent the afternoon doing our lessons,

and it ended up working out better for Pip too.

I was struggling with giving her attention and trying not to get too frustrated,

while teaching her sisters.

Having lesson time during her nap has been a great change in our schedule.

There are still a few things I will be tweaking as the semester goes on,

 but there having been so many high points this week.

A quick list of things I want to remember:

Nora's face as she sounded out and read the word "little"

Pip's contentment sitting in rocks by the stream

Cordie's laugh when we read fun stories.

Their steady breathing as I read chapters to them.

Nora asking to work on her "sums"

Watercolors as a family

Hope y'all have a splendid weekend!!