What starts out like ...

this

seems to always end like this

And so it goes ... like a lot of relationships.

Up and down ... smiling ... and then crying.

And yet somehow, someway, we all end up ok in the end. (for the most part)

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My boys are showing me so much right now.

About myself.

They're good like that. {grin}

Did you know that ...

* I have melt-down moments when I'm too tired to think.

* I need to say yes to myself (and them) once in a while, and not always no.

* If I splash ... I may just get splashed back.

* I like my own space. (and sometimes have a hard time sharing)

* I can be {fighting} and still love at the same time.

* I know how to push the buttons of those I love most the best. (and seem to do it without much effort)

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Still doing the LOVE dare.

Still enjoying our new home.

Still unpacking.

Still working my way through relationships, friendships and motherhood.

Still trying to be the teacher I would want my child to have.

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Thanks to those who have done the survey. (50+ of you)

I've truly enjoyed reading your thoughts and seeing who you are.

And just to keep it real and honest, the responses to the {you may like this too} has been the most interesting for me.
I hadn't thought much about them and I guess it's something I have on there for me ... and my moms {Kerry & Donna}.
Because ... without intentionally forgetting what I wrote ...
or accidentally misplacing the video that I took of Mason on his little rocking horse at the age of 28 months ...

... without those links, I don't think I'd go back very often.

But because they are there, I do.

And, for me ... it's really good for the soul to go back and see how far we've come.

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Anyway ... back to the survey.

It's still up if you haven't checked it out.

Readers are popping up out of nowhere. {well, not really nowhere, but you know what I mean}

And my heart is smiling.

I'm learning a lot, and feedback is always something I've cherished and strived to work on.

So thanks.

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Be looking forward to {and the survey says} (as said in my best Family Feud voice) posts soon.

New carpet.

It’s quiet this morning.

Soft snores from the other room are comforting as I sit and read.

The dryer spins as the jeans and sweatshirts gain warmth.

A busy day lies ahead.

No fun trips, no exotic destinations … not a day to sit and just read the day away … and yet extraordinary in its own way.

We’ve had carpet for a little over 1 week now, and as I walked from the kitchen in the darkness and stepped into the hallway, I couldn’t help but let my feet stop and just soak in the warmth.

The tightly woven carpet, with flecks of color isn’t necessarily soft to the touch, or top of the line, but there is warmth.

Warmth in knowing that this carpet matches our lifestyle.

Warmth in knowing that it’s ours.

Warmth in knowing that its durability will sustain the wind and dirt, the mud and rain, and the boots that touch it each day.

I stood there, in the darkness, and I smiled.

Darkness.

…………………………………………………………

The page was ear-marked in the book I continue to read regardless if others are or not … or if we’ve squeezed in time to meet or not. The book still connects me to them and to HIM.

My eyes scanned the page for the definition.

And then I found it.

Faith.

‘One step at a time on a dark path.’

Isaiah 50:10

‘Who walks in the darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God.’

Sight says, “I see that it’s good for me, so God must have sent it.”

But faith says, “God sent it, so it must be good for me.”

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Not everything that is good for us, feels lush and soft.

In fact, rarely do the things we need most come wrapped in the finest of paper or with the prettiest of bows. They’re plain and ordinary to many, their beauty hidden to the world that seeks only the best.

The best.

Is there really such a thing?

We want it.

Or at least we think we do.

But do we really know what it is?

……………………………………………………………

My carpet taught me something this morning.

It taught me that in the darkness, when I stop and listen and feel … {the best} is right there.

And it may not be what the world says is the best.

And it may not be what others think is best.

And it may not win an award on television.

But {best} isn’t about comparing.

It’s not about out-doing.

It’s not about one-upping.

It’s not about keeping score.

…………………………………………………………………

I like to be good at what I do.

Who doesn’t?

But when I think about the word {best} … I’m definitely a work in progress.

……………………………………………………………………

And just because I’m curious … would you do me a favor?
Go do the survey I posted earlier today! Thanks!

Because I'm curious like that.

Click here to take a quick {Bales & Tales} survey

On the outside ... looking in.

Do you ever step outside of your life and look in?

Figuratively speaking.

Where you're watching and seeing your life in action and suddenly you realize that you're watching your day unfold and you can't help but smile.

Even at the {bad} stuff.

You're smiling because it's yours.

You're smiling because somehow, someway, you've overcome trials, catastrophes, broken fences, and defeat, and learned what {love} really is.

You're smiling because your life has made you what you are today.

You're smiling because at even the worst of the worst, God was right there. And even if you didn't realize it at the time. He was. And still is.

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I lived life this weekend with a view from the outside.

Weird, but true.

And honestly, it was probably one of the most healthiest things I've done in quite some time.

It wasn't rushed.

It wasn't perfect.

It wasn't documented with my camera.

It was just lived.

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And the multitude of blessings continue ...

40. Many families at my school enjoying a spaghetti dinner together. Mine included.

41. Grocery shopping with my sister.

42. Meaningful conversation.

43. Cousins - learning how to play and love.

44. Migas, cinnamon rolls, chicken pot pie ... filling our home with smells of goodness and love.

45. Tears, broken candy hearts, and photos that may {or may not} turn out well.

46. Laughter & friends ... and getting to share my home with visitors.

47. Children in the nursery at church ... and sharing my love of books with them.

48. Worship.

49. Bath-time ... bubbles, splashing, and smiles ... over and over again.

50. My sister ... the friend I've had my whole life & at times didn't realize how much I needed her ... and am so thankful that now I do.

51. A four-wheeler with all of my boys on it ... riding and laughing their way through life with each other.

52. Curled up on our bed {all four of us} ... talking, tickling, laughing, loving.

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It's easy to forget the little things.

It's easy to say - I'll never forget.

It's easy to watch and do ... and never realize that the actions and words that are a part of every day life define you.

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Do you have a multitude to give thanks for & sometimes let it slip right by?

I encourage you to just jot a few things down {even the bad} - whether you have a blog or not ... and your multitude will grow right before your very eyes without much effort.

And soon, "you may discover that the better you tell your stories, the better you will want to live it."
~ Henri Nouwen

my boys {at home}

I can't imagine them anywhere else.

{at home}

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Praying your weekend is filled with moments where you just know you're where you need to be.

And even if it's not {home} ... it's still right.

{home} ... in no particular order.

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What do you think?

Does it look like {home} to you?

It does to me ... but only because of the love that has made it that.

So many hands, so much sweat, lots of prayers, and even a few tears.

Thanks to all who have helped make our house a {HOME}.

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There is still more to come ... but {home} is always a work in progress in our world!

Somehow.

The list of {blessings} continues to grow ... and although I'm without a {connection} to the world-wide-web from home, I've come to the conclusion that this {break} of sorts has put me back into a better frame of mind.

A frame of mind where things don't happen instantly.

A frame of mind that functions better at a slower pace ... with more time, more effort and a lot of extra thought.

29. Eyes filled with wonder as he watches carefully.

30. Short sleeve t-shirts, tattered jeans and a boy determined to wear his new wool hat so he can look like his dad.

31. New life and our home in the background. Both fresh and alive.

32. Airplanes, a clear view upward and stacks of hay and straw that seem to touch the sky.

33. A rear-view mirror and a ride in the back of the pickup. Sometimes looking back makes you appreciate where you're going even more.

34. Kitchen cabinets that have been stained and painted, a boy determined to {cook} every chance he gets, and our hard wood floor with its gym floor sealant shining in the sunlight.

35. Pioneer Woman's sour cream pancakes. Heaven.

36. 50 degrees and the view out the window above the kitchen sink.

37. The view as I flipped {flap jacks} on the griddle.

38. I stepped out onto the deck and stared. It was a Monday morning. I was at home, and the day was fresh and new. Sometimes, even when we're rushing, God quiets our soul and gives us reason to breathe.

39. Cookies, paint, laughter, friends, family, carpet, shower curtains, and home made clam chowder. Home is becoming more and more of what it's meant to be.
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I know it's not Monday, but my {much} continues to multiply.

And the good news is, it's supposed to.

blue sky and phone poles.

I left school on time yesterday ... actually, a little early.

The sun was shining and the sky was blue.

Finally.

No fog.

I counted the phone poles along the way.

19. {I think}

Mason had a rough time greeting his mom with a smile {or any sort of a good attitude} from Deb's ... and so about 16 phone poles into my count I parked the car, opened his door, and helped him out of the car.

I got back in the car and drove the rest of the way down our {straight} {fog-less} road.

He walked the rest of the way home.

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We had 5 babies yesterday while we were gone.

Great news, but a lot of work {after work} for all of us.

Our c-section cow still isn't producing much milk. Like {none}.

And so ... bottles are made & fed ... and carried ... and cleaned ... and well, bottle babies are a lot of work.

But they're cute. :)

And mama's of new babies ... well, they don't like Ian so much ... but so far, none have tried to kill him.

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My wonderful mother-in-law continues to paint, and stain & paint some more.

Bless her and her creative, artistic soul.

We love her.

She folded laundry, tapped the paint cans closed and started on my menu for dinner.

Meatloaf, potatoes and salad.

This is the first January that we've had dinner together and then not said goodbye to Ian {as he heads to the camp trailer} in 2 winters.

Dinner at {home} is priceless.
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The look of our home changes daily.

Yesterday was the first day we've been without fog since we moved in.

It was a glorious sight.

And I was actually home in the {daylight} for an opportunity to take pictures of our home and its goodness {without flash} ... but the cows and calves called.

I promise this weekend {because it's a longer one than usual ... and we're actually going to have vinyl and carpet to step on by the end of next Monday} I will take pictures of the transformation.

The transformation of our 1979 Marlett home {built on a full basement} ... with paneling from floor to ceiling in every room ... to what it is today in 2010.

Ours.

With a view that seems to make the bare walls and sub-flooring hardly noticeable.

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And, because I did have my camera with me yesterday ... here are some random shots ...

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Smiles, mud, blue skies and baby calves.

It seems to make the {tough} stuff disappear. At least for a while.