green grass ... a hose ... and a whole lot of dirt.

enough said.

thank you.

 My mornings in the car have been quiet.

My afternoons too.

I listen to music during the comute from our home to my school ... and back home again.

The boys are with you.

You're doing the last minute socks and boots and sweatshirts.

You're grabbing the back-packs.

You're picking them up from school & daycare.

You're showing them what {work} is when they're home.

You're giving them jobs & chores and ... most importantly ... responsibility.

You're modeling.

You're leading.

And as you do all of this and sometimes think that I don't see ... I do.

I see it & I admire it.

I treasure it.

I am blessed by it.

I listen to this song by Sanctus Real at least once a day & pray that the words echo through your heart like they do mine.

I pray that you know how much I love you.

I pray that you know how thankful I am that we're a {team}.

I pray that God continue to works His {magic} through our life.

.................................

I know you don't read the blog much due to the fact that we have no internet at home Ian, but this journal of our extraordinary life ... well, Ian it's happening, it's alive, it's real, it's ours ... not because of me ... but because of {us} and the promises that God has made and will continue to keep.

The promises to get us through all the {this and that} that we face every.single. day.

Thank you for being willing to grow.

Thank you for being willing to give.

Thank you for being that person that makes me look better than I really am.

I hope and pray I never have to {do} this life we live without you.

home.

I looked around our home on Sunday afternoon.

I saw ...

lots of dust.

puzzles.

games.

tractors.

and more tractors.

workbooks.

color books.

pencils.

dirt.

boots.

jeans.

fruit flies.

a note from Papa George.

laundry to be folded.

candy corn.

corn bread.

school work.

teacher manuals.

the Capital Press.

bills.

books.

journals.

flashcards.

recipe books.

dried pears.

and so much more.

........................................

and out of all the sights I saw that day, these were my a few of my favorites:

I think the best moments of our days in life are those when we see past the dust, through the frustration, over the fears, around the {mess} ... and above ourselves.

Time doesn't stand still.

Laundry piles around you.

Jobs require much.

People require more.

And so, on those days when you feel like the time is gone & your patience is wearing thin ... look around your {home} and count your blessings.

Maybe your {home} will see you as blessing as well!

Light up the sky.

one of my favorite songs right now ...

one of my favorite gifts from God right now ...

one of the most amazing things we're blessed with each and every day ...

{the sky}

a few hours up Birch Creek.

I chose to not post pictures of the portable chute I broke while following my husband up to the top of nowhere.

I chose not to write the {not-so-nice} words I said to my husband when he didn't acknowledge my effort at gathering a few pairs.

but ...

I am choosing to have a better attitude than I did on Saturday.

I am choosing to show love instead of frustration as often as I can.

I am choosing to take Pastor Dave's message to heart & be {unconditional} with my love.

...........................

Sometimes - actually, most of the time - it's easier to be {grouchy}with those we {love} most.

Frustrating, but so true. 

And if I can't {love} those that mean the most to me the most, then I'm probably not loving anyone else either.

Or at least not loving them the way they deserved to be loved.

Living and loving unconditionally.

Just a few more {character} goals added to my list of how I want to live ... and who I want to be.

Quack. Quack. Quack.

and before you realize what's happened in your effort to be {heard}

 ... your mouth becomes permanently shaped like that of a duck!

Right now ...

He's 3.

He loves yogurt and ice cream.

He copies everything his brother does ... but hasn't been to the E.R. nearly as much.

He loves to cuddle.

He loves to be read to ~ especially {Goldbug}.

He is stubborn with a capital {S}.

He loves to talk on the phone.

He avoids my camera at all costs.

He has a {serious} look to him ... just like his daddy.

He loves popsicles.

He's Mack.

And the world is a better place with him in it!

.........................

P.S.

thanks for the great response to my {3} questions earlier this week!!

my answers:

1. yes, I try to make my bed as soon as possible every single day ... doesn't always happen, but I get an A for effort.
2. I love orange, green, purple ... bright colors ... and I hope and pray they look good on me because I wear them a LOT.
3. I'm struggling with how I make others know and feel and believe I think the world of them right now.  Life is at a whirlwind speed & sometimes life without Internet at home just plain {stinks}.  It takes a constant effort and there are definitely times I'm {better} at it than others ... but the key in my heart and mind is to be {sincere}.  If I am who I say I am ... then those around me know without a doubt that they mean everything to me.

Happy Thursday ... let your eyes sparkle ... you're meant to shine!!