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10 on 10 | March

It seems like recently every other day has been nice outside. 70's, snow, 60's, snow...

This was one of those chillier days. (There's technically more than 10 pictures. Sue me).

Green smoothie, naps, learning, playing, books, dinner, bath, bed time...typical day :)

PS! I can never decide whether I like the bigger or smaller pictures better. Which do you prefer??

one year

I'm always excited about New Year's Eve. I don't usually write down a resolution, but will think about things I want to do and goals I have. I get excited for the new year. Not this year. I didn't want to see 2011 go and was actually dreading 2012. At first I wasn't sure why I was dreading it so much, but realized it was because I didn't want to let ago of the last year I had time with my dad.

(my wedding | 2005)

One year ago today I lay next to my dad with my hand on his chest and felt his heart stop beating. One minute I was laughing and talking, celebrating the life of my younger sister and minutes later I was next to my dad tears streaming down my face telling him goodbye. "Letting him go"... and hoping that he could actually hear me. That cold blizzard night feels like it was just a few months ago, not a whole year. As my mom and siblings and I surrounded my dad that night it didn't feel real. I kept checking over and over to see if he was really gone. Many times it still doesn't feel real. I keep waiting for him to knock on my door, send an email, or walk up the stairs at home. There's so much I want to tell him and show him.

In Bible study last week I listened to Beth Moore talk about how anguish and joy can coexist (James 1:2). That's exactly how I felt when my dad died. I was in anguish, yet joyful that he was no longer in pain, but in heaven with our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. She also talked about how anguish and joy can trade places. When my Grandma died in 2009, anguish and joy traded places as my daughter was born 6 months later. The same thing happened when my son was born 3 months after my dad died. Another of her points was that anguish is meant to lead to a birth (John 16:20-22). "If you will trust God with your anguish it will birth something precious to you." I'm trusting God and will continue to. Even if I never understand why my dad had to go while I was only 25 and miss so much of his children's and grandchildren's lives, I KNOW God has a plan and a purpose and it's perfect and I trust Him.

I didn't have all the pictures I wanted on my computer, so I may update this again when I get my hands on some more...

2008 (added 3 grandchildren since then)

with my older brother and sister | 1983

2010

with my daughter | 2009

Valentine's Day 2012

I don't know what it is, but I love Valentine's Day. Every year I have this desire to make all our food in heart shapes and put paper hearts all over the house. I know some people think it's just a big marketing scam or whatever, but I personally like having a day that's all about love! My husband and I went out on a date a couple weeks ago. We don't put a lot of pressure or expectation on each other on Valentine's Day, but try to do something different and creative that maybe we don't normally do (like those cute "52 things I love about you" deck of cards that we've all seen on Pinterest).

I love making this day extra special for my kids. We talk about Christ's love and our love for them even more than we usually do. My daughter woke up and was sooooo excited to see hearts hanging from her doorway. I wrote that we loved them and were proud of them and things I love about them, like what a sweet and gentle spirit E has, and how caring and what a good helper she is. And how much I love M's giant smile and easy giggles, and how energetic and curious he is.

For breakfast E had heart shaped toast and blueberries in the shape of a heart in her yogurt. We went to my husband's work for lunch and E had turkey dogs in the shape of hearts. We also had (healthier) heart shaped brownies (side note...I don't bake much, but I do more than I used to after finding THIS great website). Then we went to the bank where my mom works and gave Valentine's to the tellers (the chapstick ones pictured below). This is also another good day to talk about giving to others. We headed home for naps. After naps we went to a friends (where my younger sister is a nanny) and gave crayon Valentine's we made (also pictured below). We have more of those to give tomorrow at gymnastics. E also gave hearts she made to family we saw throughout the day. Dinner was pancakes...yes, heart shapes. :) I'm exhausted from all that, but it was a lot of fun and LOVE! :)

The greatest love story.... "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

February | 10 on 10

Super bowl Sunday... 

After church we hung out at my mom's, had some crafts for my daughter to do, ate some wings, and watched the game (while my baby slept).

That's life with little kids. Good times. :)

morning hike

Have a great weekend everyone.

Enjoy time with your family and friends.

And maybe get a little exercise at the same time. :)

10 on 10 | January

This January weather is amazing here in the show me state.

My little monkeys are getting so big! *tear* 

I finally had to put my littlest monkey in a crib, because the other night I found he had crawled out of the co-sleeper and on to our bed to sleep (more comfy I guess...). It may have been overdue but he still wakes up to eat at night and that thing is just so handy!

I re-read the 10 on 10 "rules" and realized the pictures don't have to be taken on the 10th (duh!). Just ten taken throughout one day and shared on the 10th. Works much better for me! :)