Guess Who?

I love the little "happies" in life.  

Today my friend gave me this little treat....two little eggs.  One holds salt.  One holds pepper.  They are yellow and polka dotted because this friend knows me so well.  And they are tied up with a happy tag.  I just might not be able to use them for a while. 

New Song

This is the view from my kitchen window as I brew my morning coffee.  Isn't it lovely.  I am so thankful God brings the Spring each year.  My "snowball bush" reminds me of His consistent faithfulness and great power.  Only a great and mighty God could burst forth those blooms!

This morning is a holiday for the girls and an "at home" work day for me.  Which means I get to stay in my pajamas to grade papers and fill out my report cards.... ahhhhh.  Andy even got his lunch made (by me!) for a change.  As he pulls out of the driveway for a FULL days work, I praise God for His provision.  

Morning by morning I wake up to find

The power and comfort of God's hand in mine

Season by season I watch Him, amazed

In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways

All I have need of, His hand will provide

He's always been faithful to me.

(Sara Groves) 

This morning I curled up with Psalm 40.  Wow.  In this year of drought.... a year of trusting and clinging and longing and hoping and trusting and trusting and trusting..... God has, indeed, put a NEW SONG in my heart.  And as He begins to lift us up out of the slimy pit and set my feet on a rock, giving me a firm place to stand, 

I DON'T WANT TO FORGET THAT SONG!  

It makes me think of the Isrealites.  How they cried out to the Lord.... and He answered them and gave all that they needed.  And as the journey got easier for a time.... they forgot.  They forgot what God had done.  

Oh dear Father, don't let me forget what You have done.  
Don't let me forget this "new song in my mouth." (Psalm 40:3)

Just Sayin'

Happy Kleenex boxes make allergy season much more bearable.

iPray

 
Warning:  I am going to brag.

Somewhere around January of this year, Rebecca was asked to write an essay for school that her teacher was going to enter in a state-wide Art & Essay Contest by the South Carolina Dialogue Foundation.  She came home from school delighted with the opportunity and immediately began composing a fictional story about two girls her age, one rich and one unexpectedly poor. When she finished she turned it in and said, "I'm praying for 2nd place...the iPad2."  We have nothing "i" at our house, so this was most desirable.

Several weeks went by and then one morning she burst into my classroom, "I'm in the top ten!!!"  She continued to pray nightly that she would win second.

We were invited to a ceremony on Sunday to announce place winners and awards. Starting with tenth place in all categories we waited through name after name, and presentation after presentation, and photograph after photograph.  She wasn't tenth, or ninth, or eighth, or seventh.  As each name was called I looked over at her.  Her face was beaming.  Does God really care about things like 2nd place and iPads?

Well, sure enough He does.  Out of all of those entries all over this state, God gave 2nd to her.  Well, of course, she wrote the paper and the Dialogue Foundation gave her the award. But in her little eyes... God gets ALL the credit.

Sweet are the things He uses to build her faith....and mine.     

Makin' Some "Green" on St. Patrick's Day!

 It was a glorious day for a yard sale! 

 Our cashiers even matched!

It's an annual event!

 This year we had a few extra helpers!

 Putting those math skills to work!

One man's junk is another man's treasure!

 We had lots of shoes....

 And lots of fun customers!

This one was probably the cutest!

Big Sis'!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Gratitude in Pictures

A BURST of color in my front yard!

Bringing the outdoors in!

Pumpkins that last and last!

A couple of cheap towels and some recycled old linens for a little "Farm Chicky" bathroom makeover.

Saturday morning....endless HOT coffee and waking/sneaking up before the family to sew in my pj's.

 Being "under the pile"....of fabric!

Cleaning out for a yard sale.

Two daughters who think it is fun to clean out and price things.  Yippy Yah Yay!

A happy spot to iron.

 The joy of welcoming a new baby girl.

Sewing...together.

Colorful lunches.

Time for frivolous reading.

An Easter egg bucket full of sunshine.... (or a "ruffles potato chip" bucket according to Rebecca.)

Fancy Pasta and Cleavage

While daddy had a "Guys Night Out" at this fabulous event, the girls and I had a "Girls Night In" at home where we ate fancy pasta (meatless with artichokes, calamata olives, tomatoes, and feta cheese), made Reese's smores, and caught up on Idol (DVR'd from last week).

While watching, I got so tickled at Caroline's assesment of Steven Tyler's attire...

"Look!  He is wearing necklaces and earrings.  It's like he is trying to look pretty.  He should be trying to look handsome!"

She also had a real problem with one chick's dress....

"Momma, that is just not appropriate when you are in front of millions of people.  I like the bottom of it, but I do not like the top!" 

I know her ideas about dress might change in the years to come (I might have to remind her of her current convictions one day), but for now I am loving her eleven year old thoughts.  

My girls current fave is little miss Skylar.  Probably has something to do with the fact that she is a country girl,  from a small town, and she likes to hunt. 

I am a fan of Phillip Phillips.  (Caroline's comment..."Who names their kid that?")

It's always a treat hangin' out with my girls.

Sunday Night Gratitude

Craft eggs and paper mache.... Happy Easter decor in progress.

This day's very blue sky, bright sunshine, and changing the dining room chair covers back to "Spring"!  (Thankful for a momma who so lovingly made them for me so many years ago...love.)

Wonky Patchwork Quilt Squares (in progress)!  So fun!!

Little stacks of fabric.

Sunday night fellowship at the Dances 

and coming home with a little bucket of treasures from my dear sweet friend!  

Vintage sheet fabric from her grandmother...ahhhhh.  And a new read about the "Real" Downton Abbey!

Finding this little bowl full of a "Grow Your Own Pony" (ooh...mushy) in Caroline's room....

...as I tucked her in for the night.

A late night walk around the backyard with my hubby to see some plans he's schemed up.

 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.  John 1:16

Les Lambs

"Enough of that!  Or I'll forget to be nice.  You heard me ask for something and I never ask twice!"

Madame Thenardier

Life with my girls is like an ongoing musical.  They love to sing life....literally.  

Just Because

She came in the classroom with a gigantic grin on her face (like she does every morning) and handed me the little pink bag...

"For you, Mrs. Lamb!  Just because!"

She could not wait for me to open it.

I admired the bag (ooo'ed and ahhh'ed) and took the treasures out one by one.  It was obvious they had been carefully selected.  Her little face was beaming.

I love third graders.