shine

A story I've been meaning to post:

The other day we were driving home around sunset. From the back seat Emma started shouting excitedly, "Mommy! Mommy! What is that shiny thing over there?! Behind the trees! It's so beautiful and giant!" I looked out the window and there was the most gorgeous sunset I had seen in quite sometime. "Well, baby, that's a sunset. Isn't it beautiful?" I replied. " When I didn't get a response, I checked the rear-view to see a very sad looking little girl. "Why are you sad?" I asked. "I thought it was Jesus coming to get us." she said, obviously disappointed.

Oh to be so expectant of His return!

Emma Bear

I remember the day I found out you were with us. It was a shock, really, your Daddy and I had only been married for 8 months. I was still in college. He didn't have a job yet... and you weren't supposed to be even a twinkle in our eyes for a few more years. I should have been interviewing for a job, paying off student loans {& getting health insurance!}... all those things you're supposed to do before having a baby.

But God had other plans for us.

He used you to teach us to trust Him. He used you to show us His provision. He used you to teach me selflessness... to set aside my own ambition for His glory. He brought us dear friends we wouldn't have known and a church that is truly our 2nd home. Through you, God showed us that His plan is so very much better than our own.

Did you know, that before you were born, I didn't much like babies? But that first minute, when the nurse handed you to me, all warm and rosy cheeked, I was hooked. I couldn't get enough of you - and I still can't.

Is it possible that you are 4 already? That seems ever so grown up! All these past years, I've never been sad at your birthday because you still seemed little. This year you've started school without even needing to look back & say good bye. You can write, and even read a bit. You are such a sweet and sensitive big sister. You are kind and compassionate, inquisitive and already outsmarting your momma. Best of all, you have a servant's heart, and you love Jesus!

Baby girl, we love you so much. Everyday, I thank God for giving us you... I couldn't imagine our life with out you - Happy Birthday, my Emma Joy.

Christmas Decorations

We were seriously lacking in the Christmas decoration department this year. Last year I got it all done so quickly, and it looked great. This year I had a lot going on, decorations were misplaced, and time was getting short. So, I borrowed a good friend's circle cutter and went to town on these super simple decorations {Christmas style of course!}

Merry Christmas!

Mr. Wonderful

He was way cooler than me in high school, but he didn't know it. That's one of the things I love about him. The first time we ever talked, he proposed. It was for a class, but 4 years later it was for real. He loves me in a way I never knew possible. Our girls are going to have a hard time finding a man who measures up to the way he loves them. We fight, but when it's all over I never feel defeated, I feel more loved and understood than before. He makes me coffee every morning before he leaves, and he holds me close each night. He'll probably never read this, but now you know... I married Mr. Wonderful!

what we've been up to...

Christmas is always a busy time for our family, here is a little bit of what we've been up to:

Here's a {shortened} list of what we've done in the last 3 weeks:

family photos

ashlyn's birthday party

disneyland

gingerbread house fundraiser for church

women's tea

craft fair

Christmas Play for church

Christmas play for preschool

Christmas tree shopping

and now we've all gotten sick!

but we're on the mend and we'll see you soon

Crafts gone awry

There are usually two schools of thought on Halloween candy.

1- let them eat as much as they want the night of and then toss the rest

2 - slowly portion it out over the next several days {or weeks, or months!}

Usually I'm in the first boat. I want it all GONE or I'll end up eating half of it. This year though, Emma was actually old enough to protest to all of her left over candy being tossed in the trash.

So, I had to come up with something else. It had to be a way to divide up the candy over time and in a way that they wouldn't be begging me all day for another piece.

I saw this idea on Martha Stewart years ago and decided to give it a try... I couldn't find any pictures of the original project which turned out much cuter. I am trying to give up perfection in crafts so that my kids can help. In this instance I wanted to make a rainbow but they just wanted all purple...

Sort out the candy {if there are siblings make sure there's enough for each kid!}

cut out tissue paper about the size of the mouth of the cup

i decided if it couldn't be cute it should be educational. It was going to be a calendar... you'll see later why that didn't work out {several reasons why}

glue the tissue paper on top

here's my sideways picture of the finished product.

{yes we are in a constant state of remodel... and we need a light switch cover}

It's not exactly what I was hoping for but I let the kids do it themselves and they loved it.

Since I used this frame it couldn't be a calendar b/c it's only 5 across. And then there's the fact that it's low to the ground and the little one helps herself to a cup of candy anytime my back is turned!

Oh well, at least we had a fun afternoon!

Rewards

Awhile back, it became apparent that our older daughter needed a reward chart of some sort... a way to earn toys or privelidges without always having them handed to her. I cringed at the thought of the poster board full of stickers hanging on the wall - my dear husband will tell you, one of my pet peeves is primary colors - and along came my good friend Kerry, with the shell jar. It's so simple really, Emma earns shells {or sea glass, or starfish}, and when she has enough she gets the pre-determined reward... but the best part is that the jar just looks like a part of the decor!

I'm sure this could work a million different ways with different styles of homes!