Saturday morning...

Its a rare Saturday that I have time to myself. With four active kids, a sweetheart, a home to clean, and a job that I love... rarely do I get the moment on a Saturday to be all by myself. Blessed to have just a few hours to myself this week, I headed to my local coffee shop and as I sat down with my latte in the front window, I found myself sitting and watching people. The small family that came in excited to get "treats" both mom and dad as well as the kids :) The student working hard on the laptop. So many people coming and going on this weekend morning... busy, busy! The scene in front of me was the one that caused me to pause and actually start my blogging. Directly in front of me on the sidewalk this is what I see at the table:

There's a sweet, older couple sitting enjoying their coffee with each other on the sidewalk but its obvious that they are enjoying each other and their time together much more! They share laughter and smiles and they so casually reach for the other's hand from time to time and its like they have done this a million and one times a day. They have caused me to smile and my heart to swell this whole time that I have been watching their dance that they call "life".

What I love best about this is its like looking into my future... its like watching Frank and I from a distance and I am so excited to get there! To spend time with the love of my life is my favorite thing to do and I can't wait to grow old with him.

Happy Saturday friends!

Time Marches On....

..........marches on or runs at top speed past me? Hmmm not sure but either way it got away from me!Once again, my blogging took a back seat and I was simply unable to get things happening put into my writings and thoughts for you my friends and readers. To you S, my far away friend, know that I was trying to keep you connected by pictures and quick texts but I know you enjoy my writings more and I will do my best to catch you up quickly!


Let's see my last post was in April.... What has happened in our lives since then? Quick recap...


May brought a lot of spring sports for my blessings.... Kendra played varsity softball for the high school team. What a joy it is to watch her becoming a better athlete as the years go by. Even in pain, she gives it 100%, she is a picture of perseverance! Austin played on the Jr.High Baseball team and his team went undefeated and won the Championship game. He loves the game and continues to grow now past all of his family and most of his friends too :) Colby played recreational baseball for the second year and seems to be really getting the hang of the sport. Its fun to watch the twins developing their own interests! Cam played soccer with his best friend and really loved it! He sees himself as a really good player and his confidence is growing by the season. He is a wonderful sport and always congratulates and encourages his team mates. Saturday mornings were a treat for me too, I was able to spend each Saturday catching up with my friend over coffee and soccer! It was truly the highlight of my week. Vacation Bible School and meetings for that quickly started taking up lots of my time at work and at home. We finished our school year strong and were looking forward to longer days and evenings.



June brought us with lots of VBS work and meetings. We took time to celebrate Father's Day with my sweetheart and after some saving and extra work, we were able to spoil him and get him a flat screen TV! It was exciting for the kids and I to do this for the man we love so much and to let him know how much we love him and his hard work for our family! We took off and spent the day after church at Popham Beach with him and had a wonderful day just simply together.

July was ALL about VBS! It was by far one of the most amazing weeks I have ever experienced. Watching my specific prayers answered one by one. From great weather, to unity in workers, to enough supplies for the ever growing number of children that came to our church. Our highest day was 255 kids and I was over the top excited! God showed Himself in a big way and my life was touched and changed in a GREAT way! We also celebrated our oldest son's 14th birthday and had a lot of friends and family here to celebrate him. Austin is such a happy kid and a real joy in my life! He is getting ready to stretch out and leave the safety of our home and enter High School in just 4 weeks. Hard to believe but he is oh so ready!

So here we are in August. We have some day trips planned and some down time ahead of us before the school year gets here. Together with those I love most are now in my radar and whether its the six of us, just some of us, two of us out having dinner and drinks with our friends, or two families out enjoying a ball game or a day at the coast, its sure to be a great month and I am once again counting my blessings!

Hugs!

Thankful Thursday!

Yup, I missed it... my weekly Multitude on Monday post... so I am improvising with Thankful Thursday this week!

Having just celebrated Resurrection Sunday, I know we have lots to be thankful for. We had a busy, but really great weekend. The Faith Kidz Choir performed on Easter Sunday, and they did so wonderful! To watch these kids sing their hearts out, in complete adoration and worship of our Heavenly Father, caused me to tear up more than once and my heart was bursting with pride!

Easter dinner was spent with family and lifelong friends. As I looked around the table, I quickly mentioned to myself one thing about each of them that has impacted my life. Some caused me to pause longer than others, like when I looked at my husband. As he grabbed my hand under the table and gave me that squeeze that still makes my heart beat fast, I quickly thought about that first time we held hands at my parents house under the table. How time has changed us both, but how it stands still sometimes too. I paused while looking at my daughter. This woman who is smiling again and bringing joy to my life like she has done so many times in our life together. We have had a tough few months while she grows and stretches herself and I learn to step back and give her the room to do it. The love I have for her is uncompared to any other love I have for anyone. Each and every one at that table, had such a huge part of my life. Thankful didn't begin to describe my feelings right then and there.

Still not sure how I have been so blessed in this lifetime, but I know that I am and I have spent many moments with God thanking Him over and over again. The blessings are overflowing and I am loving having a weekly accounting of what those blessings look like! Thanks for reading along...

Hugs!

#74... spring flowers

#75... quiet time

#76... my daughters smile

#77... sunshine and warmth

#78... exercise

#79... new makeup :)

#80... My Jesus

Multitudes on Monday

As Easter and Resurrection is fast approaching, I find myself thinking often about that time in our history. My heart and mind fill with thoughts and feelings about that day of crucifixion. Because of my mommas heart, I can't help but think about Jesus' mom, Mary. I think about how she must have felt watching her son being treated the way He was, how her heart must have been breaking into millions of pieces. As a mother, she must have wanted to defend her son and take on all those people who were beating him and cursing him, and yet she could do nothing, knowing her son was doing the Lord's will, what he was born on this earth to do. When I think about her, my heart breaks for her. How she must have hurt so badly and how hopeless she must have felt! I think about what a wonderful woman of God she was. How her personality was created long before Jesus' birth, knitted her mother's womb, with the soul purpose of being able to hurt for her son but not actually be able to do anything about it other than to weep. She had a faith and was certain that while she didn't understand the why or the ration behind the act, that God was not allowing anything to happen to her that He hadn't equipped her to deal with. I am so in awe of this wonderfully equipped woman of God!

I am working on that myself.. getting up each morning and telling myself that God isn't going to allow anything to happen in my life that He hasn't equipped me to handle. Some days I do better than others. Other days, I question my strength and abilities to deal with the smallest of issues. I look at other people, women in particular, and am awed by how Godly and in control they seem to be and Satan loves to use that to second guess and feel awful about myself. Then I am reminded that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made". God made me with a purpose exactly as I am! So He also knows what I can handle and what I can accomplish, when I allow Him to do it and not rely on myself.

Thank you God for loving me enough to give up your Son for me and my wickedness. Your gift is beyond my ability to comprehend, but I am eternally grateful!

Hugs!

#66... Warm sunshine

#67... Time on my front porch enjoying the sun and the quiet first thing in the morning

#68... The smell of little boys hair when they have been outside playing in the sun

#69... Surprises from my boys

#70... a healthy marriage

#71... Conferences and new ideas

#72... Laughter and new adventures

#73... conversations with those who know me best without speaking a word

Multitudes on Monday

So one person CAN change your whole mood and attitude! Why do I let that happen to me? Do you? As of late, I have purposely been working on my heart and attitude. Ok, well, I have lots to work on but I really am trying :) It seems however that the harder I try working on it, the harder there are people around me working at sharing their "not so sunny" dispositions with me :( It doesn't have to be someone I even know by name. You know them, the man who pulled out in front of you while you were driving and then looked at you like you were crazy. The person working at the grocery store who is so mad that she has to ring you up when she was just told she can go on break but YOU had put your groceries on the belt first. The lovely librarian whom you asked to look up a book for you and you have just interrupted their visiting time with their friend on the phone. You've met them too, haven't you? Worse than that, is the people we do know by name, because that means we are invested in them. Our friends, co-workers, and family... for me, that is the worst. Mostly because I love them, I want them to be happy and never upset, sad, or mad. Yeah ok, I know impossible, but if I could make it happen, I would! So when one of them is not happy, neither am I. Even when I try, it just doesn't happen. The worst of it all, is when Frank is unhappy. And that is where we have been as of late.... so while I have been working on my heart and attitude, its been a struggle for me.. because we have been "off". Nothing is wrong but when we are "off" my attitude is really yucky! We are busy and don't have much time together, he is working 7 days a week for the last 18 months and he is tired and frustrated with that, our kids have had some issues as of late and so we have had to deal with that, and while all that is going on he is trying hard to stay involved in his commitments at our church and help out friends and family when needed. So, needless to say, he is tired and cranky and its making me that way too! So, in true Janet fashion, how do you fix this... well of course I get cranky even when I started out in a good mood. I start feeding the fire with the fuel of "He has time and energy for everyone BUT me". "He can be available for his job but when it comes to me, oh no too tired", " He can laugh and fool around with his friends but oh no, not me... I get the yawns, the heavy eyes, and the complaints of the day". Ugh, who is that nasty woman? Yup, its me... sadly. Now before I go into heavy depression about my screw ups and believe me girls, there are plenty, let me tell you this... I love and admire my husband and think he is the MOST amazing man on this earth. The "problem" with that though is I want him to always be happy and energetic when it comes to me and that isn't even reasonable. He knows I love him and so around me, he feels safe and comfortable to let his guard down and just relax, to rest and to share his issues of the day. This is a compliment if I would just take it that way. So, this week I challenge myself to pray harder for this wonderful man of mine, to have enough done that he can just come home and sit and rest, and to encourage him to get to bed earlier and ask God to give him the sleep and rest that he needs to go on another day. AND honestly to ask God to take out that feeling of insecurity I get when Frank is feeling like he is and remember it is not about ME! Can you pray for me too? Hugs! #59... new memories with my best girlfriend for her birthday ( "I thought it was a wrap for my hair") LOL #60... God's timely provisions for our family #61... healthy children #62... spring sports for the kids ( I love to watch them play!) #63... evening walks outside #64... birds singing outside my window to announce the sun has risen and its time to start my day #65... my quiet time before the kids are up.. my comfy chair, my coffee and my Jesus... {{sigh}}

Mother Knows Best...

I have found myself in a new season of life, letting go.... watching my little girl start to live her life less me and her dad. Wow, is this ever harder than I ever thought it could be!! I am trying my hardest to have faith and not fear in what I have taught her and brought her up to be. I just love her so much and want to keep any harm and hurt far from her. The last two months have been hard on us both as we continue to "grow up" together. The bottom line is, this Disney song describes me perfectly (insert laugh here) and per my little girls request... I am posting it. Love to you my Boo <3

Multitudes on Monday

Monday already? How fast can a week go by? In my crazy life, apparently pretty fast... I am trying to hang on for this ride but some weeks it just gets away from me and I end up looking a whole like this:

Its not uncommon for us as woman to perfect our juggling acts.. making sure all the people in our lives are happy, healthy, clothed, clean, and where they need to be. I for one, can get so caught up in it all, that I forget to take care of myself. I know, most of us do, but sometimes I really forget to stop even for a moment and catch my breath. So, this past two weeks I have worked specifically on just that, catching my breath. Interestingly enough, I am starting to feel better. Not sure if its the weather changing (although we did have a snowstorm on Friday), the time I am taking to do Yoga, the time I am spending with my best friend, or that finally giving more of myself to God and letting him sort through my "stuff" for me, but all in all, even though most of my "stuff" hasn't changed at all, I feel better!

So, my readers and friends, take some time for YOU this week. Even if its just a few minutes a day, take the time. I think you will be surprised what it will do for your whole situation. AND all those things and people that you take care of day in and day out, will thank you too... you'll be a happier and more relaxed woman and we owe that to them don't we? Hugs, Janet

#52... flowers, fresh cut flowers for no reason at all just because...

#53... nerf dart wars in our home.. actually the giggles it produces

#54... pleasure reading time

#55... hot showers at the end of a good workout

#56... yoga

#57... 2 Timothy 3:16 - thankful for correction and guidance

#58... my hard working husband <3