Every Season

Today is beautiful. Warm. Sunny. Brilliant blue skies.

I don't remember looking forward to Spring more than I do this year.

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. I love the colors, the smells and the crisp cool air. I always say I can tell when autumn is near because the shadows are different. I sense it. My friend, Pam preferred Spring. She loved it actually. She used to tease me and say she loves when God is making all things new and I like it when everything is withering away and dying.

It was a joke with us. Leave it to her to step into eternity on November 2nd and mess everything up for me. :)

It hasn't just been a long, cold winter in terms of weather, but my spirit has just been solemn. Quiet. I have been in a winter season in more ways than one.

Oddly enough, I have experienced God working in my life in a new way these past several months. With His help, I'm reevaluating my priorities, the things I will say 'yes' to and weeding out the things I should have said 'no' to from the beginning. The 'track' I was on months ago seems so foreign to me now. I'm looking at things differently and trying to get still enough to let God put the pieces back together that only He wants.

That's tough for me.

But, I'm feeling hopeful. I'm looking forward to the 'new thing' He will do. I'm learning He's too BIG for my mind to grasp at times. Even though I always knew that, I'm learning to respect that. Pray for that. Praying for His ideas and plans to take over my own. I'm also praying for Him to show up BIG in several areas in my life.

So, yes .... at this moment I am welcoming Spring. New life. New growth. New things.

I am so thankful for this Easter and the hope that I have in Jesus Christ. His resurrection is a promise to me that no matter what, He makes all things new.

Some things that have kept me from blogging this week ...

** My computer. I've only had this computer since August. For over a week now, it will just turn off while I'm using it. When it does this, I can't turn it back on for several hours. Very weird. I took it in to be repaired Wednesday and the guy told me he didn't want to look at it since it was so new. He told me to take it back to the place we purchased it and just get a new one. BUT FIRST, he advised me to backup all my pictures and videos. This is where I'm stuck because that is taking me a sweet forever. In the midst of the computer turning off when it feels like it.

** Intentional quality time with my girls.

I am head over heels in love with my firstborn.


Seriously, she is everything I am not. Calm. Patient. Sees the good in EVERYONE. Loyal. Committed. Persistent. Deeply Spiritual. I have watched her come in from school everyday this week, do her homework, rehearse her lines for her play, feed her guinea pig, practice piano and violin and have her devotions - all without me asking her to. We've been able to spend some good one-on-one time together this week (I even let her stay out of school on Wednesday just to hang out with me). She is one of my absolute favorite people.

O is .... well, hilarious (as you witnessed from the video below). I often think about what our life was like before her. She brings so much life to this house now. E and I are pretty serious and can't get caught up in all we have to get done. O comes along and challenges every bit of it and I love her for it.

Funny story about O this week .... she and I went shopping for a new purse (for me). After looking around for awhile, I said "Okay, let's go. I don't see anything I like". She said, "Yeah, I wouldn't have any of these purses. They're all full of trash!". ha!

On a completely different note ....

Did any of you catch Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution? It was fascinating. And convicting. Eric and I recorded it, so I let my girls watch some of it last night. I say 'some of it' because O said after we had only watched a few minutes of it, "Can we stop watching this? I like chicken nuggets!".

Proof I am guilty of feeding my kids unhealthy food?

I have got to get my act together when it comes to cooking.

Do you ever feel like you're doing so much stuff that's good, but you're not doing anything well??? That's where I am right now.

Well, look at that. My computer actually stayed on for me to complete this post.

Have a great weekend!

We're just a few short years away from a career in Nashville ....

Hands down, one of my favorite videos of O. The girl cracks me up.

Untitled from Deidre on Vimeo.

I feel like I should point out that we don't normally listen to Bey*nce. However, we do listen to (a little too much in my opinon!!!) the Alvin and the Chipmunks soundtrack.

And that's where all these songs came from.

Notice 'Single Ladies' is translated 'Stingray' in one version.

Also, when you don't know the words to a song ... make up your own. Pay attention to the 'mumbling' throughout the songs. She learned that from her Daddy.

A Day Off

No school for us today.

We are taking full advantage of it. I woke early but stayed in bed and read a book .... for hours. The girls read books and played for hours upstairs.

I finally decided to get up to fix breakfast.

Coming out of my bedroom, I found this cute fairy / mermaid digging in my purse for gum.

Gum? For breakfast?

Why not?

We have the day off :) :) :)

My Wish List

Before we get started, let's all agree to lighten up a bit. I know how incredibly blessed I am and really not in need of anything. A girl can dream, right? And this girl does. Nothing wrong with that.

Here's a little fact about me ... I love to decorate my house. Love it. I have a wish list. Website pages saved in 'my favorites'. Magazine pages saved in a folder in my kitchen. Notes scribbled on paper.

So, why not transfer some of them here? On my wish list right now ....


This chandelier ...

Isn't it pretty? I am in love with it. The previous homeowners removed the dining room chandelier and converted the room into a playroom. That always seemed odd to me since the dining room is open to the living room and kitchen. This is the light fixture there now ...


See? I need this.


Speaking of light fixtures, I have coveted this one for a looooong time - except with shades.


After shopping around for a few years, I happen to know this is a pretty good price. Unless I find one at a thrift store. So far, no such luck. I need it to go over my kitchen table.

Another thing lacking in this house is an outdoor space. We have a small concrete slab instead. We had planned to build a deck last summer, but had to change our flooring upstairs instead. Anyway, I'm dreaming of a place like this ....

Gorgeous, isn't it?


However, we live in mosquito central so a screened in porch would get a lot of use. Maybe like this one ... While we're dreaming big, here are some kitchens I love. I feel sure I would cook 3 meals a day in a kitchen like this - ha!


I love these.



I would never pay that price. So, I'm thinking of making something similar.

Alright. Back to reality. I really need to clean my downstairs bathroom.

Have I mentioned I need to strip the ugly wallpaper border in there and paint it?

So what are you dreaming of??

I Know

Here are some things I know ...

1) I know that March, April and May are traditionally very busy months for us. Over the top busy. I know this, but I seem caught off guard anyway wondering how on earth we'll get through it all.

2) I know I need to cook a good, wholesome meal tonight for my family. I am given a gift today for Teacher Appreciation Week. It's a beautiful gift bag which includes homemade spaghetti sauce, noodles and a loaf of french bread. Made me cry.

3) I know Spring is coming soon because I saw redbud trees blooming on my way to work. Smile. That means my vacation is a few short weeks away. I don't remember needing one more.

4) I know E's love language is quality time, so I have to get creative about how to work that out. It's a priority, though. A very big priority of mine. Thursday is our night.

5) I know my husband loves me, but right now I find myself in a vulnerable state where I'm going to need to hear that multiple times a day. Weird?

6) Because of #5, I also know how much my heavenly Father loves me. I tell HIM this morning that because of my vulnerable state, I'm going to need to be reminded of that multiple times a day. He directs me to Psalm 91. , Jeremiah 31:3 and Matthew 11:28-30. I feel 'lighter'. Loved.

God knows WHAT we need WHEN we need it

Sitting in church this morning with a heavy heart.

Special music is playing.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes.

Begin praying ... The gist of my prayer is ... "Father, am I doing anything right in your eyes? I'm feeling overwhelmed."

E passes me a note .....

He is mindful of every detail and hears every prayer.

Ready for Spring

I think I have turned on my computer only twice since last Saturday. Weird. I started posts on both of those days and just didn't finish.

Nothing new going on around here. Just life. Started the week with another trip to the doctor for a sinus and respiratory infection. Spread to my eyes. I looked like I was on a two-week drunk. Nice. I have had every thing imagineable working at a preschool this year.

I've been unusually tired this week. I'm also blaming it on the weather. I am more than ready for spring. More than ready to play outside with my girls. Go to a park. Plant some flowers. Go to the beach. Go to the mountains. Whatever. Just tired of rain and cold and cloudy skies.

I have big decisions to make. We've been busy. When things get too heavy, I shut down just a bit. Keep to myself. Can't say that's very spiritual, but the truth.

On a happy note, E is working hard on another play. I 'ran lines' with her last night. It's so fun to see her so happy. She's getting so big and 'grown up'. I passed her twice at school this week and saw her laughing hysterically with friends. Makes me smile.

Both times, I was reminded of the saying ....

"A mother is only as happy as her saddest child."

True words.

I'm happy when they're happy.

So, here's hopin' warmer weather and sunny skies come quickly.

Today would be nice.

Friday

Friday. So glad to see you.

I have a few hours to myself before I pick O up from school. I'm getting ready to dive in to housework that I have neglected for some time. A long time. I want to do something else, but I need to clean. So, I put it off awhile longer to post. ha!

Just a few things from our week ...

** Thankfully, the stomach virus that knocked me on my tail Monday hasn't shown up in the rest of the family. So.glad.about.that.

** On a whim, I bought O a *zhu zhu p*t to surprise her Wednesday. She is in love. Completely smitten. Which is apparently contagious because I had to buy one for E yesterday. I don't know why I didn't see that coming. I figured if E had the real thing (Hershey, the guinea pig), she wouldn't want a battery-operated hamster. I was so very wrong.

E opened her box yesterday and found the inside pamphlet that shows ALL the accessories that go with said pets .... as well as more pets. She posted it on the fridge. I felt ill.

** My in-laws are on a plane to Hawaii right this minute. I am so excited to see a life-long dream come true for them. And I am jealous.

** One of my best friends, Cathy, is a mom to a teenager today. Bless her heart. She's probably crying right now. I love you, Cathy! You are a great Mom! I know this season will not break you. You will do fine. You should probably save those tears for July when you will be turning .... um ... I won't say ... rhymes with shorty. Happy Birthday, sweet M! We love you!

On that note, I found this picture of Cathy and me. (I'm on the right with the Dorothy H*mill haircut.)

I think we were probably 8 or 9 years old in this picture???? This is the coveted B*rbie perfume maker I got for Christmas that year. My favorite gift ever, I think. Try to focus on that instead of that hideous outfit I had on. Mom, seriously? What was that????

Okay, stop distracting me. I have cleaning to do.

Living in the Ordinary

It's snowing again.

I worked today. School let out early. What is comical is E's assistant teacher called Eric to tell him school was letting out early. Eric then sent me a text to let me know. Have I mentioned I work at the school? Right down the hall from E's class. Odd. At that moment, Angela Thomas' bible study came to mind. Am I that invisible?

Anyway, I'm sitting here patiently waiting on E to finish her homework. When that's finished we're going to work on a diorama (?). O is flipping through magazines choosing pictures for her ABC book she and I are doing together.

Have I told you about that book before? It's something I did with E when she was 4. Basically, I put together a scrapbook and put a letter (A thru Z) on each page. E chose pictures that started with that letter and glued them on. I'm amazed at how many times E looks at this scrapbook. She is proud of it.

So, now it's O's turn.

These are all ordinary things. Little things we do each day that may not make much of a difference when we're in the midst of the moment, but ones that mean a great deal to me today.

Yesterday I was sick. Let's just say I caught a stomach virus and spent the entire day 'getting rid of it'. Yuck! I was really bummed.

Mondays are busy for us with school, E's play practice, basketball practice and bible study for me. I couldn't do any of it. Thank God Eric was home! He assumed all my duties with the girls and I was thankful he was here. (I'm also thankful to Heather for leading bible study last night in my place - Heather, you blessed me so much by filling in!)

But, I missed my girls so much. I missed picking them up from school, hearing about their day, feeding them an afternoon snack, hugging them and making sure homework is finished. You know .... the stuff I often complain about. The things that make me the most tired.

Having to stay in bed and listen to my family 'do life' without me made me sad. I realize it's the ordinary things I live for. It's the season I am in and without those simple things, I feel useless. Not needed. Invisible.

How about you? What are the ordinary things you complain about, but really are blessings in your life?