Updates

Last weekend my parents took the kids to the river house... so fun.

Mike and I enjoyed a weekend to ourselves.  We went out to dinner both nights and I did little projects around the house.  Mike helped me hang a new shelf in the bathroom.  I painted our bath near the end of the winter after I painted our bedroom.  There was one wall left that needed something on it.  So I added a white shelf and the frame I painted.   

 I feel like that finishes up the updates to our bedroom and bathroom that I started in the winter.

Other parts that I don't think I posted... 

I'd also hung new curtains in the spring.

I used the drill all by myself for the first time!  Woohoo.  I have a new appreciation for why Mike kinda groans when I ask him to drill something for me... its just tedious... measuring, switching out bits and the screw driver part, etc.  Mom was here when I did it for back up.  ;)

 I found these curtain panels at PBK on clearance.  Yay!

And a cute green lamp from Target

 Our Moroccan lantern back in place.  I really LOVE the color its painted.  Its been 6 months or so and I still feel happy to see the change after a DARK blue room for 5 years!

 And here is the finished pink frame in Lily's room.  

We also added hooks for her to hang things on.  :)

We moved Lily's kitchen upstairs a while ago and put it in her dormer window area to make room for her doll house.  So I hung Grandma's sign over her kitchen there.  :)

 I re-painted half of our laundry room floor (terra cotta-ish) and found this fun rug at Target.

 And organized our bins a little.  That room can't be helped but so much... right, Mom?!?

 So fun to have a little extra time to do fun projects :)  

Lillian Moments

Lily has been really sweet lately (as usual)... and just as usual, a sweet gift and joy in the midst of grief.  And they both just make it easier to carry on... 

A few things to remember:

After a meal recently, I was on my hands and knees wiping up the floor under their little table.  She was still sitting there eating her meal.  She took her sweet little hand and just put it on my head and then ran it down my back.  It felt like a little thank you :)

Today after their gym class, we went to the car wash.  I was vacuuming the van out.  Of course, Peter was unbuckled the second we stopped and wanted to help.  So he "used" the vacuum on one side and I used another.  He was a sweet helper.  Lily just sat contently buckled in her car seat.  I leaned over her at one point to vacuum between the seats.  She just put her hands on my hand and gently ran them over my back.  I think she had her fingers "walk" on my back at one point.  I felt like Big Lillian was in her body in that moment.  I remember laying on the bed beside my grandma and her scratching or rubbing my back.  It was never really strong enough to be a  rub or sharp enough to be a scratch but just a sweet little touch that felt good, exactly like Lily's hands felt this morning.

Moving onto processing... I feel like this is one of those times when I really have to be narrowly focused in what I think about... "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 

2 Cor 10:5b  The challenge in that comes when others jump in there {that's probably not any of you reading this :)}.  Its funny how others don't always know the strict thought plan that I'm on.  Haha.  I like my songs so I've been listening to this song, and the lyrics.  And playing these lines over and over in my head (and at times crying over the pain and sweetness and freedom of it)...

Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.

Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  1 Cor 13:12b

*And her little voice.  If I could only bottle it.  It is so so adorable.

In Training

Goo has been training them... I love it.

Two good helpers after reading "Little Red Hen" there.

Don't worry... they have LOTS of fun at Goo's House, too.  
(I really do think Lily may be a good helper one day... if her desire doesn't die before her ability catches up.)

3 Year Stats

THREE YEARS OLD:

Weight: 29.5 lbs  (50%)

Height: 37 inches (50%)

 she's healthy and we are as happy as can be about that & about her

Ice Cream Sammies

...on the Front Steps with Friends

***Do you see Isaac?***

Maybe we could swap years with him, Aunt Joy?  

Can 1-2 be my year?

creepy cousin fun

Aunt Becky and Liam, then Uncle Tom were in town last week!
We had lots of fun seeing them a few times.

One morning we took the kids (and the grown ups had fun too!) to a nature center that's part of one of our county parks.  It was really neat!

There were lots of scary snapping turtles, snakes, bugs, birds, fish, etc.

 So fun to have Pop with us on a weekday morning.

 Peter's face is so funny here!

 This turtle was just balancing on this rock :)

 Then we went outside for a "warm" lunch.  It was one of the 100 plus degree days.  The kids insisted on playing on the playground and then came back to the table SWEATY.

 Goo got in on the fun too in a little sliver of shade.  Where is Liam in all of our pics?

 Oh, there he is running across the field in front of Peter!

We loved getting the chance to see and catch up with the Murphys!

song & words

i've run out of energy and motivation this week maybe its all caught up with me so i've been trying to take it easy this afternoon to rest in Him and heal and seek and trust,  not just clean my house i've been listening to a little Indelible Grace we sing a lot of their songs at church i appreciate how these songs are "real"  and not all "good" and what we traditionally  think of as "churchy" b/c that's what I really need and they help to put words to real things that  I feel and just can't put words to. Here's a link to the song, which is much better than just reading the words. I Asked The Lord 1. I asked the Lord that I might grow In faith and love and every grace Might more of His salvation know And seek more earnestly His face 2. Twas He who taught me thus to pray And He I trust has answered prayer But it has been in such a way As almost drove me to despair 3. I hoped that in some favored hour At once He'd answer my request And by His love's constraining power Subdue my sins and give me rest 4. Instead of this He made me feel The hidden evils of my heart And let the angry powers of Hell Assault my soul in every part 5. Yea more with His own hand He seemed Intent to aggravate my woe Crossed all the fair designs I schemed, Cast out my feelings, laid me low 6. Lord why is this, I trembling cried Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death? "Tis in this way" The Lord replied "I answer prayer for grace and faith" 7. "These inward trials I employ From self and pride to set thee free And break thy schemes of earthly joy That thou mayest seek thy all in me, That thou mayest seek thy all in me."