Catch-Up

We took the kids out for ice cream after dinner tonight, and I brought along my camera to get some colorful, fun pictures. But of course, the battery was completely dead, so instead, I'm going to catch up with random shots from the past couple of months (since right after Christmas).

(click to enlarge)

making Barkley "infrared" is the best way to see him in photos (until I get better at this!)

passed out, before friends arrived on New Year's Eve night

fireworks

these were so fun!

firework time

old friends

fancy footwork

no, we don't let our kids watch tv around here

label whores

Loudoun's birthday present, but I'm not sure who liked it more

7th birthday, ice cream cake time

his eyes make me melt. His girlfriends will go GA-GA over them, I'm sure

BFFs, at a salon date

new bangs

shades of gorgeous

It's been raining here all day today, so I am reflecting back to last weekend when our sunset looked like this:

Don't get me wrong, we've had a fabulous day inside in sweats, watching tv, playing with neighbors and eating leftover pizza. 


Though, just like every Sunday evening, I'm left wondering, "Where did the weekend go?"

Lovely things on my heart

We are sponsoring a new child from Compassion. It's her birthday on the 11th, she will be 8. I worked all weekend to put together a birthday care package for her. I looked all over Michael's scrapbooking sticker aisle for a big number 8 to put on a homemade, decorated card. I could not find an 8, but I did find dozens of birthday-themed sticker sets, so I grabbed one that looked cute and went on my way. When I got home and assembled the card, I noticed the birthday cake sticker had 8 candles on it. 
Love the little details that fall into place. 
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Last week I sinned. I did it knowingly, hoping that once I received the end result, I would be able to put aside the fact that I outright disobeyed my Lord. But of course the end result did NOT make me feel better and I spent several days writhing in the guilt. In the car ride home one evening it smacked me right in the face. Jesus died on the cross for my sins. For this specific sin. This sin I did on purpose. How could I ASK Him to die for this sin? I instantly went home and reversed the sin. 
Love that He stays in my heart at all times. 
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I went and bought 2 Bibles for friends over the weekend. One is for a coworker who is searching and might be on the path to find Jesus, and the other is for our 9 year old neighbor who we take to church with us on Sundays. 
Love that little gestures might make the ultimate difference in someone's life. 
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Went to church today and listened to a sermon on Romans 12:1-2. 
¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
By giving my life to Christ, doing whatever I can to serve Him and be pleasing to Him, staying in His word, BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS ALREADY DONE FOR ME, the end result will be that I am living a life that He wants me to live today, and He will show me His will for tomorrow. 
Love that such simple, straightforward Words can direct my life. 
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I love that He is in me, every single day, working on me, working on my heart, guiding me to be the person He created me to be. Sure makes all this effort and transformation worth it. It's for His Glory. 

Missing Sled

I felt so bad for him.
He had a horrible day. Nothing went right.
His winter camp went to the mountains for sledding.
He brought his brand new, super slick, 55 inch speed sled.
He got banged up trying to use it.
He scratched his arm and bonked his head.
The other kids got to use it more than he.
And when the van was packed up at the end of the day,
the sled didn't make it.
Nobody noticed until I picked him up this evening.
And the tears started rolling.

We hugged. I listened. A trip through McD's drive thru called.

In the car ride home, I listened as Avalon asked for Loudoun's help
putting the straw in her drink and opening her toy.
He did it with such care and compassion.
And Avalon said, "Loudoun, you're such a good brother."

Even in the middle of his frustrating day,
he didn't have to think twice about helping his sister.

The bond they have is amazing to witness,
especially when they don't know I'm paying attention.

Have you found the Bigger Picture through a Simple Moment this week? Link up with Sarah.

Wordless Wednesday