A Jedi battle like no other!

Gotta love that I took this picture of Will after he had eaten a juicy drop pop, hence the lovely glowing green mouth. Yes I have the gift for photography, NOT!!

Will has had a loose top front tooth for the past week. He had tried to wiggle it out with no luck. So enter super dad last night to get the job done. As Mike and Will were having a great Jedi battle, light sabers and all, Mike accidentally hit Will in the mouth with his sword and oops....out came Will's tooth. Luckily there was no crying and just a little blood. What a great story Will now has to tell.

I just had to take a picture of his mouth while his top tooth is gone, I am a sucker for his toothless grin. I also know it is one of those milestones that tells me my little boy is growing up. So I will snuggle with him while I can, listen attentively while he wants to chat a mile a minute and enjoy watching him as he sleeps(because it is the only time he is still). For I know the day will come when those days will pass and new and different memories with be created. Yet for now I will enjoy the blessing of Will, truly a gift that only our creator could give. Love you buddy!!

The Royal Wedding!!

This past Friday my daughter Abby and I got up at 515am and headed over to our good friends house to watch the royal wedding with them. Abby's best friend was there and they giggled and danced and watched all the festivities. It really was a special moment for us mom's to spend with our girls.

Here is Abby at our house before we left, the TV is on in the background as we watch Prince William head to the church.



The night before, around 11pm, I got inspired to make some scones. I have never made scones before so I used google and looked for a recipe with one egg as that is all I had left. I made chocolate chip and butterscotch chips scones and they were super yummy!!



I loved Kate's dress and I love this side by side picture of Grace Kelly and Kate with their Princes. I never was a lace girl myself but when I see these dresses I think I could be.



I of course would be remiss if I didn't mention that I know there is only one true King, one lineage that I am concerned with and that is Jesus Christ. As much as enjoy weddings, especially of a young woman becoming every girl's dream of being a real princess, I know that the my joy will be overflowing when I meet my heavenly father and everlasting King.

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:15-17

Teacher Appreciation Week

Next Monday(May 2nd) kicks off Teacher Appreciation Week. This year I have been wondering what to give the teachers that is simple, thoughtful and above all else, practical. Luckily there are a lot of talented, uber creative folks out there in the blogging world so I thought I would pass on a few of their ideas, which I may totally use.

First head over to Skip to my Lou and check out all the cute craft ideas they have. What I love about their site is they have very easy projects for the less crafty like me and some more adventurous projects for the crafting queens. I especially like this idea called Appreciation 7 days a week using a pill box and filling it with cute sayings and teacher friendly items. I also just discovered this one today called Upcycled Containers with Printable Labels where she uses old crystal light containers to hold whoopie pies. Yummy!

Another great idea came from Eighteen25 that also features cute crafts and adorable printables. I love their idea called Quick and Cheesy Teacher Appreciation gifts where she makes a cute printable for swedish fish saying "Your are o'fishally the best".

So give these blogs some love and check them out. I just discovered them both over the past few months and have such fun checking out all their creativeness. I also wanted to document the links for myself as I usually forget where I saw something and I definitely want to remember these ideas. Good Luck with your teacher appreciation ideas!!

Perseverance

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
-James 1:12

The past two weeks my little Abby has had to persevere a little. It is hard as a mom to watch but I know it builds character and confidence. If she can persevere with small things I know she can be strong and persevere in bigger things. I am only talking about swim team tryouts, nothing earth shattering or life altering but it did have an impact on who Abby is becoming.

Abby tried out for our community swim team, according to the swim guidelines she seemed to qualify. At her swim test she did as she was asked and was told "not this year" by the young lady running the test. There was little encouragement on how to improve or to try out again. Abby was devastated, she loves swimming, she wants to do this and she has several little friends who have done it and loved it. I came home defeated as well, did I misinterpret the requirements, should I have not had her tryout in the first place?

After discussing it with Mike and two friends whose daughters were on swim team I was encouraged to call the head coach and discuss the lack of feedback received and my disappointment with the whole process. Both of these women noted having to take their kids back 2 times in order to make the team. If Abby was clearly not ready that is fine, I don't want to be a "helicopter parent" but to not give much reason or guidance was not fine. She swims just as well as these two girls already on the team, it is 6-8 year old kids and I just wanted to be able to provide some info or instruction to Abby as to why she didn't make it. I am not a confrontational person, you could butt in front of me in line and I wouldn't utter a peep, so calling him was definitely out of my comfort zone. After speaking with the head coach he did provide feedback and welcomed her back for a second try. So Abby and I spent some quality time in the pool over the next two days and worked on all that he suggested. Abby really wanted to make the team and was diligent in her practice.

So about a week after her original tryout she passed the test with flying colors. We are officially registered for swim team and tomorrow morning I will find out which of the three teams she will be on. I am so grateful to those mom's for encouraging me to be an advocate for my child. I can only imaging how much she will improve after spending 6 weeks in the pool five days a week. I would have robbed Abby of the ability to persevere and overcome an obstacle and the opportunity to do something that will really benefit her in so many ways. Now had she not made the team after the second time we would have learned another lesson, that sometimes you don't get what you want but God always has a plan. I also know that that lesson will come all too soon, but for now we are enjoying Abby's accomplishment

So may I learn from my little Abby to persevere, in the small and big things. May we always persevere for Christ and our faith remain unshaken in the one who is unshakeable. Abby's reward for her current perseverance will be a medal or ribbon but our reward for standing up for Christ will be "the crown of life" . How awesome that will be!!

Too Cute!

My eight year old daughter Abby is really coming into her own style. She and I went shopping recently and I noticed how her clothing choices have started to branch out a little. She has always loved skirts and dresses and anything girly but recently she has been exploring the whole leggings with shorts or leggings with skirts thing. She picked out this hat too and I thought it looked adorable on her. I always want Abby to feel confident in her choice of style. I love that she still wants my help picking out clothes but that she is also becoming a little more independent in so many ways.

Abby has always been fearful to to do things by herself. She never wanted or desired to go to the bathroom by herself in a restaurant, she didn't want to be dropped off for any practice at the door but always wanted me to walk her in. Lately she has started to show signs of confidence and maturity that are really a treat to watch. I love the balance she displays of being independent when appropriate but not trying to be more mature or older than she is. I think second grade has been a great confidence building year and I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Thank you Abby for being the sweetest daughter I could ever ask for. The joy and pride I feel in being bestowed the honor of being your mom is immeasurable. Our God knew how much we needed each other and I am forever grateful. I love you!!

Spring is coming finally!!

So with the warmer weather finally here in Columbus I decided to go to my favorite Hobby Lobby and buy some spring accents to update my mantle and apothecary jars. For some reason I am on a bird theme, which is not like me at all, but I will roll with it.



This cute birdhouse matches the Yellow on my family room walls perfectly. I think it says spring with out saying I'm country. It is also the perfect height to fit under my mirror on the mantle.



I found some moss at Hobby Lobby as well and then they sold these two little bird's nests and little eggs so I placed them in the two apothecary jars I have in each of my bathrooms.

Now I just need to find some springlike picture frames for my mantle an I am good to go.

I also downloaded this free subway art to put on my living room, here is the link if you want to print out your own. http://todaysfabulousfinds.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-subway-art-prints.html

God is in control

To say last week was a rough week is an understatement. However, what seemed an overwhelming emotional week for our family is a drop in the bucket compared to what the Maloney family experienced. On Saturday March 12th their lives changed forever as their sweet son Noah died unexpectedly in a freak accident on a neighbor's slide. In an instant, Noah was gone and their family will never ever be the same. Noah was Will's age and attended kindergarten at our school. Noah's older sister is in Abby's second grade class, we had her over for a play date just a week before the accident. These situations are when Satan loves to pop those faith shaking questions in your mind. How is this good? Why did he choose Noah and not my child? I am so grateful that our faith, our God is bigger than any circumstance, that he allows us to know that he has suffered all things in order to be able to comfort us. I am so grateful this family has a faith to cling to and I pray that they continue to see God's faithfulness in the coming weeks, months, years.

There was a candlelight memorial on Wed night and it was so touching to see the communtiy come and show their support. To hear the words of our Lord offered as a comfort. I thought this poem they read was very touching.

I'll lend you for a little while a child of mine God said
For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he's dead
It may be six or seven years or forty two or three
But will you 'til I call him back take care of him for Me
He'll bring his ways to gladden you and should his stay be brief
You'll always have his memories as a solace for your grief
I cannot promise he will stay as all from earth return
But there are lessons taught below that I want you all to learn
I've looked this whole world over in My search for students true
And from the folks that crown life's lane I have chosen you
Now will you give him all your love nor think labour vain
Nor hate Me when I come to take this lent child back again?
I fancied that I heard them say Dear Lord Thy Will be done
For all the joys Thy child will bring the risk of grief we'll run
We'll shelter him with tenderness we'll love him while we may
And just for having loved him forever grateful stay.
Author unknown at this time.

So please pray for the Maloney family as they try to process life without their sweet little boy. Pray for the family whose house the accident happened at, they are devastated as well. Pray for the families at Bailey elementary as their hearts are broken as well and that we may all reach out and be able to comfort and serve them as they try to get back to their new normal. Pray that we enjoy every moment with them and learn from their innocence and sweet laughter. May I always remember that all good gifts come from God, including my children. May we all be able to say "Dear Lord Thy Will be Done" and hear "Well Done Good and Faithful Servant".