Beach Life

The week at the beach was restful, refreshing and fun.  The photos in this post are from my collection - plan on sharing some from Greg's stash in another post.

Day one found the boys digging on the shore and playing in big holes.

It concluded with a long walk on the beach with those who had gathered so far.  Family and a close friend rolled in like the tide, nice and easy.

I was blessed to watch the sun rise over the ocean each morning we were there.  I took special pleasure in these quiet beginnings.

Kite flying was especially fun for the boys.  The breeze was great and made it easy.

The boogie boards were put to use almost each day.

And the ocean, sand and a shovel are still really all we need to have good times at the beach.

Ice Day...Time to Post

 

The title of the post has nothing to do with the pictures I have to share.  Nathan hasn't yet uploaded the ones we took on our icy walk yesterday, but I will try to share them when I can.  However, because we are iced in, and there is no school, I am blessed with a little extra time for blogging.

I am not sure where this photo was taken...he is wearing his school uniform but I can't quite identify the location.  Hhmmm...but I like the picture because it's just "Nathan."  He often gazes up in thought, giving us that big smile.  Those bright, warm eyes cheer us all.  And the toothy grin shows our stage of life.

 Last Wednesday, I accompanied Mark's' Kindergarten class on a field trip to the children's theater.  We had such fun watching the performance! It was very well done, and the content gave me food for thought about how children handle change and express feelings.

This one was taken yesterday morning, about 7:30 am.  The kids woke up to a mix of snow and ice, with an emphasis on ice.  That didn't deter them from wanting to explore. They began asking to go out about 6:30 am. We fended them off with breakfast and "wait, wait" as long as we could, and then they set a new family record for getting on coats, hats, gloves and boots.  I thought they would fly out the door they were moving so fast!

And this is a photo from this morning.  A friend recently gave me the most delicious black tea.  It comes in sachets that make two cups at a time, so I have been brewing a pot in the morning.  Today, Greg and I shared a cup in our wedding china.  We used a tea pot also given to me as a wedding gift.  And the bread machine is humming along making a loaf of oatmeal bread, a new recipe.  Hoping it will be well-received by the family later today.

Photos for Sharing

Here are some photos from the past few months...enjoy!

After-Christmas celebration

Greg and Nathan on a day hike

Nathan playing for Illinois

 Action shot

Mark playing for Kansas State

Post-Game

Mark on 100th Day of School

ROY G. BIV

The boys got in the car yesterday after school, and the first thing Mark says is, "Mom, you should have taught me about Roy G. Biv!  All the other kids knew about him, but I didn't. I  know why...I bet it's because they all went to preschool.  I should have gone to preschool so I would know it, too!"

I paused, then asked, "Well, did you learn about him today?  Do you understand the colors of the rainbow now?" 

"Yes," he answered.

"Well then, Mark, I guess it's okay that you didn't go to preschool to learn that.  You learned it today."

Oh, my.  Dear Mark and Nathan, I hope one day you will remember just a little bit of what we did when you didn't go to preschool.   Remember making "magic mud" and homemade play-doh?  Remember going to the park more times than we can count?  Remember helping me at the grocery store?  Remember volunteering together?  Remember visiting the library and reading book after book after book after book...?  Remember playing on the floor with bristle blocks and your big firetruck?  Remember having your friends and their mothers come over and having special snacks and being prayed over at the same time?  Remember "swinging up high in the air together?" 

Obviously, I could go on and on.  I know I was blessed by those days at home together.  And you were, too.  I love you, boys.

One Fine Day

Quick notes from a wonderful Tuesday with kids home from school:

• baked bread and granola in the morning
• boys played together and on their own
• Mark built a rocket
• Nathan did some computer "work"
• visited the library for a nice, long time
• went in the red caboose afterward for some play time
• came home and read books
• sent boys out to play basketball and with the dog
• visited with a friend in the afternoon
• enjoyed a meal from my own freezer for dinner

 End result: a relaxed, happy wife and mama.

Basketball Season

I am enjoying such a fun season of life with Greg and the boys.  Now that they are both a little older, we are exploring sports options.  Neither boy has ever played on a basketball team before, but both wanted to do it this winter.  It has been a great thing so far!  They are both loving the game and are having fun practicing in the driveway at home.  It's a joy to watch them be persistent and get better at different skills.  

For me, my "season" isn't defined by a sport (although I am still running a little bit for exercise and stress relief) but rather by the routines of life.  This year, I promised myself and God that I would enjoy the rhythms of daily living, moving forward with joy and appreciation for where we are as a family.  

I am establishing more routines for myself as I am working and taking care of our home.  I am learning to set limits around how I spend time, so I can reduce stress and be more productive during the week. 

My words for the year are TIDY and TIMELY.  I sense that God wants me to pursue them in both the practical and spiritual aspects of my life.  

I want to focus on keeping our home TIDY by having a set time each day when we all straighten things up.  I want to keep the family's meals and schedule TIDY by planning ahead.  I want to encourage the boys to keep their own rooms TIDY so they know where their things are when they need them.  

Spiritually, I want to keep a TIDY heart.  I want to stay clean before God by confessing sin daily and seeking His cleansing presence.  I want to be aware of the "weeds" that creep up in my life...jealousy, selfishness, harshness, impatience...to name a few...and to regularly ask God to take them out and replace them with something beautiful.

I want to focus on being TIMELY in terms of how I use the hours of each day.  I am setting aside time with God and time for exercise in the mornings.  I am working on doing things on a schedule so I can meet deadlines and be free to say "yes" as I am truly available.  I want to encourage the boys to be TIMELY by getting to school on time and working as a team to leave the house together.

Spiritually, I want to be TIMELY with my words, waiting until the right time to speak.  I want to live in recognition of God's perfect timing for my life.  I want to be TIMELY in my relationships, looking for opportunities to invest and share.

Lastly, I am committed anew to seeking Christ's glory.  This is incredibly freeing, as there have been many times when I have felt very bound by what I want or think I deserve, or by negative feelings that I have allowed to become such a habit that I have believed they really do define me.  Praise God for His power to change me.

20 Questions

What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?

I became an independent contractor this year, and began doing some contract grant writing for the agency I worked for prior to having children.
 
Did you accomplish any goals in 2014?

I completed two half-marathons this year; the Corporate Cup in March, and the Thunder Road in November - both in Charlotte, NC.

What cities did you visit?

Cheraw, SC
Natchitoches, LA
New Orleans, LA
Ridgecrest, NC
Asheville, NC
Blowing Rock, NC
Garden City Beach, SC

What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?

I would like to have overflowing joy on a consistent basis. I would also like to have a better handle on managing the resource of time.

What date from 2014 will remain etched in your memory, and why?

August 20 - Mark's first day of Kindergarten and my first day having both of my children in school.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

My biggest achievement of the year was successfully launching Mark into full-day Kindergarten, while learning to balance part-time work with responsibilities at home.
 
What was your biggest failure?

My biggest failure was allowing the sins of jealousy and bitterness to continue to entangle me in some ways.


What was the best thing you purchased last year?

Our family purchased an air purifier to address the issue of doggy odor, and it has been very effective at refreshing our living room!  

What did you spend the majority of your time doing?

Investing in people - my children, my husband, and my friends.

What did you get really excited about?

I got very excited about training for the half-marathons this year, mainly because I was able to do so with some wonderful girlfriends.    I also got excited about sharing my faith (along with food and some cultural traditions) with a friend from another culture.

Compared to this time last year, I am _____.

Less anxious and more organized.

What do you wish you'd done more of?

Praying and reading of good books.  Enjoying what I have in life.  Also, simplifying things in our home.

What do you wish you'd done less of?

Comparing of myself to others, worrying about anything, and looking backward instead of forward.


What was your favorite TV show?

Downton Abbey

What was your favorite music from this year?

Sovereign Grace

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I visited New Orleans, LA with Greg.  We did some sightseeing on the cheap and ate a delicious dinner.  We stayed in a beautiful hotel and enjoyed a lovely view of the city skyline from the hotel's rooftop.  I turned 37 this year.
 
What was one thing that made 2014 satisfying?

Making new friendships and spending quality time with my family.
 
What was your favorite thing to wear in 2014?

A new pair of athletic shorts that the boys gave me for my birthday.

What brought you joy in 2014?

Camping and kayaking with Greg, Nathan and Mark
Going on dates with Greg
Watching the boys swim
Spending time with my sisters
Watching the children develop their talents and build friendships
Meaningful visits with our extended family
The beach and the mountains  
Listening to The Messiah


What are a few things you learned in 2014?

I learned how to use a bread machine.
I learned how to make Japanese pancakes.
I learned about Evernote as a task management system.
I learned the value of a meal plan.
I learned to be more objective and fair when disciplining the children.
I learned to laugh at myself more often.
"Others First."
"Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened."