It's almost here!

The sun shines every morning now. Temps are reaching higher and higher... and most of the mounds of snow have melted away. Spring is coming! We had a 67 degree day this week and it's supposed to hit the 60's again today! I can't explain how nice it has been to send the girls outside to blow off a winters worth of steam.

Nope, not a day care... just our deck. :) 

On a side note:  Any tips on getting toddler shoes back to good condition are accepted :) I know some of you are still buried in the newest blizzard - but take heart! Spring is on it's way!

Documenting a Morning.

We are watching a storm blow in!

It started this morning as fog, then a light rain, then the fun stuff. Mini ice balls! 

My girls thought this was the coolest thing, ever. We collected some and I let them eat 'em up - even more cool. Seriously, I'm up for an award for that one. :) 

The hail has now turned into big, fat, fluffy, snowflakes and it's steadily coming down. As most of you already know (and don't roll your eyes), I love it. I love that there is no where to go and nothing to do aside from being home. Warm and cozy. It's a fuzzy slippers and sweat pants kinda day and it was just the thing this tired momma needed. The goobers stayed in their jammies and dress up clothes all morning and I plan to lay them down for naps in exactly the same thing they woke up in. 

As a special snow day treat - my biggest girl and I made Gingersnaps, daddy's favorite cookie!

She loves the hands on activity part and I love the one on one, which she seems to so desperately need... all...the...time. 

Nothing terribly exciting, but a morning to enjoy for sure. So thankful for these children, this warm home, and the little blessings along the way. 

Life on the river... wait, you didn't know we had one?!

It's 51 degrees today in Iowa, so all the snow we've been getting...and getting...and getting has started a slow melt. Normally not a big deal and super exciting to be reminded about what grass looks like, right? That is - until you look into your back yard and admire the small river you've acquired over the course of a few days. And then the panic button sounds as you realize what you just thought... "what a nice river... in our yard?!".

It's our first pre-spring in this new house and so in all honesty we have NO idea what to expect once the real melt down begins. I may have had a mini-freak out thinking this was our septic tank exploding or something. My hubby assures me it's not. {whew!} So, for now we get to enjoy this beautiful river flowing right through the back yard. My 2 year old thinks its the best thing in the world. It certainly compliments the river in our driveway, too! I feel like an island almost.

And what's this I hear? A blizzard coming again this weekend? Well, then we can all go ice skating! :) Ah, life on the river... it's beautiful.

Snowy Saturday - these are the moments I don't want to forget!

In the words of my 5 year old, "This has been a perfect day". She said this at approximately 10:30am, and I couldn't have agreed more! My husband got home very early this morning, and while he is still sick and very tired - just having him home makes us all a little more happy. I think, him, included. On top of daddy's return we had fresh fallen (and still falling) snow and it was a Saturday with no where to go and little to do. Triple decker day! So yes, my Ava girl, a perfect day indeed!

Normally I would make the girls wait until afternoon to head out and enjoy the snow. I'm not keen on going out myself but that's what makes our fenced in yard all the more attractive :) So, I suited up the big girl and out she went even before 9am made it's appearance.

Little sis, who tends to be a little more indoors-y with snow like her mother, preferred to watch from the window.

But one can only handle such a fun temptation for so long... and out she went, also. :) Leaving me with a quiet dining room, camera in one hand, hot coffee in the other - drinking in the sweetness of two sisters enjoying a snowy day together. {and not fighting}

I don't want to forget these days - where its calm over chaos and I can feel the blessings in my life.

WINNER of the giveaway and...let's talk weather.

CONGRATS TO BECKY 

on winning the giveaway this week with this comment : (chosen by random.org)

 becky said...

Letters to Pastors Wives. Because, well...I'm a pastors wife and can use all the help, guidance and wisdom I can get. Aside from that, this other very godly mother/pastors wife whom I admire recommended it to me. It woould be fun to win...thanks Mandi, and Happy New Year! Looks like God has some exciting things in store for you and your family this year! Thanks for being a blessing to me...even over all the miles! <3 i="">

Becky, your book will be shipped out next week, congrats again! Thank you to everyone for joining in the 2014 fun! Hoping to do more giveaways in the future :) 

Now, I don't know what it feels like where you live, but here in Iowa it is bitter, bitter, cold. I think last night it was -6 and I can hear our heater run and run. Wow, what a blessing when you stop to think about how important a warm home is. And beds, clothes, coats, etc. Trying to hard to teach my children to be thankful even for those things! 

We have been sticking close to home as its really too cold to go anywhere, but lastnight we ventured out as a family to the mall. The girls had some cabin fever and I had some Christmas money to spend :) I think several families must have had the same idea because even at 7pm the playplace still had several kids in it! 

I learned a lesson about myself - I'm not stylish. I purchased some of those tall boots that you see everyone wearing... you know, cute, tall, sleek. Only, I got home to realize in order to wear cute boots you have to have cute clothes to wear with them. I'm not a leggings, long sweaters, etc. kinda girl - more, jeans and cardigans. At first I was discouraged but came to realize that this is OK. It's ok to not dress and look like everyone else. I tell ya, even at 31 years old I still go through these "high school" phases of thought. Perhaps a life long battle? So, back to the mall we will go today to make another return. It was fun to pretend...but this momma needs something much more practical. :)

Stay warm out there today! And have a wonderful weekend! 

The Clouds

I kind of already hinted at this in my post about autumn weather, but, I'm a show and tell kind of gal so I thought I'd share what I got to see. What you need to understand is that it has been HOT here for months without any rain - and really, little to no cloudage. So the other night as these babies rolled in I was one excited nerd. :) The girls and I sat on the front porch and enjoyed the wind picking up, swirling all around us.

 They almost looked like a water color painting. So beautiful.

Amazing. So thankful for those moments. :)

In the Beginning...of September.

If you were awake around 6:30am {central time} yesterday morning, you would have seen the most amazing sunrise. The first cool night and rain in awhile had come and the early morning clouds were just starting to part and mist away.

I had so many psalms running through my head as I snapped shot after shot. I'm still not good with this wonderful camera...but, I still enjoy trying.

 These pink and purple clouds, what an amazing creator! 

September came in like a sigh, just as it should. The weather has cooled off, the sky is piercing blue, and the porch swing is all the more inviting. :)

Happy September!

The Storm

 

Needless to say, the weather has been crazy. With tornado activity covering a lot of the mid and southwest so many families have been affected or at the least scared. 

Self included. 

Our hearts are heavy for the loved ones left behind in Moore, OK. I have family in that state and I cannot imagine that pain. 

But even in the hard and painful moments - there is beauty. The Lord has a plan in even this. 

I took a few moments last night to catch some quick shots after the rain and "rotation" clouds went away. It was cold and creepy still. But so pretty. I could not believe the oranges and purples that I saw. The camera didn't even do it justice! Amazing.

Spring Time has come.

Hello Mr. Robin!

It may have taken a-while, but Spring made it. The temps are warmer, the birds are chirping, and leaves are starting to grow on our trees! 

We spent the morning yesterday enjoying God's creation on one of our local bike trails. We don't have bikes - but we have legs! So we loaded up a cooler full of picnic lunch stuffs, packed the stroller, laced up our tennis shoes and out the door we went. 

It was a PERFECT Spring day! 

After walking the trail for a bit we stopped and had a picnic lunch right here. 

Bugs buzzing, sun shining, just wonderful. 

Attempted a few family pics with the timer...

Attempt #1 - with the little telling me "tamera beeping"

Well, not bad for the second take!

And, most of all just enjoyed being outside! 

It was nice to get some exercise, too. 

While on the trail I found this crazy tree covered in huge, thick, thorns. I'm intrigued and hope to find out more about it. Can you imagine stumbling into this thing?

Anyone know anything about it? Crazy! 

From my home to yours... Happy Spring!

Beauty.

I tip toed out while the snow was falling in hopes I would find something like this.

Simple beauty. 

I seem to want it more and more these days. 

Beauty. 

Now mind you, most don't think snow on the 2nd day of May is much to write home about.

And maybe I'm not all that thrilled, myself.

But, you can't deny how beautiful it is to watch it melt on warm Spring flowers. 

Or how the water drops collect on the now closed tulip. 

Because even when eveything around us seems ugly and hostile and harsh...

we can still find the beauty. 

It is there.

HE, the creator of all beauty, is there. 

May blessings to you today, friend. 

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 

Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

 

Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

 

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

 

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You."

Psalm 51:7-13