Happy Birthday Anna, cont'd!

Processing

I find that when I have a lot going on in my mind I am unable to figure out the words.  I have attempted before to just make a long list of all the random thoughts.  It helps a little bit however, it still lacks all my thoughts. I guess for all the things rambling around in my head I just keep praying, per the advice of a new friend, that the Lord will transform and renew my mind according to His ways.

Trusting the Lord

Oh...I am sooooo behind in my blogging.  However, I had to share this so I don't forget!  Tonight as we were driving home from VBS I asked the girls what was their favorite part of the evening.  Their friend said she liked crafts.  YEAH!  The craft for the evening was making a salvation bracelet.  As we were reviewing what the different colors meant the girls asked their friend when she "trusted the Lord" with her life.  Bless her heart, she wasn't exactly sure what they were talking about however, both of my girls shared some of the following comments during the conversation....

"I trusted the Lord when I was 6 years old."
"I trusted the Lord when I was either 3 or 4 years old."
"I heard a story where a guy trusted the Lord when he turned 20."
"There is a guy who didn't trust the Lord until he was 50 years old."

Talk about a way to warm your heart.  So many people are missing it.  Some of my very good friends and family still don't quite understand.  It makes me so sad.  God is so amazing and desires to "fill your love bucket."  Nothing else can fill it.  You can try with so many other things but it will go empty.  Will you "trust in the Lord"?

Happy Birthday Anna Marie!

Six years ago on June 10 little Anna Marie made her unexpected debut into this world.  We had our weekly appointment in the afternoon and by that evening she was here.  You have brought us so much joy and laughter!  We can't imagine our family and lives without you sweet girl!  Because of some of the uniqueness of our extended family, we have been "celebrating" her birthday over the course of a couple weeks.  Bless her heart, she was a little confused of when exactly her birthday was.  ;) 

The following pictures are from when we celebrated with my mom and dad.  What a sweet, sweet time!  I made dinner (which happened to be one of the best dinners I have made in awhile - Chuckwagon roast, garlic mashed potatoes, rolls, and roasted asparagus) and then mom and dad brought the cake, which surprised all of us with it's yumminess since they got it at Sav-A-Lot!  My mom and dad gave Anna her presents in a older looking duffel bag.  My mom explained that someone had given it to her as a gift.  She used this bag as my diaper bag when I was a baby!  I love it!

My mom and dad also got Anna this magnifying glass.  What is so incredibly precious and sweet about this gift that I wish I could capture was the look on my dad's face.  Both of my parents are so dear to me and tender towards my girls and their interests.  Anna likes collecting bugs, thus the magnifier.  My dad said they looked for a bug book but couldn't find one.  My dad has this priceless face when he is tickled by something.  His eyes all scrunch up and his grin fills his face and he chuckles.  I LOVE IT so much it makes me want to tear up!!  I asked Anna what her magnifying glass was for and she so matter-of-factly replied, "to look at my bugs." 

My mom and I found the Teacher Barbie in her attic.  Who knows how old it is but it is way, way cool!

The girls' last day of school was last Wednesday.  We had had such success with Kate's friends just coming over after school for her birthday I decided to try it for Anna's birthday.  Again, it worked out perfect!  Anna invited 3 friends and Kate invited 1.  Once again, the girls insisted that we pray before we ate our dinner of pizza, veggies/dip, chips/dip, and grapes/strawberries.  During dinner the girls discovered they all came from homes where their mommies and daddies still loved each other and were married.  I was so touched by the preciousness of the moment.  Since the girls started school I have been praying for their friends.  God is so amazingly faithful!  The girls enjoyed some sprinkler fun, dress up, drawing, playing school, and food! 

**I have more to the story and photos but am getting anxious with how long it is taking to get it on here...so this is phase 1!**

{creating}

Thanks to an idea on a blog, I made this skirt for Anna for only $1.  It started like this...

and ended like this...

It wasn't necessarily the best fit but seeing it was my first go at it, not too shabby, especially for $1.

Anna loves, loves, loves skirts!  It is my goal to find some cute tea towels.  The best part of this is the fact it is already hemmed...besides being cheap!

What Time Is It?

The girls and I have made it a tradition to watch High School Musical 2 in the evening of the last day of school.  I seriously love these movies!  YEAH....It's SUMMERTIME!

Where is my head?

Seriously...!!!  I feel like I am losing it!  I have had so many brain farts since last week.  I totally made a meal for a family from church who just recently had a baby.  I look up their address on email and realize I have the wrong date.  So, I know in my mind my night for their dinner is June 7.  Yep, didn't click that was MONDAY, June 7 until last night at 9:37 pm when I was writing out my grocery list.  I was thinking it was supposed to be Wednesday. 

Secondly, Thursday is Anna's birthday.  Bless her heart!  Her birthday gets a little overshadowed with the end of the school year, etc.  I remembered tonight at dinner that I needed a classroom treat when Anna specifically asked if I would bring cupcakes.  YIKES!  I have nothing!  Graciously my father ran to the store to get me rice krispies and butter.  Unfortunately, I just burnt the marshmellows and butter mixture.  UGH!  I hate it when things like this happen because now it will take forever to get my pot clean.  Oh well....

Ideas

Because I have a n
ew hobby of reading blogs I just want to remind you, if you are interested, that I am collecting what I think are reasonably fast, easy, and inexpensive ideas for either sprucing up your home or to give as a gift.  Please notice the tabs....   :)

A Beautiful Weekend

My brother and sister-in-law, John & Jennifer, were home from Wisconsin this past weekend.  On Saturday after some errands we made it home for a break before heading to the farm.  Kate determined she needed to change out of her dress into shorts so that she could wrestle with her Uncle John.  ;)  The girls were beyond elated to spend time with John.  The rest of us barely got to see him or talk with him because they wanted to soak up all his time.  I love, love, love it!!  We got most all the updates on life in Wisconsin from Jennifer!  As always, time spent with family is priceless!

Please meet a newer member of the farm family...Lillypad!

I WON!!

I found this blog Imagination Soup.  It is an exciting blog about math, reading, writing, imagination, poetry, freebies, and so much more.  Please check it out!  I replied to one of the author's posts and won a FREEBIE!  I can't believe it and I am beyond excited...!!!  My prize....

Tears of Joy

I almost decided to forego my volunteering at the school today.  It is Tuesday after a holiday so Scott is home.  We had a busy and jam packed weekend of fun so we are a little tired.  I had to get moving and get my shower, hair, etc. all done.  However, Scott laid back down after pancakes and so I decided to just go do it.  Boy, am I ever so glad!  Mrs. M let me administer some DRA's today (early literacy assessments) on some of the students.  I got to work with "Tobias."  This little guy just melts my heart over and over again.  When I subbed he was seriously the hardest working, most focused student yet he struggles.  When I have had the privilege of working 1:1 with him he gives 200%.  I wish I could capture the true preciousness of this little guy.  In April when Mrs. M had assessed him he was reading a level AA (pre-pre primer).  Today, he went all the way to a level 3 before reaching his frustration level at level 4.  Every time I would tell him his score (94%, 100%) he would, with the greatest and biggest grin, go running to Mrs. M and tell her.  It seriously brought tears to these ol' dry eyes of mine.  What an incredible sense of accomplishment for Mrs. M.  He kept telling me in the hallway, "I just keep trying to tell my brain to read those words."  Mrs. M kissed him on the head like 3 times and said, "I'm not supposed to do that but I can't help it.  I am sooooo proud of you!"  He loved and soaked up every single moment of her praise and adoration.  This is why we become teachers!  These breakthroughs are golden....absolutely golden!  I am so, so, so glad I went to volunteer today....and have decided to go back tomorrow!!