6 years old

I always like to catch a good giggle.

*sigh* 

How did she get so big?

 

One years old

We did a Katie's Birthday/Valentines Day photo shoot.

 We had such a sweet little model...

 Though she was pretty wiggly...

 If you take enough pictures, sometimes you get lucky...

 And catch some glimpses of the real girl.

Lovely work, Matthew!

Happy Birthday Mr. Dickens!

One of my favorite authors has a big birthday today.

Charles Dickens 200th 

Did you know he saved Christmas?  Those of us who love Christmas have much to thank him for.

I don't know how we'll celebrate.  (Pinterest had no suggestions!)

I spent one winter pre-kiddos reading lots and lots of Dickens.

My favorite is Our Mutual Friend.



You should read it.

Happy Birthday Katie!

  

 Thanks for a wonderful year.

Groundhog Day

I love Groundhog Day.  I love love love a silly holiday.

pic stolen from www.groundhog.org

I'm conflicted, because as a good farmer's wife, I need to hope for 6 more weeks of a nice wet winter, but as someone who doesn't love the cold, I do eagerly await the Spring.

This year I'm definitely hoping for the snow.  Drought smought.



We're having pigs in a blanket for dinner (is that a stretch?  I think it works) and I'm hoping we can work on this crossword together.

Happy Groundhog day!  (And Happy Birthday Sweet Clementine!)

Treasure

Want to see a real treasure?

 When we had Streit Christmas, Uncle Chuck brought an envelope full of letters and cards from Mom to Grandma Anna.

Nice, newsy letters, from young Betsy years to young Susan years to young Abby years.

 Seeing her handwriting and hearing her voice in my head has been a delight.

There were even two cards from my Grandma Madge to my Grandma Anna.  She said I was "sweet as sugar".  It takes my breath away, to remember how much love I've been blessed with.

Happy Kansas Day!

It was yesterday-but surely states deserve a Birthday Week just as much as the rest of us!

We had an incredible sunset here.  I just enjoyed it, didn't take any pictures of it.

Here's a super-tough KS day quiz.  

Good Luck!

Controversy = Comments

You know what I learned yesterday?  Controversy = comments.  And I like comments.

So...remember that Jesus video from last week?

Here's a rapping priest.

Happy Friday!  Comment away!  :)

Only...actually...yesterday everyone pretty much agreed with me and left nice comments.  so...maybe this is a bad idea...I"m nervous.

Controversy!

Not really that controversial, really.

Last week it seemed like everyone I knew liked this article about Motherhood.  Because so many people loved it, I know it really struck a chord-and I don't want to say that it was a bad article, or that people who liked it are bad and wrong.  And it could well be that I read it in a certain kind of mood and that is the problem.  I just have another idea-which can probably coexist.  

I liked the part at the end about Chronos time and Kairos time ( A LOT!), but I have some different thoughts about the rest of it. Not better thoughts.  Just different ones.

What if, when people who are older stop us in the store and tell us to enjoy every minute (which has never happened to me, by the way-am I scary looking?), what if it's not that they have forgotten how hard it is, but that they actually KNOW, better than we do, that this IS the best time of our life?  I hate to discount the wisdom of age, especially when it's a stranger, seeking me out, to tell me something wonderful.  I'd rather believe they know what they're talking about.

"Be happy, it's one way of being wise." -- Colette

And even though an all night puke fest is no picnic-what a gift of service, what a blessing of work. And maybe I can try to choose joy, and keep choosing it.  And when things are awful and terrible and icky and hard to bear, I can offer all of that up to heaven.

"The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions, and not on our circumstances.  We carry the seeds of one or the other about with us in our minds wherever we go."  --Martha Washington

Please don't think I do this well!  or often! (And feel free to smugly remind me of this when I stub my toe or spend any amount of time on the phone with customer service). It's just something I think about.  And then I read this article--maybe the problem is that we don't have ENOUGH children!  ;D

***EDIT***  Here's a post that has the same idea, but presented eloquently.  Via Clover Lane, one of my new favorites.  Thanks, Sarah, for the tip!

Cleaning Things

 

This year my January rampage hit the kitchen.  

 Looking at these clean cupboards makes me feel ridiculously happy.  

That's why I took pictures.  So I could look and smile and sigh.  

I love clean things.  :)

St. Francis de Sales

"Be who you are and be that well"

One of my resolutions for the year was to learn more about the Saints.  I decided we would do that by choosing a Saint each month and learning about him or her, what they did and taught, how they lived, etc.

.

"Be patient with everyone, but above all with thyself.  Do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage."

St. Francis de Sales is our January Saint, and today is his feast day.  St. Francis de Sales died in 1622 and is the patron of attorneys and educators and writers and the deaf.  He wrote Introduction to the Devout Life-which you can find for free! here in print and here as an audio version (read by a nice lady, not a machine.  I'm going to listen next week.)  Here's a nice (long) biography.  

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness.  Nothing so gentle as real strength."  

We've been reading this book
and really enjoying it.  It's very simple, practical, common sense advice and encouragement for living.

You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; and just so you learn to love God and man by loving.  Begin as a mere apprentice and the very power of love will lead you on to become a master of the art.  

He's said so many things that I've loved for a long time that I never knew came from him.

"Bloom where you are planted."

That was one of my Mom's favorite sayings.  He said that!  I'm hoping that today I will have the chance to plant a little something with the girls and talk about that-blooming where we are planted.  Such a lovely image.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow.  The same loving Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and everyday.  Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.  Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.  

Thank you St. Francis de Sales, for your example and wisdom!  Happy Feast Day!

Sociolinguistica

My new class started last week.  This is the super scary textbook.



This semester I have this class and I turn in my portfolio-my culminating activity for this Master's Degree.

As usual, I'm a panicky mess because it's the beginning of the semester and it's going to be really hard and I'm not going to have enough time and, and, and...

But I'm so close!  I have this semester and one next summer and that's all.

What will I do with all that time?  I have an idea...

Rejuvenate!

My dear friend Chelsea is hosting a year long blog series:  52 Weeks to a Rejuvenated Spirit.  

Join me on a year long journey to rejuvenate your spirit and relationships.

Follow my blog and receive weekly tips on how to change your life and your relationships from the inside out.

The economy may be depressed, but our spirits don't have to be.

Find out how to mentally, emotionally & spiritually recharge yourself one step at a time.             

www.TheSpiritOfTherapy.com                    Chelsea E. Brandenburg, LMFT

*Photography by Beth Mercer

Twisted Laundry

Help a girl out?

Every other time I was overalls, the hook gets caught on the lint trap and the entire load of laundry twists itself into a tight ball of wet clothes.  

What am I doing wrong?

Time for Christmas

At the beginning of December I was feeling rushed and overwhelmed and I wished for "Time" for Christmas.

Then, the week before Christmas, we got two snow days, and I got my wish.  It was delightful.  I didn't leave the house for a week and had time to make lots of  little presents for my family.

A camera case for Abby from an old sweater sleeve.

 Complete with a button I made myself!  I think I was using up the leftovers from a Sculpey project one day.

Hair Bows for Anna from some pretty bows I had been saving.

 But they fell apart right away so I need to rethink the barrette attachment...

A frame for Susan and Steven from the envelopes from their wedding.  I think it's fun to see all the familiar handwriting.

This funny little thing was from an earlier FAIL.  I was trying to make a pom pom from an old t-shirt.  It didn't work but then I put the pieces into a baby food jar and added googly eyes and it made me laugh.

I also made my Dad some hanging towels for the kitchen, and Anna made some ornaments, but I guess we didn't take pictures of those.

Time is the best gift of all.

I love January

The best thing about January?

I saw these plastic boxes on sale for $2, and I knew I wanted one, but I wasn't sure why yet.

Then I saw this on Pinterest.



And then I made my own.

And then-because it's January-I cleaned that yicky area behind the wooden screen.

It's yicky because usually I only clean JUST enough to keep me un-cranky.

But in January-extra bonus motivation comes from nowhere, and then cleaning yicky spaces is actually fun.

And THAT's the best thing about January.

Closet Cleaning

Yesterday MJL gave me such a wonderful January gift.

He cleaned out his closet with me.

2.5 bags, 2 boxes ready to go to someone who needs them more than us.

(And yes, that's my pink tree.  It's staying up through Valentines Day.  Because it's pink and pretty and MJL loves [and humors] me.)

When we feel guilty about disappointing our children.

"How we deal with the big disappointments in life depends a great deal on how the people who loved us helped us deal with smaller disappointments when we were little."

--Mr. Rogers

When we feel guilty about saying no to activities.

"One thing is certain:  Children need lots of free, quiet time to get used to all that's developing within them.  Have you noticed that unhurried time by yourself or with someone you really trust can be the best setting for your own personal growth?  It's no different for children."
--Mr. Rogers

When we feel guilty about taking time to do what WE want to do.

"If you like to make things out of wood, or sew, or dance, or style people's hair, or dream up stories and act them out, or play the trumpet, or jump rope, or whatever you really love to do, and you love that in front of your children, that's going to be a far more important gift than anything you could ever give them wrapped up in a box with ribbons.  And what's more:  The last thing in the world you have to be is perfect at it.   It's the spirit that gives that kind of gift its wings."

--Mr. Rogers

When we feel guilty about not doing enough.

"Start by making your own home a place where happiness and love abound, through your love for each member of your family and for your neighbour.  Try to put in the hearts of your children a love for home.  Make them long to be with their families.  So much sin could be avoided if our people really love their homes. 

Mother Theresa

Pedaling for Environmental Education

My friend Lindsay, from KSU Rowing days, is biking across the USA.  And blogging about it here.  And stopping at my house!!!

Follow along!

Pedaling for Environmental Education

2012

Resolutions:

1.  Focus on enjoying my time with the people I am blessed with.
2.  Forget about "shoulds" that are really not important.  Do not waste energy and time feeling guilty about ridiculous things.
3.  Learn some more about the Saints
4.  Pray daily and more.  Remember that something is better than nothing.  Use the moments I can find.
5.  Use my snippets of free time to do what I actually want to do.  Make things instead of reading about making things on the internet.
6.  Finish my Master's degree!  :)

Oh- and I want to make this too-hopefully in the month of January.

Pic and link  from Creating Clever via Craftzine

And-I would really like to make something each month-just a small seasonal thing-because that makes me happy-but I've got to remember that it should be fun-and not actually "necessary" or "important".

Declutter 2012

Always in search of better organization and less clutter-here's a daily calendar I'm probably going to follow diligently for 2 weeks and then forget about.  But for two weeks...!

My Simpler Life

Good luck!

It's true

This made me cry today.  Babies talking about baby Jesus-too sweet.

Merry Christmas!

A Neighborly Christmas

Our almost-niece Jenna introduced us to the band Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors and we're hooked.

It's one of the Christmas Albums on heavy rotation this year.

A Neighborly Christmas

Joy

Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. — Henri Nouwen


Have you been looking at the Busted Halo Advent Calendar?  It's been fun.  

Fun from the Craft World

I've not been looking at my craft blogs lately, because there's no time and sometimes I feel overwhelmed with ideas and no time to see anything through. But tonight I played a little and look what I found.

1. They are going to have a Crafting reality show. I can hardly wait.

2.  This website makes me laugh a lot.  I especially like the one about stepping on a pin.

3.  There are too many wonderful things on the internet and too little time.  I'm off to go work on a real project now.  (But I should be off to bed)

Junior Show Choir

Eternal Gifts

A new favorite Christmas song this year.

(The video has mostly pictures of Leigh Nash, so you might want to just listen while doing other things)

Eternal Gifts

Santa knows what I want for Christmas
but Jesus knows what I need
it can't be purchased wrapped up and placed
under an 8 foot tree

I need patience, kindness - virtues like these
to bend on my knee at the manger

Santa may bring these that last for a year
but eternal gifts come from the Savior

some days come where I'm plain selfish
I can't think of no one but me
then I think of all that I'm blessed with
and how it's always best to give than to receive

I need faithfulness, love, generosity
to open my home to a stranger

Santa may bring things that last for a year
but eternal gifts come from the Savior

I need patience, kindness, generosity
to bend on my knee at the manger

Santa may bring things that last for a year
but eternal gifts come from the Savior

Santa knows what I want for Christmas
but Jesus knows what I need

Katie Giggles

After an escape, Katie enjoys being followed. Sorry for the shaky camera. It's hard to crawl and film!

Katie Escapes 2

This one is quite impressive. It took about 17 minutes (don't worry, the video's not that long). I sped up some of the footage and took some out. I think what's left is entertaining, but I won't be offended if that's just my Mommy bias and you're bored to bits. (But you don't have to tell me so).

Katie's Escapes: 1

It's a constant battle to keep Katie contained.

She is beating us more and more these days.

Thy children will swell the cry!

Another perk of the Rowing Reunion was that Katie and Anna got to go to their first game!It was really fun. Anna wondered when Willie would get to play.

She learned to do the Wabash and sing the Fight Song and Eat 'em up, Eat 'em up, KSU!

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Go Cats!

K-State Rowing Reunion at the Game!

KSU Rowing Reunion 2011

Remember Labor Day Weekend? I went to Manhattan for the Rowing Reunion! Here are some pictures.With my Ford Hall roomie and rowing buddy Laura-in the amazing team center that they have out at the boathouse. With lockers! And showers! And a training room! And bathrooms!

It was fun to show Anna the boats. I'd never mentioned rowing to her-pretty foreign for a little farm girl.
I got to see Maggie! That was wonderful wonderful. I love that girl.

(I couldn't help but wear workout clothes to the boathouse-couldn't shake the feeling that I might end up running up and down the hill, which is paved now, by the way!).

Here are some of the "Hale Era" rowers-but not all of them. It was great to see these girls again.
Maggie and I got oars! Someday the basement will be all done and I think this will look super cool on the wall.

A bit more tomorrow. :)

Pinterest

I know it's old news, but I just finally got the chance to play around on Pinterest.

It's pretty fun.

I transferred all of my links (250+) from delicious and sorted them all into boards. I like it because I can see all of the projects, which hopefully will help me remember what I wanted to do. I also really like how easy it is to pin things-just add the "pin it" button to your bookmarks bar and you're set!

Here I am - if you're interested.

Fair warning--don't start playing if you're busy!

"after the wedding"

Today begins a magical time---I don't think there's a single person in my life who hasn't been put off with the phrase-"after the wedding". (Now Sus, don't feel bad-I loved helping make your day lovely and special) Here's a partial list of the things I'm now going to do:

1. Teach Anna to crochet.

2. Go to a Bible Study with one of the teachers from school.

3. Finish my class!

4. Put away the Halloween stuff.

5. See Katrina.

6. Call Chelsea back.

7. Play around on Pinterest.

8. Make Spencer's Quilt!

9. Get out Katie's next size of clothes.

10. Buy some pants that fit.

11. Change the battery in the smoke detector in my office so it quits that INFERNAL BEEPING!

The nice thing about being really busy is that normal busy all of a sudden feels luxurious. Aaahhh...

Wedding Week Countdown...1!

Tomorrow... Yay for Susan and Steven. And Go Cats!

(And who took all these lovely photos? This guy)

Wedding Week Countdown...2!

2 days until English majors outnumber the rest of us.

Wedding Week Countdown...3!

This year our Thanksgiving bracket will have 7 players! 3 days...

Wedding Week Countdown...4!

4 days until I get a new brother!