Bird Nerd

Ok, I think I've officially become a nerd. I bought a bird feeder. (Not sure if that makes me a nerd or not, but it kinda feels like it somehow) But I did it for my kids...sort of. For some reason, they both freak out when they see birds, in a good way. The highlight of Tirzah's summer last year was the seagulls at the beach, and Merrick gets really mad if I don't hold him up so he can see the birds out our back window.

So Saturday we noticed a whole flock (I suppose?) of Blue Jays, Cardinals, and a few woodpeckers out our back door. They were really pretty, and I caught myself thinking "so this is why people watch birds". Anyway, we decided that these guys needed some food, in hopes they might stick around a bit. So the "bird foods" as Merrick calls it is up in the tree out back...we'll see if the birds will eat my cooking. My kids sure won't. ;)

Check out more shots at Trendy Treehouse and Sweet Shot

Because we're worth it.

I've been learning so much lately. So much I'm not really sure how to put it into words. It's still  in the "floating around in my head" stage, ya know? The stage where you're trying to live by it, but you're not used to this new habit yet. I'm trying to make new habits, but some old ones are hard to break in the process of those new, better-for-your-soul habits.One habit in particular I'm trying to break is the life-long habit of being way critical of myself...in every way, and learning to realize that loving God and the people around me is way more time-worthy than obsessing over things about myself I don't like and letting it ruin my attitude.

It's not an excuse to be lazy, but it's the realization that I don't have to be perfect. Perfection is not gonna happen, but I'll be the best I can be with God's help. I know I can't make changes on my own. Seriously, only God is going to help me break a cycle that I don't want to see my kids have to deal with, and particularly my daughter. We women are so critical of so much about ourselves. I want her to see the beauty God has given her, and to be comfortable in that. She's worth it. I'm learning that I am, too.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. / Matthew 13:44-45

Frenemies

My kids really love each other. I promise. And I really love them, and wouldn't trade them for anything. Consider that my disclaimer before I launch into this detailed description of why siblings have an unhealthy effect on their mothers. ;)

1). The more the merrier? The more the messier. You'd think common sense would tell you that adding one child to your already one child would double the mess. Nope. For some reason a mathmetician would need to figure out for me, the mess seems to triple. Those babies know how to trash a house. Take away all their toys, and they would probably just peel the paint off the walls. In other news, we are really interested in adoption...so would adding another one increase the mess by eight times? Or twenty-five? Like I said...mathematician.

2.) Little siblings = big pain in the butt. Don't get me wrong, I'm from a family of six children. Wouldn't change a thing about my growing up...except my five siblings. Kidding, kidding.They are some of my best friends...but there were times when I was younger, and yesterday, when I weighed the consequences of jail time vs. what I really want to do to my younger siblings. We all survived; I have the scars to show for it. But all kidding aside, big families are awesome. Just not for the faint of heart, or the lovers of quiet. (Meh, quiet is overrated anyway.) And we are kind of like a pack of wolves...you mess with one you have 5 angry siblings to deal with. It has it's perks. ;)

3.) Tattling. 'Nough said. I do not like hearing who stole whose chicken nugget or that Tirzah smells like poop or the clinical explanation for why exactly it is that Merrick's life depends on having that particular item that is in Tirzah's little fingers. (Trust me...you'd have better luck extracting yourself from the jaws of an alligator than getting that toy from her, son. Just move on) I usually calmly (as in while I pull out my hair) take said toy and throw it into the black hole of "your sibling is more important than that toy", and so are my eardrums. In all seriousness (is seriousness ever the case on this blog?) I want them to learn that people are more important than things, so if that toy is more important than your little sister, kiss it goodbye kiddo. Jesus did not say, "Love your neighbor as yourself until he takes your baby doll. Then, you can pull his hair until he screams." I do think He said "peace, be still." But so far that just hasn't work for me.







But, man, they're so stinkin cute. Even if I have lost most of the hearing in my left ear, and can't feel my right big toe after stepping on the plastic chick-fil-a cow they were just fighting over.
























 

Check out more shots at The Paper Mama.

(That last shot is my pick for this week.)

So Good.

When it's dark and it's cold
And I can't feel my soul
You are so good...

When the world has gone gray
And the rain's here to stay
You are still good...

So with every breath I take in
I'll tell You I am grateful again
And the storm my swell
Even then it's well, and You are good...

I'll sing You a love song
It's all that I have
To tell You I'm grateful
For holding my life in Your Hands... / Nichole Nordeman

We had a bit of ice this morning. It coated everything in a bit of sparkle. It's no Spring, but it seemed to add a bit of color to my surroundings. Sometimes there is so much beauty in the waiting...

Check out more shots at YouCapture. The theme this week was circles...out of which box I strayed far and did bokeh circles. ;)

Celebratory Happy Meal

I'm sure I've said many times that we've all been sick recently. Can you tell I'm an awful sick person? I never get sick, so when I do I'm a whiner.

I got the flu late Wednesday night, and will always remember that night as the night I nearly died puking. I seriously thought I was going to die on the bathroom floor, and no one would know. My hubs slept through the whole thing. No, I wasn't bitter or anything. ;)

Thankfully I lived, and also apparently diluted the flu for the rest of the family...who each had it progressively lighter. What are Moms for right? ;) Anytime guys. Thankfully we are doing better now, and in honor of eating again after three days of saltines and water we all had McD's. I think I ate enough to make up for those three days. Glad to be feeling better, and hoping the germs will give us a break for a little bit.

Check out more shots at Trendy Treehouse, and Sweet Shot

(The last shot is my pick for the week.)