My cup overfloweth! (pun intended)

It was Wednesday afternoon, exactly one day before leaving for Ohio to attend the homeschool convention, which I was sure was going to solve all of my parenting and homeschooling woes. A lot to do and so little time to get it done. Nate and Gracie had to be at practice at the same time (of course 2 different places at one time), then pick each one up at the same time to quick rush them to church then run back home to get packed and 5 million other loose ends to tie up before the next day. So typical for me. My head was spinning!

I realized that Nate did not have the "necessary" baseball equipment, well, let me back up, we had already been to the sporting goods store earlier that day....trying to find this "necessary" item but to no avail. I was pinched for time and overwhelmed with the choices. Many shapes, sizes and styles. I paced back and forth between the aisles and then just went for it. Did I mention that I was pinched for time??? I asked the college-age salesman....which "one" is the most comfortable? (don't judge me).........I was desperate people!!!! I believe my children could have disowned me in that moment.

Fast forward to 5pm, the aforementioned item does not fit and apparently, according to my boys, I had bought the "necessary" equipment that might fit Shaquile O'Neal. Soooo knowing that he had to be at practice by 6pm, I said to the kids, "hop in the car" we are running back to Dick's Sporting Goods to get the proper size. I run out to the car to see my kids looking at me with fear in their eyes....."what...what....ohhhh noooooo"......"are you serious....really?" One of my sweet, precious, children had started the car with the remote start and left the keys in the car which locks automatically! I thought I was gonna looooooose it! I walked away.....knowing that if I didn't I would not be saying loving things to this child. I turned around after somewhat getting control of my anger and saw all 4 of my kids frantically working on the car with every type of plumbing paraphernalia they could find. Thankfully, we had a vented window on the side that was open. I couldn't help myself but laugh at the site of them all working on this window. I resolved that there was absolutely nothing I could do at this point but make it a picture moment and jump in to help with this predicament. After about 20 min. and 5 scratches on the car, I was able to hit the button that puts the windows down and retrieve the keys. Yeah! One catastrophe solved.....onward we went....back to the store to solve the previous mentioned dilemma!

"yup, they are in there...I can see the keys, mommy!"

discussing how they were going to go about this

trying with a coat hanger first....

the scratches that came from the various implements used

that is a piece of copper pipe....is that a problem?

working together....Robbie guiding him on how close he is to the button.

What's growing in your garden?

We have been so blessed to have some absolutely beautiful weekends to enjoy outside. Bob loves to do anything outside...he gets in a mode where he just can knock out all kinds of projects and fun things and has the kids join him. I'm not sure where he gets all the energy....I sure could use a little scoop of it!

Anyway, he got up one particular morning and gathered up the kids and headed out to Lowes for all the supplies he would need to make a greenhouse. I think he gets almost as excited as the kids do. They returned and worked on the greenhouse for a little while and then started planting their seeds. They planted sunflowers, watermelons, carrots, and an assortment of all kinds of flowers. They had so much fun! As I snapped some pics of them planting I was disturbed by the fact that I wasn't into it....I mean...I had great joy watching them have a great ol' time but it certainly didn't look fun to me.

Ya see, I really don't like the whole "planting seed thing"....I like the finished product. So, in other words, if I am gonna plant anything I am gonna go buy flowers that are blooming....and bushes with flowers that are budding....I need to see something to make me feel good about the work put into it. With seeds, there is no instant return....you have to wait and hope that they take root. After all, they might not have been planted with enough water or the soil could have had too many rocks or weeds in it and then once it grows a little it's then transferred to a bigger pot or a bigger area of ground and will it take then.. or will it wither and die?! I seem to think sometimes it's too risky....why not go get something more stable and pretty and just plant that...something where all the work is already done for you and you just get to enjoy the beauty of someone else's hard work.....sounds good to me. Instant gratification.....baby, that's me!

Oh how this hit home for me in my own spiritual walk.....

So many things in my life are seeds waiting to be planted or seeds that have already been planted but are waiting for me to water them and patiently care for them. But my own human nature grabs hold of me and I feel like no progress is being made because I can't see it so I sometimes give up and walk away from that situation looking for something else that will make me feel better...a more stable plant. I wonder just how many times I have missed out on the Lord's blessing because of my lack of faith, my fear of the unknown, my fear of failure, or fear of rejection. How big could my garden be...right now...if I had just trusted? I won't know...and looking back will not help me..but looking forward though...I know this..I want to be a gardener who loves seeds and takes every opportunity to plant what God gives me and to learn through the process of the unknowns. I am uncertain if I will ever get that beautiful flowering plant or whether He decides I need to just be faithful and water it and care for it no matter how it turns out in the end, whether it grows to be a big beautiful tree or remains a little plant that helps produce nutrients for the soil to support those big beautiful trees.

My deepest desire is to be exactly what He wants me to be....nothing more and nothing short of that. My heart longs to be faithful to my God in all circumstances and through the uncertainties of life and I desire to serve Him and to have that garden designed by Him and not by my own choosing.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:3

Maggie making little peanut butter covered pinecones

Bob hanging the birdhouse up

what a fun daddy! love him so much!

preparing their soil

planting their seeds

putting them in the greenhouse

so excited! she kept checking back during the rest of the day to see if they had grown yet.....(too cute....guess she takes a little after me that way....oh dear!)

the beautiful greenhouse!

More painting pictures

Here are the painters "helpers" thinking they are way cool up on the roof!

Giving a little attitude up on the roof!

The barn before.....

and now after....it's ok if you don't notice a huge change...it doesn't show up well in the pics but it really looks beautiful and is quite noticeable from before.

Mom's little cottage....pretty yellow

her dining area......

went to take pics of her bedroom and saw a sweet little princess fast asleep(with thumb in mouth...shhhh don't tell)

this is mom's pretty bedroom.....lovely....i just love the quilt!

Oh my, what wouldddddd we do without a painter in the family!

Easter Pics

We had a wonderful Easter! Went to church and had such a great time celebrating our Risen Savior....with an incredible great message! Came home to have an Easter egg hunt with a bunch of family, friends, and neighbors. 21 kiddos in all from age 13 down to 19mos.

Bob was in charge of the egg hunt...it was totally all him. I take no credit whatsoever for it....he was so excited while planning this event. He decided that he was going to have golden eggs, one for each child, and in the golden egg was a number. When the hunt was over each child would open their egg and whatever number they had would be the order in which they would choose a prize from the "prize table". We had a blast!

Easter baskets

240 eggs

The crew(Forgengs, Little, Kullmans, Shays, Hirschbergs, and neighbors)

Bob explaining the rules

and they are offffffff!

Maggie one of the first to finish

Marissa and Gracie still hunting

Gracie helping Ian

Mason and Ellison...cute as ever....hunting for their eggs

the prize table:)

Ryan checking out the prize table

Declan with his football

the yummy food

the kid table

fun times with friends!

HE IS RISEN!

We sang this song at church today and it is one of our kids favorites. So thankful to be worshipping a Risen Savior!

New Kitchen Color

Keep in mind that I am not a photographer....here are some of the pics...more to follow soon!

Uncle Shawn does more then paint...here he was helping Gracie out on some math homework

kitchen before

Robbie having fun with Uncle Shawn

new kitchen color

eating area

moved this furniture into the room with the piano

Shawnie's back in town!

Hey there, just stoppin in real quickly!! Been busy, busy, busy! Ya see, my brother Shawnie is in town and he has been a painting machine! He came in Sunday night during the torrential downpours to paint outside....and well, he ended up painting my kitchen and hallway for the first 2 days.....yippppeeee! I'm such a slave driver....according to him;) It looks absolutely beautiful with pictures to come reallllllll soon!

I love having him here with me and having the time to spend together....whether its listening to some great new praise song or singing at the top of our lungs to Journey's...."Don't Stop Believing" (totally on key)or trips down memory lane, Making me laugh at totally inappropriate times....it's always a blast!

Just talkin bout life....the ups and downs and the struggles we face and our stinkin sin nature that we fight. Ya see, we kinda are alike personality-wise and therefore struggle with some of the same things. I really appreciate his absolute, frank, honesty when we talk and am thankful for his discerning words of wisdom which always lead to the cross and how Christ wants us to live!

Love you lil' brother...Shawnie boy!!

Ps. I say lil' but there's only 3yrs. 11months and 4days between us;)