Life's little accomplishments...

 
 Anyone who has been or is a mother of young children will understand that some days are harder than others, especially as far as feeling like you accomplished anything in comparison to...anyone (or so it can so easily seem sometimes). And being two weeks or so away from bringing another baby into this world, my accomplishments each day are getting simpler and simpler. Which is good in some ways I guess. I'm really trying to rest and enjoy this time I have with just my boys and take care of little odds and ends here and there.

So here are a few accomplishments that have been made in this household this week that I can look back and smile on:

~ Fresh strawberry crepes...BY MYSELF! Thanks Mom and Dad for a little alone time, and the strawberries that I cannot pick this season!

~ Fresh picked flowers from my garden:

~Very likely the only fruit tart I will make this summer, but boy was it a good one! Sorry for not sharing!

~ Choosing a boy name (just in case) and narrowing down our girl list to some final contestants =: )

 ~ Teaching Luke how to spell his name.

 ~ Embracing imagination: Scrabble tiles as ice cubes and the holders as straws for wine! That's right, wine! So tasty...

~ Filling up Evan's love cup after Luke goes to bed. He loves his one on one mommy/daddy time!
~ Organizing pictures from Hawaii and finally getting around to making a photo book from our trip.
~ Mopping the floor...a rare but 'happy feet' feat!
~ Bringing the boys to the pool =: )

Also, after Luke, Daddy, cake, hot, juice, and duck, Evan finally says Mommy or something to that effect. I'm so glad I'm so high up on the list of important names to learn!!

Thanking God for these little joys and enjoying frozen pizza tonight so I had time to share with you...Until next time!

~Charis

Matt and Leah's Wedding

 On Saturday, my dear brother-in-law and his bride got MARRIED! From Thursday night to Sunday afternoon, we celebrated in Winchester VA with a whirlwind of parties, perfect weather, and organized, stress free preparation for the big day. (I say that for everyone that was not also taking care of two youngsters in the midst of the festivities...but actually, as exhausted as we were, stressed we were not!)
The only con in a family wedding that you and your husband are in is that you don't get very many pictures. But I assure you we had a great time and are so happy for Matt and Leah.

So here are a few of the memories we snapped when we could:

I got to contribute a cake to the cause...which turned out great even after a three hour drive =: )

 These little guys danced the night away until 10 pm! That dance floor could not contain such energy!

 Leah's whole concept for the wedding and reception was just gorgeous: Hanging lanterns, little vases of flowers and books decorated the tables with burlap napkin holders and lace accents, wonderful music, a candy and cookie bar, a signature Hawaiian drink (they're moving back there on Thursday so Matt can finish up his time there serving in the Navy), an absolutely delicious array of food...I really don't think I've been to a wedding that went more smoothly or was more thought out with such beautiful personal touches!

 Aside from family, we got to see a few friends too that made the drive... Fun fun!

Fun with Daddy:

We will all have such wonderful memories to talk of for years to come, that's for sure =: ) Congratulations Matt and Leah!

A good read...

I haven't read a good book lately (well, any book at all to tell you the truth!) but two weeks ago I finally got two books to read that I thought would be encouraging. Man was I right for once! One of them, called Sacred Parenting, I saw on my brother's coffee table in Dallas and since he probably has less time to read then I do I figured it was probably pretty good (besides him telling me so =: ). So thank you Gary Thomas for some very poignant, encouraging words...Even though I only get in a page or two at a time, there is always something that waters the roots of this parenting heart!

So here's one of my favorite quotes so far:

" What our children ask of us pales in comparison to what we ask of God. In our struggles and our weariness, may we never get to the place of self-righteousness, forgetting that God has forgiven us, is patient with us, and endures our own failings to an even greater extent than we do for our children. Most kids live with us for two, maybe two and a half, decades; God puts up with us for the full breadth of our lives. While our children may occasionally provoke us with offensive words, God sees every offensive inclination of our hearts. For every single offense for which we forgive our children, God forgives us many times over. He remains patient with us for many times longer than we must exercise patience with our children. He doesn't ask anything of us as parents that he hasn't delivered a hundred times over himself. 
We need to use the most wearisome aspects of parenting as the occasion for thanking God for putting up with us. When we look through this lens, we find that raising a demanding child can actually become motivation for worshiping and adoring God."

Wow is all I had to say/think when I read that. I hope you're are encouraged with these words as much as I was! My eyes are closing so I'm off to bed. Good night!