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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Rare Disease Day

 
 
 
I meant to get this up sooner...story of my life! Anyway, it's RARE DISEASE DAY! Today you can 'wear that you care' by wearing your JEANS. We all have genes, and we all have jeans. It's a simple way to bridge the gap between those living with rare disease and those who are educating themselves about it. Emma had Batten Disease. It is rare but not for Missy's son, Will and Ramee's daughter, Mable. There are hundreds of others who have been affected too. Please do what you can to find a cure. Tomorrow is Emma's birthday. Won't you consider giving a donation to BDSRA or Beyond Batten Disease Foundation today in her honor?
 
Thank you.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Springtime and Easter

 
Don't you just love springtime? And Easter? And the reason we celebrate Easter? I do. I get so excited when I see the azaleas start blooming and the bridals wreath unfolding in flowing archs of pure white.

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I love the green popping out of what looked like dead branches on a tree and tiny sprouts of new green grass coming out of the brown ground. I love that Jesus makes us new because of His death and blessed resurrection on the third day.

I'm always looking for a way to help our kids understand what Easter means and why we celebrate it. I'm excited about Katie's new ebooklet. She released it yesterday. I just downloaded mine this morning and flipped through the pages. I think the kids are going to love it...especially Cora. She is so interested in anything new. Katie's new ebooklet is called Find More Jesus, and you can get it here...



Christ-Centered Easter
Isn't that the cutest thing? Click on the book for more info.

Katie writes on the blog for the Hello Mornings Challenge I'm doing and also writes Bible studies over at Quench. She has such a sweet heart. Hope you and your littles enjoy the upcoming spring and Easter season and learn a little bit more about the reason we have hope.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Things that make you go hmmm (or ouch!)

Today starts the fifth week of the Hello Mornings Challenge I've been doing! Time flies when you're having fun. I can honestly say I look forward to my time alone with Him in the mornings. I still like to sleep (a LOT), and there are times I have to convince myself it really is a good idea to get out of bed, but for the most part, it's good! Today I read a blog post from the Hello Mornings blog. It's one of those things God is working on in my life...TiMe. I'm learning to manage it better, become more organized, etc, etc. I still have a LONG way to go, but I'm on the right track. The author of the post writes about planning leading to abundance. God sent Jesus that we might have an abundant life. I cringe a little thinking I'm missing out because I don't take the time to plan and be a little less scatter-brained. May this decade be my decade for enjoying an abundant life because I took some time to plan.

So, how was your weekend? Don't you love the kind of weekend when you don't really have much at all on the docket and you get to hang out around the house with the ones you love and get some little projects done you've had on the back burner for.ev.er?


 
 
Well, that's just what we did. It was a fabuloso weekend. Kelvin decided Saturday morning we should have our first crawfish boil of the season on the back porch, so he headed down to seafood row and picked up a big 'ol bag for us. They were good! We had a perfect fire in the firepit too. The kids made a tree swing and had a ball. Cora played with her water activity table, and I sat back and enjoyed the scene. I'm loving the weather too...cool mornings and warm afternoons. I try to soak up the nice weather as much as possible. Before we know it the temps will be in the high 90s or 100s, and we'll be cursing the heat and humidity. Not now though. Now, is wonderful.
 


Thursday, February 21, 2013

A few of my favorite things

 

I love fish tacos and lime and cilantro. Really, I can't do a fish taco without lime and cilantro! I made these the other night. I added a little mayo, greek yogurt, cilantro, salt and lime to the sour cream and pulsed it in my handy dandy Kitchen Aide Mini Chopper (which I also love!) and made a yummy condiment for our tacos. Several months ago Carleigh asked if we could start doing "Taco Tuesdays" for dinner. I said, "Sure!" and we've never looked back.
KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Mini Food Chopper

I also love a good red wine, a cozy afghan, coffee in the afternoon, magazines, folded laundry, organized closets (soon, very soon it will happen for me), clear containers and pretty baskets in the pantry (I will get this done before summer break!), a soft robe, clean sheets, ironing (well, I don't know about love ironing, but I don't mind it. I like seeing the wrinkles disappear), and a menu plan.

I love the beach, the lake, the creek, the river, or any other body of water. I love swimming and the way you feel after showering and putting on clean pjs after an afternoon at the beach or in the pool. I love family and friends and long talks late into the evening, especially around the fire. I love crawfish, crab and shrimp boils, Cajun food, a good joke, a wink from across the room (from Kelvin, of course) a baby's belly laugh, kids running around outside, ballet recitals and soccer games, gymnastics, choir concerts and chocolate cake (especially Melissa's.)


I love my Grandmama's rooster art, a clean house, cooking dinner, smiles from my kids, lamps, flowers, plants, digging in the dirt, cleaning and purging, green, blueberries, looking out my window and seeing this...



and this...

I love cards, a really great shade of lipstick or gloss, something good in the mail, the songs Cora makes up while she plays, the way Cora sings her requests, Carleigh's enthusiasm about the littlest things, the way Luke is TOTALLY in to Harry Potter and getting the most AR points, and the way Kelvin makes me smile.

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I love getting a really bad stain out of a piece of clothing, recycling, composting, finding creative uses for things, a made bed, freshly painted walls, wire baskets, unique side tables, candles, chalkboards, owls, butterflies, dresses, the Word, a great song, the ballet, the symphony, blues, Zumba, Just Dance dance-offs, grown up go-carts, and mountains.


My friend, Margie, just got back from skiing at Lake Tahoe. I need to go there!

That's all for now. I have to get moving. What do you love?


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

5K

Saturday, Luke and I ran a 5K. Well, actually, Luke left me in his dust and finished about 8 or 9 minutes ahead of me. That's ok, though. At least I didn't pass out from lack of oxygen or have a heart attack. I haven't run such a distance (3.1 miles in case you weren't sure) since last year. Boy, did I feel it. Anyway, I was so proud of my little guy! Poor thing would have finished even sooner had he not doubled back a couple of times to make sure I was still behind him. I finally told him not to worry about me and just GO! He was glad to hear that. I'm on the rebound from the last several months now. The past couple of weeks I have exercised at least 3 times a week. I'm really hoping to drop some of these unwanted pounds. Hopefully I can stay consistent with the exercise and stay true to my sugar fast. Maybe I'll even try to continue with 3.1 miles every weekend. That would be nice. As much as I hate running, I mean really hate running, I would really like to be a runner. I would especially really like to look like a runner...long and lean. I'm not into bulk, not even a little. I like the long, lean body that comes with running and pilates. I have a long way to go, but I think I'm on the right track and hoping this is the year for a transformation.

So, what about you? How are your resolutions or goals working out? Have you completely forgotten about them? Or are you on the right track? Please, do tell.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

I love this

Jeremiah 1:4-10

4 And now the fateful day when the Eternal One first spoke to me:
5 Eternal One: Before I even formed you in your mother’s womb,
I knew all about you.
Before you drew your first breath, I had already chosen you
to be My prophet to speak My word to the nations.
6 Jeremiah: Ah, Eternal Lord!
I’m too young and inexperienced to speak for You.
7 Eternal One: Don’t use your youth as an excuse;
you can and will go wherever I send you.
You can and will say whatever I tell you to say.
8 You have no reason to fear the people you speak to,
for I am with you and will defend you.
9 Then the Eternal reached out and touched my mouth, and He gave me His divine message.
Eternal One: Look, I have placed My words in you.
You will know what to say now, for you will be My voice.
10 This very day I appointed you to speak with My authority over nations and kingdoms.
Your wordMy wordwill have the power to uproot and stamp out;
it will destroy and upend.
And then your word—My word—will rebuild and plant anew.

The Voice (VOICE)

Can you imagine the Creator touching your mouth and giving you His divine words to speak to the nations and kingdoms?

Wow.

Have a beautiful week.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Love is in the air

Have anything fun planned for Valentine's Day? Are you doing anything special for your kiddos? Carleigh especially really gets into special days. Each one of the kids picked out a different Valentine idea to give their friends. Carleigh like the candy wrapper, Luke like the light saber, and Cora liked the bubbles...


{Free Printable} Valentine Candy Bar Wrapper




 


Kelvin and I get the evening alone, and I'm trying to decide what to cook. I have one more day to decide. :) I have a few fun ideas for the kiddos as well. Of course, they came from Pinterest. Visit my Valentine's Day board for some super cute ideas if you need the inspiration.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

this and that

I am such a terrible blogger! Thank you for grace. I have so many things I want to write about and get excited throughout the day thinking about sitting down to my blog and writing a post. Then life happens, and I get busy doing laundry, or washing the dishes, or taxi-ing my kiddos to and fro, and the day is gone, and I am worn smooth out. Maybe I'll learn how to just sit down and pen something short and sweet a few times a week. Well anyway, I appreciate this space...this part of the blogosphere where I can share my life, my family, my thoughts and dreams, my worries, my projects and my meals with you. I wish we could sit by the fire pit with a marshmallow and cup of coffee or glass of wine. Maybe some day we will! For now, I enjoy hearing from some of you every now and then as you take the time to drop a line or leave a comment.

Today we celebrated Luke's 9th birthday with some of our extended family. I cannot believe he is nine. He's so darn cute! We are blessed. I think he really liked his cake and cookies. I know he liked the chocolate frogs. He ate so many his stomach hurts, poor baby! I hope he felt special. I remember how my mom always made birthdays so special. I want that for my kids too. I feel like the past, well, five or so years, have been a blur. I hardly remember Cora being a baby. She will turn four at the end of March. Baffling! Anyway, I feel like I'm starting to see the end of the heavy fog through which I've been wandering. I hope I can focus more on the kids. They are growing so fast. I wish I could pull the brakes on this train and slow it down. There's so much we have to teach them, so many experiences we want them to know. I pray God will guide.



 I'm looking forward to week three of Hello Mornings! I'm doing the Abounding Hope study...a study of Job. It's so good. I'm also looking forward the Lent season starting Wednesday. What are your traditions? I hope to find something to use to share this season with the kids. I think it's so important. Well, off to bed for me. Hopefully I'll get that post written about my sweet Grandmama this week and share it with you. I have so much to say! :)

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Nine

Our boy is nine today! Wow! Could it be that long ago I only had one little one at my heals and a swollen belly? I remember putting an "I'm the BIG sister" shirt on Carleigh to announce to our friends and family that there would be another little Dunnam running around. When the day arrived for Luke to make his debut, Kelvin had worked late into the night making deer sausage with his uncles and had just climbed into bed after his shower, completely exhausted. He kissed me goodnight and turned over to go to sleep. I don't think it was two minutes later I felt my water break. I told him what had just happened, and he said, "Do you know what time it is?" Unfortunately for my worn out man, we would head to the hospital about an hour later. We had a little time to rest once we arrived, but not much before the contractions started getting harder and our little boy bundle arrived. (I would be lying if I said I didn't care if we were having a boy or girl. I wanted a little man cub. Of course, I would have been totally pleased as punch had the ultrasound shown another little girl, but I was excited to hear the technician say, "Looks like we have a boy.") After Luke nursed intially he slept the rest of the day. That night, the nurse made me wake him up to feed him again. Kelvin's first time to change Luke's diaper was hilarious. I think Kelvin is still somewhat damaged by the whole experience of being sprayed by a baby boy, but he's starting to heal. ;)

The young wizard requested cinnamon rolls for breakfast.
 
At nine, Luke is into Harry Potter, bey blades, rip sticks, skate boards, gymnastics, soccer, tossing around a football, doing well in school, loving his dog, fishing, hunting, and picking on his sisters. He loves playing, loves God, and loves winning. Everything is a contest at this age. He is a delightful child and has a sensitive side opposite his spitwad spitting, practical joker side. He is boy through and through. He keeps us on our toes and doubled over laughing much of the time. I love this little man of mine.
 
Happy birthday, Lukester!

Friday, February 1, 2013

It still hurts

It hurts. Especially when you touch it. It's healing over, but it's still painful. It's not a gaping wound, flesh torn and bleeding everywhere. Now it's a dark purple scar that's slowly starting to fade into my skin tone. You can see it, but it's not quite as obvious to the unknowing onlooker. I thought it would get easier as the years pass, but it's not. It's just different. A day does not go by that I don't think of my sweet girl and wish things could have been different for her. I'm trying to learn, rest in His mercy and grace and continue to hope.


I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. (vs. 19-20 from The Message)
Then I remember something that fills me with hope.
The Lord’s kindness never fails!
If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed.
The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning.
Deep in my heart I say, “The Lord is all I need; I can depend on him!”
Lamentations 3:21-24

March 1, 2006--February 1, 2010




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