Happy Birthday Honey!

Our Labrador retriever is one! She has been a joy and a handful. She requires two walks a day, lots of love and a close eye. She'll eat anything from dog food and peanut butter to socks and tissues!

But we love her. A lot. She lets the kids lie on her, pinch her, hug her and kiss her. She's the perfect companion if you're sick in bed, though she is a bed hog. She is full of energy and fun. Her tail is impressive and she wags it often. We are blessed to have such a sweet friend in our family.

A Metaphorical Shelf

I have many childhood memories of playing dollhouse with my sisters. We had huge imaginations. We always had new stories to capture through our dollhouse people. And when we weren't playing dolls we would pretend we were princesses, spies, cashiers, mommies, waitresses, and babysitters. We had picnics, frilly dress up clothes, fort houses, too many dolls, and too much fun. We were girls. We've grown up and our childish play has been put on a metaphorical shelf. We kept memories of our youths in our hearts and we've kept the dollhouse. 

Now that our two-year-old sister is old enough we took the dollhouse out again. Since she has three older brothers we weren't sure what she would enjoy playing with. Some have said that she'd be a "tomboy"; tough and ruddy. Although she's always been determined even through her traumatic birth she's a very happy, healthy girl. She learns fast like Abby, is neat like Maggie and loves dolls like I used to. She'll sit for hours putting together her house. Positioning everything just right. It's so neat to see her mommy instincts show through. She brings her babies to lunch and to nap time. She pretends like my sisters and I used to. She loves to prepare pretend food and clean the dishes. We're so blessed to have her to brighten up each day. You could say that we have encouraged her to be a mommy, not giving her a chance to "be herself". But that wouldn't be the whole truth. She's a girl, because that's what God made her.

³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ⁴ so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Titus 2:3-5 NASB

Sand, Sea, and Sky

 The week was one filled with so many jig saw pieces. Our family vacation to the beach lasted a solid week and came to a happy close. The unpacking and dusting off of sand began. The going through journal entries and photos was only at it's start. The countless pieces of evidence that we did go on vacation and that we were back home again. Each bit of our trip is coming together and making me more and more grateful of each large and small blessing.

What a trip! What a fun trip.We went to either the pool or the beach every day but the last. We rode bikes around town and on the beach. We ate junk food and sea food. (Far too much junk food.) I forced every one into a beach family photo session. (Minus being photo bombed by a strange waving man and almost having my camera run over by a beach surveillance car, it went beautifully. Pardon my drama...) We played cards and laughed ourselves silly through fond memories.  We ate our first of Gellato Italian ice cream. We even had time to stop at a farmer's market.

Vacations ensue exhausting car rides, that smell of sour milk, and sea food.
They bring the tastes of yummy food. They carry the aroma of new surroundings: new beds, new schedule, fresh memories. They bring back pictures of sunsets, ocean waves, sugary sand and sea gulls.

I love the home cooked meal my dear mom serves us the first day home. Although she cooks on vacation, the first meal after vacation is a real home cooked meal at our home sweet home.

Twirly, Swirly Skirt

I got the cutest floral fabric from my dear friend Shannon in Germany. Shannon sent it by mail and I fell in love with it. I made it into a skirt with a coordinate polka dot fabric. I really like how it turned out.

Tutorial on how to make this skirt, will be up on the blog soon. Stay tuned! 

Aunt Jaime: A Photo Shoot

I had a fun time taking photos of my aunt several weeks ago. She is going to have a baby girl in just a few more weeks. We all can't wait to meet her. Babies bring joy, excitement, and much expectation.

The Back Burner

It's been quiet around here. Life has been taking up much of my time. Recitals are over for the spring, more journaling and list making, photography, more school to finish up and other summer blessings. Blogging has been put on the back burner. But for now that is were it will stay. (Don't worry it won't burn.) My family is enjoying the very close summer. Spring is on it's toes! Less activities and more time to slow down, re-evaluate, and re-plan. Summer is so exciting! Before I go I thought I'd share a verse with y'all.
  
  ^"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  NIV Colossians 3: 15-17

 This verse is so important to internalize. With all that we do we should do for Christ.
 The scripture by itself is more powerful and profound than anything we could say. =)

What have you all been up to? What's God been teaching you?

Put a pin in it

 Last weekend my family and I went to a hand bell festival. A hand bell festival is when many different hand bell choirs get together and play together-at the same time.
 There were about 25-30 choirs. Every choir practices the same songs and then one main director directs all of the choirs. It was a two day event and my sisters and I had a wonderful time.We stayed in a hotel, ate chick-fil-a two days in a row, laughed with our friends, and played music to the Lord.

Here are a few photos to give you an abstract idea of the event.

 Hand bells were every where in the rehearsal gymnasium. 


During one rehearsal break we did a little touring around the town square...

---What have you been up to?

 Do you know where I got the blog title from? 
I'll give you a hint: It's from a movie- about a dog, a girl, a cat and a hamster. =) 

Bee-day

 Today is my sister's 16th birthday. There are six April birthdays and Abby's starts it off.

Happy Birthday, Abby.
You're a beautiful person.
You're clever and funny.
You have a thrive for life.
You're creative and inspiring. You have the best ideas.
You are an expressive writer and a funny writer.
I always enjoy our late night talks.
I love being around you and spending time with you.
Thank you for making me laugh when I am sad.
 I love you. xo

  Love,
Your sis