What I love about you

photo credit:Google Images

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I had so many wonderful plans for this week.  Lots of baking, sugar cookie hearts, cakes, you name it.  Then the oven decided to go on strike!  So for now I will have to commemorate Valentine's Day by writing about the people I love, instead of baking for them.

Dad, I love...
the way you provide for our family
your sense of humor
your commitment to the Lord's Word
your encouraging spirit
beating you at Monopoly

Mom I love...
your incomparable devotion to our family
all the inside jokes we share
your giving heart
your loyalty
our "big girl" nights

Brant, I love...
watching you become a man
your thoughtful gestures
the way you interact with children
your patience
plotting world domination together

Caroline, I love...
your quick wit
being your big sister
seeing you read your Bible
your constant energy
having you as a roommate

Lizzie, I love...
your sweet spirit
watching you be a "Mommy"
when you lip snyc
your dimples
tickling you

Abbey, I love...
your bubbling joy
the way you welcome me home
your vocabulary
the twinkle in your eye
your kisses

My Family, I love...
singing the Doxology at dinner
"Marathon Monopoly"
movie nights
cutting up together
changing the world together

I hope you have a very special day with your Valentine, if you have one or six.

10 ways to enjoy a sunny day

-Open a window, or pull up the blinds if you have allergies

-Sit by said window and read a book or drink in the beautiful day

-Play outside with the little ones, or big ones

-Turn on some "happy music"

-Take a walk and visit with the neighbors

-Wear a cheerful apron while doing your housework

-Change the sheets. Seriously, there is something so wonderful about putting on fresh sheets in a sun filled bedroom.  While wearing your cheerful apron!

-If the sun isn't coming in well, wash the windows

-Sit on the front porch with a glass of Iced Tea

-Before you go to bed, pray for more sunshine tomorrow!

My cheerful apron for today.  The fabric is called "Cherry Soda". It doesn't get much more cheerful than that!

like brother, like sister

Merry Christmas!

Family Christmas card photo 2011

I Love My Brother!!!

My big brother came home, said he was sorry for being late and handed me this.

Brother, you can be late anytime you want!

(home)School Days

homeschool homework

The important things

Taking time for the important things is not always easy, but is something I have been trying to do with my sisters lately.  Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail.

A few days ago Mom and Dad went out for an early dinner.  The girls where playing, and the baby was asleep on my bed.  Ah the perfect time to finish that book.  Then (knock, knock) a precious little one tip-toes into my room, "Can we please do painting, oh please sweet sister".  My mind started racing, "painting makes a mess, and the baby is so peaceful, I really want to finish this book, they can always paint another time".  I looked up from my book and told her that they would have to wait till another time.  She went away quietly, with a slightly dejected face.  And I felt like a heel.  After about 30 seconds of reflection I realized I had made the wrong decision.  So I put down my book, went out to the family room and helped them set up the painting supplies. 

It is times like this I remind myself these days are precious, and go by quickly.

I can read that book later. 

I can write that blog post after they go to bed. 

I can wait to watch that movie. 

I can't wait to invest in my family. 

I can't wait to make memories.

Happy Birthday Baby

On September 8th 2009, God blessed our family with a precious gift, Abigail Hope.  Her name Abigail means "a father's joy"  but she is our entire families joy. 

Her birth was quite amazing. 

Now before I get into to this I just want to say that my mother is without a doubt the most amazing woman on this earth.  Especially when it comes to childbirth.  My mother has big babies, I mean BIG babies. But if you saw us today you would never guess. Dad always says "My wife births butterballs, and raises toothpicks." I am the peewee of the family weighing in at 8.11, my other siblings were 9.0, 9.10 and 9.4. And brace yourself, we were born naturally with NO medication of any kind.

Then there was Abbey. 11 pounds 4 ounces of pure joy. and yes, she too was born all natural. Do I hear "Mother of the Year" nomination anyone?

Once Abbey came home, we couldn't wait to have a real life doll to play with.

 

She is SUCH a doll!

 

She likes to climb into odd places

She also has a thing for posing with her mouth opened

And making funny faces

Praying with her great-grandmother

Happy Birthday Sweetie

The Four B's of Toddler Fashion

Beads, Blouse, Bloomers & Boots 

Have I told you today that I love you?

That is what my Dad would say to me every day when he came home from work.  I remember hearing his car pull into the driveway and running to the door.  There he was in his suit and tie on one knee, with his arms open waiting for his little girl to run to him.  And without fail he would hug me and then say "Have I told you today that I love you? Because I do, very much". 

So... Have I told you today that I love you? Because I do, very much.

When you stop by to read my blog it makes my day.

When you leave a comment it makes my week.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to check my blog. 

Thank you for all of your kind comments.

Thank you for being my cyber friends.

So give yourself a big hug for me, and know that you are greatly appreciated.

Little Southern Belle

I can't understand how a little sister of mine could be so "girly".  I was more of a tom-boy growing up, but that may be because I only had an older brother.  Since she has three older sisters, all of that accumulated "girly-ness" has been transferred to her.  And she loves it!

My blogging assistent

 

She has quite the expressive face. That runs in the family (see other sister here)

Fabulous Friday Find

Today I am writing from "Sick Bay". One child with a simple cold has snowballed into 5 down with colds, sore throats etc (prayers greatly appreciated). 

One question, how can you get a "cold" when it's over 100 degrees outside?

I just wanted to give y'all more info on the paring knife I mentioned in yesterdays post.

It was the Khun Rikon Switzerland Nonstick Paring Knife.

5 reasons I love these knives:

1-They come with a protective sleeve (great with little ones in the house)
2-They cut extremely well
3-They feel really good in your hand
4-They are reasonably priced

5-They come in LOTS of bright colors!

Mom recently started collecting some for my Hope Chest.

I think they would look adorable in a large Mason jar on the counter.

Have a great (healthy) weekend!

A Day at the Peach Orchard

Last weekend we visited a peach orchard about an hour from our home. 

Peach Jam and Peach Cake recipes coming soon!

Homemade peach ice cream, YUM!

I loved this old tractor

It was aesthetically perfect

Not far from the orchard was the longest covered bridge in Georgia

 

The bridge was a fun and interesting side trip

And last but not least, my favorite photo from the day