sometimes

life isn't always rainbows, sparkles, and unicorns.

i giggle every time julie says this, because it's so.very.true.

when we put our lives out for the world to see, 

we can pick and choose what we want out there.

that's the beauty of having our own little corner to create in.

sure, i can take pretty pictures and make things look beautiful, 

but you do not see beyond the lens.

i want you all to know{which i'm sure you already do} that my life is far from perfect.

i'm a simple minded girl with remnants of dirty 'ol sin stains across every part of my being, 

washed clean and white only by the cleansing fountain of Jesus' blood.

the only good in me comes from Him.

sometimes life is hard and ugly.

and sometimes it flows rather beautifully.

sometimes my kids won't sit still and do their school work,

 and as soon as i leave the room i hear them getting rowdy.

i usually yell.

sometimes my eyes are puffy because i didn't get enough sleep, 

or the burdens weigh heavy and i get just plain overwhelmed.

sometimes i am rude and short with the man i get to sit across from and
who loves me the most.

sometimes things happen to people that you don't understand 

and hurt burns deep in your soul for them.

this is my best friend, sandi, and God is doing awesome things in her life despite the trials.

love you, girl.

but then!

 sometimes life is grand and you get to sit back and enjoy the ride.

 sometimes you have all the ingredients for the perfect lunch{and your kids love it!},

instead of trying to decide on something that everyone will like.

i'm feeding an army here, friends.

sometimes the kids get along and actually do what they are supposed to be doing.

 sometimes your husband totally blows you away with a birthday you'll never forget.

and sometimes i just plain old forget that my life shouldn't be dictated by my circumstances, 

or what i see/feel happening around me.

joy should flow from the healthy Hope that lives within me, making all things beautiful, in His time.

and i don't ever want to forget that.

but i will.

i just know it!

Lord, help me to remember.

He has made every thing beautiful in its time: also he has put eternity in men's hearts, so that no man can find out the work that God does from the beginning to the end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

xoxo

mary

this is what he does

raise your hand if you like surprises.

since you can't see me, let me just say that my hand is not raised.

i am allergic to surprises.

they make me sick to my stomach, and i get hives, i think.

my husband has plans for this friday because it is my birthday and his lipsaresealed.

the kids lips are sealed, too.  believe me, i've tried to get it out of them.

it's really killing me because i happen to be sort of a control freak, and i like to know what is going on. 

i need to plan where the kids will be, what i need to be ready for, or what i should bring.

i know two things.

1. i have to be ready by 10 a.m. friday morning.

2. the girls are spending the night at a friends on thursday night.

i may not make it if i don't find out soon...

*itching ensues*

what i do know today, is that my kindergarten 'helper' is feeling better.
yesterday when i took him to the dentist for a filling, he ended up needing the tooth pulled because there was an abscess.
talk about feeling like a bad mother.
he had a humongous puss pocket on his gum line and i didn't even know!
thank the Good Lord  he had an appointment so it was taken care of right away.
check out this monster of a tooth.  grody.

everything was fine and dandy until the numbness wore off.

soon, weeping and wailing could be heard for miles and it ended in a nap for him, and me. :)

thankfully today he is feeling better.

like waaaaay better.  

i saved the day my reputation by finding where the tooth fairy 'accidentally' left his money.

you moms out there know what i mean...ahem.

you can't remember them all, right?!  

it was under his brothers pillow, duh.

great job tooth fairy.

i thought i would show you a few of the things that this neglected kindergarten home schooled child has gotten into just this morning. 
if you home school, you may understand that the littlest ones are sometimes hard to keep pinned down.

 help me.

isn't he a cutie?

never a dull moment, right? 

and this is all before lunch.  befoooooore lunch!

i might be back later with my march photo collages, but we'll have to see what comes of the rest of this beautiful, energy filled day!

xo,

mary

My cup runneth over...my day in pictures.

Good morning, everyone!

OY!  I am a year older!!!  :-)
I was completely blown away by all of the love and consideration that went into the cards, gifts, notes, and the amazing thoughtfulness of everyone, so I decided to share my day in pictures.

This is what I woke up to...

Maddie's card...the back read...

"To a wonderful blessing from the Lord,

To the most wonderful, beautiful, creative, outstanding rose of a mother!  Your the prettiest red rose anyone can find.  Mom, you are more special than I can explain and God loves it when you are the best mother a kid could have or ever want or imagine. May God bless you on your birthday."

This kid has a way with words!!! So, I'm CERTAIN that I am not worthy of such praise, but this definitely had me crying 5 minutes out of bed.

Eleanor's handiwork

In true Jack fashion....soooo cute!

This is from Miss Madelyn, too!  She felted me the picture.  She is ALL about flowers, pink, strawberries and sparkles!

Don't mind the messy handwriting...this girl is ALL about quantity and not quality right now.  lol

She is my project QUEEN!

While napping on the sofa(I know, I know, but I had a sore throat :-) ), the mailman came...BOY!  Was that a treat!

My best friend sent me this package FULL of wonderful treats...can you even imagine?  I LOVED everything SO MUCH and it totally blew me away!  Organic treats, clothes, CHOCOLATE, clothes, jewelry, accessories...what MORE could a girl ask for!?!  The card even sang to me....ahhhh...it was lovely.

We decided it was too beautiful outside to lay around, so we went to lunch and stopped at the thrift store!  YAY!  I scored some antique ironstone pieces for my collection($1),  a basket($1), summer clothes($5), some books($.25) and two movies for the boys($.50).  Have I ever mentioned that I love to thrift shop?  hahaha   This is my best attempt at a pic of all of us, lol.    If ONLY my arms were LONGER!

The tribe

The boys playing peacefully(for a minute) lol

When we got home, my husband called and had supper on it's way.  My favorite...soup from the local co-op.

 I love this stuff!

And I could definitely feel the love, lol!

My FAVORITE dessert, lemon bars!!!  I pretty much wolfed it down, sore throat and all!  :-) 

It was a good day.

And then....at church last night, my mother-in-law brought two big cakes and we devoured those, too!  YUMMM!

That is my day in pictures(I really think I need a new camera, don't you?  lol) !  I hope you enjoyed them.  God is so good to each one of us, isn't HE?

Mary  :-) 


The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 23