Random Thoughts

Outside my window.....

falling rain, rumbling thunder and an impressive show of lightening. How very much in love I am with dark rainy nights. 

I am thinking....

 that I would prefer to never own another shower with a door on it ever again. The amount...or lack thereof...of cleaning that is now involved is absolutely staggering. I am in love with doorless, walk-in showers.

I am thankful.....

for no van payment and no truck payment. The lack of a/c in the van may be a pain at times but I wouldn't trade it for a newer vehicle payment. I really truly love having no vehicle debt and knowing that we are free. I am thankful for the opportunity the Lord has given us to start over here....with a clean slate financially. No house payment. We have been given the ability to make great strides, rely on Him in so many new ways, and trust Him for things bigger than we ever imagined. 

I am wearing....

black tank top and black lacy underwear. Nice, huh? Gotta love the convenience of blogging in the bed.

I am hearing.....

the quiet of night and solace of thunder. Lots of it. I really really love thunder and rain.

I am pondering....

that when I quit fighting so hard and wrestling with God over our situation...demanding what I think we are "owed" and mulling over all the "unfairness" of it all and just accept it for what it is....that all of life is a gift and there is something to be enjoyed and thankful for at each and every stage of the game....it becomes a lot more fun and the prospects of it all are amazing. Hope is a very beautiful thing....and so is just enjoying today for the gift that it is. Our house may not have sold, our income may not have changed, our rent house may not have improved....but we have the ability to make the best of what it is and make progress right where we are. God not only has the potential to do absolutely extraordinary things....but He has, He does and He will continue to do so.

I am reading....

You're God is Too Safe. Another must read.

I am going.....

to go run in the morning...before it gets hot. And then swim and laugh with my kids the entire remainder of the day.

I am hoping....

my little outdoor love chore does not prove to be as overwhelming as the 1st 16th of it went this week. The yard....it's just a little bit overwhelming. Where are the professional landscapers when you need them? I'm praying one might get generous and offer his services as part of our little ministry project. I have a vision...but it's about 9,879 man hours away.

I am noticing....

that I could live on raw green beans and sugar snap peas with guacamole dip all day long. 

On my mind....

"I don’t know if I would have been given the incredible opportunity to work with so many beautiful spirits, like you, if it were not for the seemingly insurmountable hurdles I was given in early life. How could you not feel gratitude for the opportunities which brought you such abundance? However, I wouldn’t wish those challenges on an enemy if I had one, because wisdom loves only the warrior, for she often gives lessons only through painful experience." Scott Sonnon

I am remembering.....

conversation I had with Garrison 2 weeks after he lost a tooth 

(we don't do tooth fairies, Santa, Easter bunnies or anything else that's just a little bit fake so they're all the source of ongoing jokes around here).....

Garrison: "Who's gonna take my tooth?"

Me: "The tooth fairy."

Garrison: "Come on, Mom. Is it gonna be you or daddy?"

"Well...me if I can ever remember to take it."

"How much do I get? 5.00?"

"FIVE dollars???!! For a tooth???!!! How about more like 1.00! When  I was your age I got .25. Cost of living has gone up but not by THAT much."

"1.00? That's it? How about 4.00?"

"No way, son. How about 2.00?"

"How about 2.50?"

"Alright....I can do 2.50."

"So....may I please go get it out of your purse now? Cause you're gonna forget tonight too."

"Sure, buddy."

I really love my bartering little kids so firmly grounded in reality. Nothing like digging your own tooth fairy change our of your mom's purse after getting top dollar for its worth.

Life in pics.....

Taco Tuesday! Since we're adhering to Dave Ramsey's principles with a definite plan in place Taco Bell has been traded in for homemade tacos. Kinda fun actually....despite the fact it took an hour...yes, an entire hour....to brown 5 lbs of meat on our tiny little stove. 

 Afternoon storms blowing in. I don't think I'll ever grow tired of this.

The joy of our own little paradise. Poor Graham. He's much happier swimming rather than being stuck in a floatie boat. Baby Gates is just as in love with the water as the 10 swimming with him. It's his new favorite place to be. Chillin' baby content to float around until he grows sleepy, then is happily placed in his little laundry basket where he sleeps the afternoon away. 

He's getting a little bit big for it. 

 He's definitely got a little orange hazy glow going on his little mostly bald head. Thinking it'll turn out about Gavin's color. 

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Being as frugal as humanly possible and staying within our allotted budget I googled free things to do with kids in Raleigh. Surprisingly, the North Carolina museums are one of them! So, we all went and spent a day touring all 4 floors of it. Pretty fun stuff...and it covered every age group! Everyone came home a little more educated about our new state. Next week we're returning to visit its sister museum covering North Carolina history. It's free too! In September we're headed to Roanoke Island to learn about Virginia Dare and delve into US history there also. So, it's all good! I just really love free. And history and science combined with free makes a pretty amazing combo.

 I'm a lover of globes and everything geography. All of our kids are pros at naming states, capitals and countries. This one was pretty phenomenal. 

They're all in the tree. It's that big.

 It amazes me that they're amazed by this exhibit. This is seriously exactly what our front yard looks like....just 10 feet taller.....yet they stare in awe and wonder.  Next time they complain of boredom I think I'm just gonna tell them to stick a glass bowl over some front yard plant life and stare for a little while.

 Parking lot sunsets. We take what we can get.

I guess she hasn't really figured out I'm not a huge fan of indoor cats.

 Up to no good.

My view first thing in the morning. Doesn't get much sweeter than this. He rolls from stomach to back, plays with his toys, chirps, coos and talks until I can come get him. 

The feistiest  little swimmer ever. Yes...feistiest is a legitimate word.

Doesn't get much girlier than a tutu with a pink and purple Disney princess life jacket. 

 They think it's the most amazing thing ever when I dive too. So I amuse them all by getting in on the fun. Babies think it's hysterically funny and will laugh and clap til I do it all over again. It's strange how little it takes to entertain kids.