He is Risen

In keeping with my standard behavior I am writing an Easter post two days after Easter Sunday, rather than before like all the other bloggers in the world. What can I say? I'm going against the flow. Okay, fine, I'm a procrastinator. (Plus, it didn't end Easter Sunday. He rose. He stayed on Earth another 40 days. So I'm still safe talking about this for another 38 days.)

My chalkboard drawing.

There is always so much that goes on during any holiday. Amidst all the prep work of food, house cleaning, cleaning the children, plus the actual gatherings themselves, I find it easy to lose the meaning of the event itself. I have made a concentrated effort to keep these gatherings as simple as possible. We don't do 500 sides, 20 desserts, and 5 different wines. In fact, we don't do any wine.... maybe we should do one wine. Yes?

Thursday we had Trent's side of the family over for our Easter dinner. This included his parents, his two brothers and one sister-in-law. I taught school in the morning, then cleaned the house, and made green bean casserole. My in-laws made sweet potato pudding, and grilled pork loins. My sister-in-law made an adorable "nest" cake (wish I had a picture of this) and my brother-in-law made a delicious salad. That was it. Simple. We had this at my house so that I could put Caroline to bed, then also the big girls while the adults stayed late, drank coffee and tea and played Apples to Apples. We actually got to spend time with each other without all the fuss and stress of extra food and huge amounts of clean up.

Hess girls!!! (Minus a sleeping Caroline)

 Friday Trent was off work for Good Friday. The girls had a small amount of school (basically just a spelling test), and they wanted to read a little history. We sang this song together (either Thursday or Friday). Matt Maher's Christ is Risen. Anne and Abbey sat in my lap as the words scrolled through on my iPhone. I think I was crying as we finished. Hearing my girls sing these words was so beautiful.

Sunday my mom came over after church to eat with us. We relaxed in the afternoon. Two of my sisters came over with their kids around 4:30 in the afternoon for a huge egg hunt and some snacky foods. We visited with our neighbors.

My beautiful sister, and Caroline

Bunny rolls. This was Caroline's favorite part of the meal.

Opening eggs and discovering the goodies inside. It's always so fun to have the family together!

I think Maggie (age 4) said it best. She liked the basket from Aunt Sarah, she liked the candy, she liked being with the family. But the thing she likes best about Easter is that Jesus didn't stay dead. That he rose again.

These two are so sweet. They are my inseparable girls who love to dress in matching outfits.

 Personally I find it very meaningful to spend a few moments reflecting on where I was before I repented of my sins. And then think of my spiritual conversion. I don't spend this time filling myself with regret for past sins. However, I do find it beneficial to my Spiritual growth and health to remember that I was dead in sin. And when I really and truly accepted Christ into my heart, in a crummy little dorm room in Jackson, Mississippi, that though I still sin and still fail on a daily basis, that I am no longer DEAD in that sin. I am redeemed. And you can be, too. It's a beautiful thing, to be redeemed. To feel the weight lifted from your chest and be free. Thank you, God, for sending your precious son, so that I may have life. None of us deserves it, yet he loves us so much that he pours out his grace on us. Daily. Every day, never giving up on me. And I am grateful. Oh, so grateful.

Note to self: take adorable picture first thing in the morning, NOT when everybody is tired. It's much more difficult to get a good photo with tired children. You'd think I'd know that by now. ;)

 HAPPY EASTER!

Slow Down

Thursday was quite the day for us. As many of you dear readers know, I'm a homeschooling Mama. I love it. I choose to be home bound most days of the week. However, Thursday I decided to be adventurous. I took all four girls to Sports Authority right around nap/rest time. I know, I'm a wild one. I like to live dangerous.

Caroline only wanted Anne at the store.

Soon after returning home from the aforementioned trip, our power went out. Kind of weird, since there didn't appear to be much wind. However, we live in southern Lancaster County, so it wasn't completely shocking. Last summer (or fall?) the same thing happened - there were random tree branches down on the power lines. I figured a similar thing happened.

Maggie looking for a poem for me to read to her.

Plans for Thursday dinner were leftovers. In the microwave. Which requires electricity. I called Trent at work. He says not to worry, the estimated time was 8 pm, and it's always on before that.

Trent gets home, still no electricity. I went for a run (remember that 2015 goal - run a 5k)... While running my phone battery dies (I think being out of the house in the afternoon plus having no electricity/wifi drained the battery really quickly). I get back from my run and Trent asks if I got his message... Um, No. My phone is dead. He had texted me to ask me to bring Burger King home for dinner. This resulted in a family trip to BK to eat INSIDE (seriously, you would have thought we were at a 5 star restaurant). The kids were awesome, and we all had so much fun!

For some reason I find this photo hilarious. Anne desperately wanted someone to come play outside with her.

We got home to a dark house, put the girls to bed, and then... What? What do you do when you have no phone, no wifi, no light. We read the Bible together with a headlamp for light and each caught up on a little reading. I had signs to paint but couldn't work on them. As I was praying two words came to my head. Slow. Down. I don't really consider myself a very busy person, mainly because I don't leave the house that often. However, as I sat in the dark thinking of all the things I "need" to do, I began to realize how hard it is for me to sit still. To just be still. To be in the presence of the Lord. I say that I want to do that, yet I don't make the time to do so.

Doodled this in the dark Thursday.

As I let those words roll around in my brain I thought of all the things I thought I should be doing {painting, dishes, cleaning, returning emails, replying to FB messages, checking my Etsy store, checking Instagram, thinking about the next day's school lesson, completing my homework for my Bible study, contemplating a discipline issue with a particular child, wondering if I was too hard on the kids today} and I made my brain just stop. Because how many times will I get a chance to really slow down like I was forced to do Thursday night.

Took some time to play a game Friday at school

Abbey really enjoyed her BK crown.

 I know that Sunday (or whatever day you take as your Sabbath) is supposed to be a day of rest. Yet for many of us Sundays are one of the hardest days of the week (hello - getting four girls and myself ready for church to leave by 8:40 am!?) and are far from restful (especially if you are involved in any form of ministry).

Enjoying our restful Sunday.

These two are the best of friends and playmates. (they are rushing inside to bandage up dolly who got a thorn scratch)

 This weekend I really focused myself on slowing down. On truly enjoying the every day, simple moments. Of letting go of what "needs" done, and allowing myself to cherish my sweethearts while they are still small(ish).

Watching toads emerge from hibernation

Toad watching

Here are some photos of us enjoying the moment

Anne flying her kite.

 A series of night time photos.

How do you slow down? What are some tricks you can share with me?

DIY - headband/barrette holder

Friends, I have daughters. You know, four of them... I don't know about your girls, but mine love accessories. And when we had baby girl number four - I figured we needed to do something about all these adorable headbands and clips that were EVERYWHERE! They needed a place to call home.

This is not an original idea. I originally saw the pin on Pinterest. (I can't find the original Pin that I used. I think it was somewhere on this site: Your Modern Family .)

I made this last summer and am just now blogging about it. I know, I'm sorry. But it's my life.

Supplies needed: (in no particular order)
1. A picture frame - any old thing will do
2. Paint (if you want to change the color of your frame)
3. Ribbon (to match your paint)
4. Staple remover
5. "C" hooks
6. Hot glue gun
7. Sand paper/ sanding block
8. Drill {optional}

Step 1: Get a frame. I wanted my area for holding hair bows and headbands to be extra large so I purchased one. I found this gold frame at our local Re-Useit shop for around $8. {{I felt a little guilty when I was paying because the cashier noted just how lovely the photo in the frame was... I threw it in the trash.}}

 Step 2: Remove the backing from your frame. I found my staple remover to be very helpful in this process, though a needle nose pliers would work just as well if not better.

 

Step 3: Paint your frame. I wanted this to be a kid-friendly activity. It takes MUCH longer for three little girls to paint a simple frame than it does for one adult. But they had a good time doing it.

Step 4: Distress your paint. {Optional} I loved having the gold show through the pink. I just used a little block sander, but any sandpaper will work. 

Step 5: Have an impromptu photo shoot with your frame.

 Step 6: Add your ribbon. I just took one piece of ribbon lengthwise as my measurement for the rest of the ribbon. I hot glued each end of the ribbon to the back/inside of the frame so the ends wouldn't show.

 Step 7: I wanted my C hooks about every inch, so that I could have approximately 12 hooks along the bottom. From previous experience with twisting C-hooks I knew it would be a lot easier if I pre-drilled the holes. So, I did that really quickly, just takes a minute. Then my adorable helper screwed in several of these hooks. It was easy enough that a tiny five-year-old could do it.

Step 8: Hang it up!

Beauties

She wasn't happy about this photo shoot.

 There you have it, friends. A relatively simple and fun headband/barrette/clip holder. As you can see - last summer was the summer of headbands for Miss Caroline. Her hair has grown quite a bit since these photos were taken so she wears little fountain ponytails now. When she wants to wear a headband I know right where to find them. I love having a space dedicated to her hair accessories. I hung it in Caroline's room so as I walk out the door I can easily slip one off the hook and put it on her as we are leaving the house.

**Most of the headbands pictured are from Screaming Owl  . They have really cute things at reasonable prices for children, but they take FOREVER to come in the mail. Just a word of warning - don't expect to get your purchase before 4-6 weeks.**

Happy First Day of Spring!

Little known fact: I was born in California. This is a screenshot of today's weather in the area which many of my family still reside.

This is the view outside my back door.

This is the first day of Spring.




Instead of planting flowers I am drinking hot chocolate.

Okay - the girls had hot chocolate - I had coffee...

Instead of enjoying the warm sun on my back I'm huddled in a pile of blankets reading with the girls.

Instead of romping through the woods we're writing letters.

Sure, it isn't what I had hoped to be doing on the first day of Spring, but it's still a good day. I think regardless of our physical locations, wherever we are there are going to be days where we need to CHOOSE to be joyful.

Plus, it's Friday: Redbox & wine night. Hubby called to let me know he got Dumb & Dumber to. What could be better?

And if you're really bummed about the weather, you can at least enjoy these adorable photographs of my sweet Caroline who is exactly 15 months old today. Future artist?

Intent on her job at Grandpa & Grandma's House

Which color do I want?

What is that crazy sister doing?

Working together

Look at that grip. Way to go fine motor skills!

My view as I rock Caroline to sleep at night. Love my sweet, cuddly snuggle bug.

 Happy first day of Spring!!