Good Day. Now, Good Night.

A Sunday that begins with a family snuggle in the bed with time to savor it.  An easy breakfast, no rushing the girls through their morning play.  An almost 4 year old who can dress herself even after proclaiming loudly, "I don't want to go to church!"  (To her credit, she did throw up last night randomly and has had a mild fever.)  A mama who doesn't sweat the dress put on backwards...I mean buttons in the front DO make more sense!  A mama who doesn't sweat the red and white striped long sleeved dress under the Easter looking large green sleeveless puffy dress that gets us questions like, "Were you a flower girl in that?".  Nope, we just like to be all fancy sometimes is my reply with a smile.  The deep inside me smile is that my whole family easily got to church and will enjoy it together.  My 6 year old, almost squatting in her chair will bellow out, "Lord, hear our prayer." with enthusiasm at the reading of the prayer book compared to the quiet restraint of the rest of us.  She'll flip the Hymn book open with her 5 year old friend after they quietly play with a sticker book on the floor.  The bear will say church hurts her ears and the best dada in the world will unquestioningly take her to a safe, quieter place where she'll rest in his lap.

Although, it's my plan to power through a book that is probably too heavy for a 38 weeker to be reading right now, I will try but fall asleep instead.  Twice.  Leaving that best dada to wash dishes, chop wood and love on four sweet cheeks.      

Now, all are asleep.  The dada and I both fell asleep with the cheeks but I awoke, again to lots of movement from within.  The woodstove is ablaze.  We made calzones and pizzas for dinner, freezing about half of the calzones.  The lil bear is clearly not 100% well but working through it all.  And, her doting big sister is somehow up for reading books to her, giving her a bath, making her a pile of blankets in a snuggy corner and putting her PJs on before dinner.  Seriously, where did she learn such care and compassion?  And, dear God would you please teach me how to be more like her?

All in all a great day to say good night to. 

Happy February

We have been so looking forward to this month!  Our lil bear has spent months growing up, preparing to turn 4 years old and all that will come with it this year.  Her big sister is excited to be half way done with Kindy and asks weekly about what is going to happen in 1st grade.  We're so glad to welcome a new babe into our home sometime this month.  Each girls expresses how much she is hoping for lots of baby cuddles and snuggles.  We've spent the last month nesting, resting, reading, and stocking up our freezer. 

Personally, tomorrow is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate.  Both as the day that Simon recognized Jesus in the Temple and for the blessing of the candles reminding us of this Jesus, light of the world shining upon us.  The girls and I made many candles for labor and birth.  We look forward to lighting them soon!

Bird & Reptile Park

More Beauty After Pedicures

Back In Bali

I didn't just pull 24 hour shifts and promote CNN Hero of the Year, Robin Lim.  I didn't just supervise volunteers and interview with UN peeps.  Nope, I got a pedicure once...with my oldest daughter even.