for this day i have Jesus...

"for this day, 

i have Jesus, 

and he's enough."

a quote from sunday's sermon

for you, lee

here's some pics of baby cora, baby 3, cora cora, sweetheart.

she is six months old now and i'm pretty sure she's just started the awful part of teething - night screaming - every 30-45 minutes for a few hours.  i could live without that.  but, i couldn't live without her! smiley face.  lights up when she sees a person - any person.

 just smilin'

 always on my tummy

 with the fam

 with my sibs

 they want to be like me

i want to be like them

 i wanna take a bite out of you!

 hey, look.  it's lee and baby lee.

 with my sis.  she drinks a lot.  no worries, it's just juice.  well, it's mostly water, but don't tell her that.

where did all my hair go?  

whatever, i'm still a beauty.

today's top 5

1.  will came home with his frog - which means he had a good day at school.

2.  everyone slept through the night, including me

3.  we had special company for dinner!

4.  will started on his homework right when he walked in the door from school and finished all 5 worksheets - his homework for the week!  his idea.  wow - we've come a long way in a few weeks.

5.  i made it to the grocery store with the girls and it was pleasant

a prayer for my family of little ones:

God, give us the sleep that we need and the grace that we need each day to live with each other in peace.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." Hebrews 12:2

Apart from you, i can do nothing.  John 15:5

Through you, i can do all things.   Philippians 4:13

if you want to learn patience, use a VCR

if you want to learn patience, use a VCR.

if you want to feel clean, go a couple of days in the summer without a shower, then take one.

if you want to simplify your life and finally get organized, have 3 kids under the age of 5 and a husband who travels for work.  it may take a few months - like, close to a year - but you'll get there.  i'm getting there.

oh, and if you need to feel some serious happiness, find a fat baby with a gummy grin.  oh, it'll work every time.

"if your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life"
WU-MEN
a quote from the book Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider

my middle child

dear ms. phoebe,

you are now a middle child.
you are Loving.
you are Smart.
you are potty trained.
you sleep in a big girl bed.
that's one of your favorite things to tell people - "i sleep in my big girl bed at night!"
"i two my olds!" means "i'm two years old!" 
daddy and i think that is so cute and we are not about to correct you!
i've recently figured out that you like soft vegetables.  you like canned beets!

you draw attention wherever you go.  and you are quiet.  that's power, little girl!
you are 2 going on 20.
you love to swing.
mosquitoes love you, unfortunately.
you are a mess.

i don't know what i would do without you.

mommy

my little Jackson Pollock

dear will,

it's hard to believe just a year ago, you would not even color.

turns out, you just don't prefer crayons.

you don't like to "color".  you like to draw.  with marker, pencil, and sidewalk chalk.

a few weeks ago you wanted to chalk the driveway.  it was raining so i let you chalk in the garage.  guess what you are drawing?  trains.  you draw mostly trains, very long trains - filling up the whole length of our driveway.  you've started drawing trucks, cars, delivery trucks and occasionally you will draw something different like a dinosaur or the latest Bible story you learned at sunday school.

i love your art and seeing you chalk on the ground reminds me so much of one of my favorite artists, Jackson Pollack as he "paints".

"there is no accident ... there is no beginning and no end."

"because a painting has a life of it's own - i kind of let it live."

thank you for helping me remember that i love art.

today

thoughts running through my head.  the Artist's Way refers to this practice as morning pages.  i guess this will be an afternoon page for me.

feet up.  almost quiet house.  almost clean house.  painting to be done in will's new room.  painting to be started in new baby's room.  laundry basket on the coffee table with clothes to fold.  i miss art.  i want a big huge canvas and a few free hours.  andes mints smores in the oven because there's no more chocolate in the house.   getting huge.  vericose veins.  traveling husband.  bit off my fingernails last night.  encourage children.  play.  potty training - i wish her bladder would grow.  i wish my bladder would grow!  going to the potty every hour.  more vegetables.  more vegetables.  less sugar.  keep the coffee.  aldi coffee - thee will do.  thee will do nicely.  rainy week.  almost decluttered whole house.  took two months.  now redecorating.  new house feel, no money spent.  new discovery.  don't shop. just declutter and you'll find what you need most of the time.  potential savings on diapers.  save save save.  $90 per week food/household budget.  menu planning is key.  it's working for now.  baa baa black sheep.  where's my music?  get some headphones for your ipod quick before she asks for baa baa black sheep again.  mommy mommy mommy mommy.  play with me.  cook with me.  can i watch a video?  cookie?  potty! nap.

God is my Help.

What's for Lunch?

leftover canned green beans heated up in the microwave with shredded sharp cheddar.  pb on celery sticks.  a few Ritz crackers.  the pic shows phoebe's leftovers.