WEEK SEVEN - LOVE

Well the week that ends with Valentine's Day - it is fitting to focus on the theme of LOVE.

This is an easy one for me. Love exudes in our family.

Not that everything is always peaceful and perfect but we truly and deeply love each other.

It is a common sight to see kids gathered close watching a video on a device or reading something. Listening to music. Playing a game. Reading a book.

I took a ton of pictures of moments in which Little Man was snuggled up with each of the kids individually throughout the week. It seems that he figures his place is there in the midst and he assumes that the kids will be happy at any moment to have him climb up.

There were many moments that I didn't capture. I honestly was living and enjoying the moment and I didn't want to break it by running for the camera.

In any case, rather than overflow with too many pictures of my children, I chose one. A posed portrait of the five children that have stolen my heart.

Thanks to my wonderful sister and brother-in-law, My dearest and I were able to get away for a night.

Yesterday we headed to the beautiful town of Kingsville, where we enjoyed a wine tour at Pelee Island Winery.

We headed back to check into our room at Inn 31. The Garden Room, in which we stayed was a very pretty, bright and cheerful room.

Before we headed down to dinner, while we still had beautiful natural light, my dearest willingly participated in my attempts to capture a picture of us together.

I am SO pleased with how this turned out.

We went down to a delicious dinner at Jack's Gastropub. Burgers and fries in a wonderful ambiance. Very friendly staff. We indulged in desserts of Vanilla Creme Brulee and Chocolate Chevre Brownie. I was thankful that we did not have to leave the warmth to get to our room. It was a lovely, relaxing retreat from the chaos of the everyday.

WEEK SIX - DETAILS

This week was little man's first swimming lesson ever.

He was beyond excited to start and had been talking about it for months.

I tried to capture some of the excitement and what sights might have filled his wondering eyes.

Our Love Story ♥

"I love love and I love stories. So love stories are a doubly special treat to share.

I truly love MY love story and I am excited to share a shortened version with you."

I am privileged to be featured as a guest today in anticipation of Valentine's Day. #14daysofLOVE

Please join me here to read the rest of our story. 

WEEK FIVE - LIFESTYLE

This challenge theme stumped me. I honestly had no idea. Nothing really struck me with an ah-ha moment. All week I thought about it but....nuthin'. Now the weekend has come and gone.

So..... you get a sampling of things that captured my attention.

I guess these are glimpses into the life we lead. It fits.....kind of....

I love chocolate. I also love strawberries. The two together are a magical combination.

Our living room was full of teenagers and Little Man had way too much energy. When he finally crashed for a few minutes he pulled a pillow into the middle of the room so he wasn't too far from the action.

In this age of abundant selfies, I enjoy being the one behind the camera rather than in front of it. It is a rare photo that I like however I am learning to allow myself to be a part of the documented memories. 

Photo credit to may amazing daughter, McKenna, who is becoming a wonderfully creative photographer.

I am my beloved's and he is mine. ♥

Song of Solomon 6:3

In the midst of a snow storm and my son goes out without a coat. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

The thick blanket of snow covering my front yard. 

Hard to believe that it had already been shoveled. 

And more is coming! 

I loved the contrast of the dark remnants against the driven snow...

Hello February!!!

Stop!

I love my friends. Wonderful people who have heard the cries of my heart even if only over facebook and through my blog. Dear ones who see, and hear and read and think of me and send sweet reminders.

I woke this morning to this message from one of my dear, sweet camp daughters.

Only someone special can speak this truth with love that it is embraced in my heart as such.

Guilty.

I am.

I know it's true.

Prideful in all I can accomplish and all to which I commit myself. I don't like to say "no" because to refuse is to admit I can't handle it all. But the reality is I can't handle it all. Not well, anyways.

So today I am reminded that I don't need to glorify busy-ness but enjoy rest.

Thank you my dear daughter, for this hug filled with truth and love.

I am indeed blessed.

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest.

 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

 for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

WEEK FOUR - LIGHT

I was quite excited at the prospect of capturing light. With the expectation of snow, I was anticipating morning sunlight glistening off of snow covered fields. Diamonds sparkling on ice covered tree branches.

Contrasting the beauty of the ice and cold with the winter sun warming our living room while the children played peacefully together.

But this was not to be. The snow came but each day was cold with blustering winds and swirling white or overcast and dreary.

I rethought my plan and decided that I also enjoy the lights of a winter evening.

I am always amazed at how the snow reflects light making the night seem bright like the day.

I love the ambiance of this house. Especially at night. In the snow.

Driving to the River, I found myself surrounded by lights.

The Bridge at night always captivates me. This night it was lined with trucks from one end to the other. 

When I turned the other direction the Detroit Skyline was another series of lights reflecting on the cold water.

As I left the river, thankful to be warm, I couldn't help but notice Assumption. My husband's family was an important part of the history here and in Detroit, when it was still a fort! 

It was worth braving the cold again to capture these.

From Here to There - Part One

Alice came upon the Cheshire Cat sitting on the bough of a tree.

“Would you tell me please which way I ought to go from here?”

“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat

“I don’t much care where---“ said Alice

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go ,” said the Cat

“—so long as I get Somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.

“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”

I am sure, if you are anything like me, you have a picture in your head of who or what you wish you were. Unlike Alice you have a vision for where you want to get to. . Take a minute to write down how you envision the “there” in your life.

Maybe you would change something about your physical appearance or your spiritual fervor or maybe you just wish you had it all together.

Sometimes what we picture is attainable and other times what we hope for is wishful thinking. I am quite certain that I have the ability to gain more order to the chaos in my house but it is highly unlikely that I will ever be a cute, petite blond!

The destination is important but before we fully set our sights on where we want to be, we have to weigh in to make sure our goal is a realistic one. If it isn’t then we are setting ourselves up for failure and disappointment. Often we place our contentment on a future desire and then wonder why we aren’t happy.

As I think through all the areas of my life:

Physical – I would love to be thinner, healthier,  and have more energy BUT it is unrealistic for me to expect to be the size, shape or have the energy I did when I was 20

Mental – I want to be a positive thinker and embrace lifelong learning. I think if I stop learning I will stagnate.

Emotional – I want to be forgiving and gracious. I don't want to harbour bitterness. I desperately want to be more in control of my emotions.

Relational (social) – I want to keep growing in a happy contented marriage. I enjoy quality friendships that challenge, encourage and hold me accountable. I would love to have a mentor that invests in me and shares with me the wisdom they have gleaned. I enjoy mentoring younger women. I embrace that picture of having a hand forward to someone in the journey ahead of me and back in the journey behind me. Living in community. We are in this together.

Spiritual – I want to thrive in my daily devotions and know scripture. I want my counsel to be grounded in spiritual wisdom based on the Word of God.

I think there is an important fact that we all need to stop right here and accept. Repeat after me

“I am not perfect. I will never be perfect this side of heaven.”

It is important that we give ourselves permission to not be “all that”. THAT is an unrealistic expectation and the sooner we accept this truth, the better. Please don’t get me wrong. I don’t think that this is a license to live recklessly and do whatever I want because I “ain’t never gonna be perfect.” However, many of us hold onto the ideal of perfection like it is the holy grail. This isn’t what God calls us to be.

Motivational speaker Ronnie Doss says 

“You don’t have to be the best. You just need to be the best ‘you’ that God calls you to be"

I think that our “There” should look something like this 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 

let us throw off everything that hinders 

and the sin that so easily entangles. 

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 

 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. 

For the joy set before him he endured the cross,

 scorning its shame, 

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, 

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” 

Hebrews 12: 1-3 

In light of the cross my daily battles seem minor. 

When I fix my eyes on Jesus, the rest will fall into balance. 

Keeping an eternal perspective can keep me from focusing too hard on the temporal things.