Just add water!

So what do YOU do with cranky kids on an unseasonably hot day? :)

Worn thin.

Don't know how else to explain my current state of mind. My husband travels a fair amount for his job, but this particular trip has been tougher than usual. I think that's mainly due to the impending move (and all the work we've already been doing in preparation) - we were all worn pretty thin before he flew out, and we're really missing Daddy.

This afternoon we were headed to the library, when all of a sudden I realized that our son was crying in the backseat. Whoa! He then told me that he's really going to miss all his friends, and he doesn't want to make new ones.

Both kids are having some serious disobedience issues, and I know that I've let some things slide and am now trying to rein them back in (always fun ;) And the reining-in process has occasionally entailed more yelling than necessary.

I'm sick of keeping the house immaculate, and wish I could choose meals without thinking about the "slop" factor. And that I wouldn't have to clean the bathroom multiple times each day.

Oh, and have I mentioned that I miss my hubby? Our bed is too big, and the house is too quiet.

Please continue to pray for our family - not only that this house would sell quickly, but that we can get through these next few months without major emotional meltdowns.

And now I'm off to get some sleep... because somehow, that makes everything better!

We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.
May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You.
Psalm 33:20-22

Some of my favorites...

I grabbed the camera this morning, and snapped pics of a few of my favorite things:


And there there is the bittersweet, as well:

What's new?

Well, thought I'd take a moment and share what's been going on. The house is finally on the market (and a few people have asked for pics, which is why I'm posting these) so we've been making ourselves scarce as potential buyers come check it out. Please pray that it sells quickly! Hubby is currently in England - thankfully this is only a 2 week trip (much nicer than the usual 1 month China expeditions). And frankly those 2 things are quite exhausting all by themselves ;)

We had a beautiful weekend (I dug out my flip flops!), but it's now cold and rainy. School is early out this week due to teacher conferences, so we did a library run and are fully stocked with books and movies. And now I really must get dinner in the oven and fold laundry. It's a thrill-a-minute, I tell ya!

Last but not least, a funny little story from yesterday. We went to the park during the Open House, and I saw a man holding a leash but couldn't see anything on the end of it.... but then the ferret popped out. Yep, I always like to take my rodents out for a nice stroll on those sunny days... (I thought of you, Megan!)

Friday Funny

I happen to adore crafts. But I do think THIS is taking it a bit too far ;)

"Hearts at Home"

When I had just given birth to our first child, I was feeling rather overwhelmed. I had dreamt of becoming a mother since I was a little girl... yet there I was, so incredibly tired from dealing with our colicky baby, frustrated with how very little I was "doing" and quite frankly missing the workplace a bit. A friend from church loaned me a copy of Professionalizing Motherhood, and I found it soooo encouraging. I've since recommended it to other new moms, and have also found encouragement in the book Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God. So anyway, as I was browsing through blogs last month, I was excited to see that Hearts at Home was starting up a blogging team, and I immediately shot them an email. I'll be sharing posts from them once a month or so, and I pray that all you moms laboring in the home trenches can find encouragement.

Have you ever felt alone as a mom? Lost in your chosen field of mothering?

There is an organization that was created to encourage, educate and equip women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home helps thousands of moms love their lives through their many resources including conferences, website, and books.

Recently I partnered up with this organization as a blogger. Over time I hope to share with you the many resources this ministry has to offer (old ones and new). To learn more about the Hearts at Home Blogging team go here.

In the meantime I would like to encourage you to explore their website and blog for an immediate dose of mothering encouragement.

Need a smile?

Check this out!

(Can you imagine being a bystander? By the way, I tried to translate the description and all I know is that it involved 200 dancers at Central Station in Antwerp, Belgium)

The Real Meaning of Easter

We had MOPS earlier this week, and our daughter's class made a little craft with jelly beans. As we were driving home, she was telling me that Jesus died on the cross for us. She chatted about this a bit, then paused to do some serious thinking. Her next words: "That must have really hurted."

Leave it to a 4 YO to sum it up so well! But seriously, it was a good reminder for me. I was raised in a church, and Jesus' death is something that I sort of take for granted. But what a wonderful thing to be able to talk about it with our children, to tell them that yes, it did hurt, but Jesus loves us so much that he chose to die.

We talked a bit more, and her final thoughts on the matter are that she is looking forward to living in heaven because then she won't get any more boo-boos ;)