River's last day of preschool

we love this boy.

and back in september:

 his 1st day of preschool.

everything money can't buy

i am the happiest mother on the happiest of mother's day.

the day was long.  and good.  but still long.  we were waiting for george to return home to us after 7 days away for work!  i wanted a pedicure (thank you whitney), my favorite perfumes refilled (thank you george), and photos with each of my children (thank you bridge).  i love being a mother.  i love being their mother.  i have every single thing money can't buy.  thank you jesus.

how to make a home

"this making of a family, it was not a calling to dismiss but a calling to make disciples.

A calling, that which keeps calling you and you never stop listening for, that is what a calling is, the way He keeps speaking: “This is the way, walk in it.”

So she made soup and matched socks. She scrubbed out the tub. She awoke: One always gets to decide what is mindless work and what is soulful work.

She would decide.

She decided for art, to make her life art. She would make it all art — it all would be art, worship, a gift back. It all would preach Gospel."

ann voskamp, www.aholyexperience.com "how to make a home"

the berre girls

 girls date.  they went straight for the rhinestoned high heel platforms.  

 walker loves wearing her "ballerina".  and flora is still in her pajamas.  

teacher and student

three

 these three really like each other.
and that makes me so happy, so proud, so overwhelmed, so excited to get to be their mama.

festoon your days with beauty

Never walk away from Wisdom- she guards your life.
love her- she keeps her eye on you.
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom.
Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding.
Throw your arms around her- believe me, you won't regret it.
never let her go- she'll make your life glorious.
she'll garland your life with grace.
she'll festoon your days with beauty."
proverbs 4:6-9 The Message


























a few weeks ago in wichita falls, we were playing at the park when all of the 1st graders came walking down from fain elementary.  it was testing week and rather than sit inside and be quiet, they got to come play at the park all afternoon.  my kids were in heaven... all those big kids, their two biggest 7 year old cousins AND all their friends.

there were hundreds of kids there doing hundreds of different things.  playing frisbee, throwing the football, swinging and standing in an orderly line for their turn at the swing.  sliding down a very tall old metal slide.  and then there was this group of girls that built sand castles and then adorned them with beauty.  they hunted for dandelions and perched them on the top of their castles.  they climbed trees and picked pinecones to make their creation a little more creative.  they used ordinary sticks and grass and in the most unordinary way.  it was beautiful.  the castles were amazing and their creative little hearts were breath-taking.