Little Lucy Love

 This is her new perch while I exercise.  I love watching her jump and move around in this, and she loves that she can see all the faces and they can talk to her.

 I can't get over the cuteness of this bow!

Love love love.  So sweet.  Always.

Mary's Getting Married!

You know what's wonderful?  Getting to host a party.  But I was especially excited to help Mary prepare her kitchen for married life by helping my injured MIL with a Pampered Chef bridal shower.  I made some of my favorites for the food, and came up with this centerpiece on my own.  Take that, Pinterest!   

 13 years ago, my MIL gave my a PC bridal shower and it was wonderful to have such a well-stocked kitchen when I got married.  I think most of the ladies that came to this shower came to mine, all those years ago.

 All the sisters and sisters-in-law helped me plan this in a couple weeks, after my MIL hurt her leg, and it came out so wonderful. 

 The guests all signed a tablecloth that belonged to Grandma Carol with well-wishes and love.  Mac said to "share the food."  LOL 

 Mary knows how to Whip up a good meal.  She helped make a yummy fajita salad.

 Mary's wish list was displayed on a board and we could pull off what she wanted to add to our order.

 Games were done by super creative Pam and her girls, always so willing to give.

 There was a blue theme going for the day. 

We are so excited for the happy couple!

Worry, Worry. Too Much Worry.

Do you know the book "Wemberly Worried"?  My friend gave it to me when I had Lucy.  It was a book she said she reads to her kids, and she thought of it when I was chatting with her about all my worries.  It's not a great book, but it does kind of put worrying into perspective.  It doesn't do anything.

I used to tease my Grandma about being a "worrier."  She was always saying that she "worried" about this or that.  As a child, I never understood it.  As a grown-up, (though I don't feel I fit that description yet), I am TOTALLY getting it.  I am hitting a worry wall.  A huge, gargantuan worry wall.  I know this is a temptation for me, as a natural melancholic and a oh-this-is-the-bad-stuff-that-will-happen temperament, and this is my cue to take it to the Lord.  But, I am having a moment, and since this is my blog, I will get it out.

It's not ever going to stop.

Never. 

I have children, I am "only" 35, and there are a lot of years left in life.  I am so worried about these next steps for our children, and how we are going to afford this, or take care of that.  But I am seeing a longer road ahead - high school, college, marriage, kids, jobs, etc.  Maybe because the oldest grandchild in my family is graduating from High School, and the struggles he has had this year have been so real and tough.  I am looking ahead to my kids, and how close they are to high school (oh.my.goodness) and the next steps.  I was looking at a family with a brand new baby, and thinking about how the worry (and blessings) increase when your kids grow up and have kids of their own! 

Jesus, I TRUST in YOU!

I say that so many times in a day.  So many. 

I never feel good enough.  I don't feel up to the task of taking care of myself, let alone all these beautiful, sweet children.  When I freak out, I have to keep reminding myself that these are not my children.  They are His.  He chose me as his weak instrument to raise them and bring them to Him.  I just need to follow His Will.  I must find it and follow it, but I also have to make the decisions here.  And, if you know me, I am dreadful at decisions.  Dreadful, I tell you.  But, I can do this.  I know I can.   
"I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me." 

I look at what I have been through, with these last 2 pregnancies, what our family has gone through and done with God's help.  I know the path He has for us is amazing, but there are some days that I just need a good cry and refocus my attention on Jesus and the Cross. 

This one is up in my kitchen, and I don't remember which saint it is from:
"Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not count the cost,
to fight and not heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward
save that of knowing that I do your will." 
(emphasis mine)

Okay.  I'm done.  I bawled a bit, snorted, and my eyes are all puffy and done for a while.  Thanks for the prayers. 

Popping In

Can you believe April has gone by us?  I am not ready for the crazy month of May.  No matter what I try to do, every year that month just goes haywire.  I am glad it's the last full month of school for the kids (!!), but we have to start planning summer, potential camps, etc.  Goodness, I am not ready.

Though I am sure none of you are eagerly checking my blog every day, I feel I must do a little apology (because that's what I am good at doing.).  I have dug myself in a hole, and a little like an ostrich, have put my head in.  I don't get out much, I don't see many people, except my kids, and I have become a little overwhelmed with some things.  It's nothing in particular, but it just seems like I am still going so slowly through things.  I want so much to blog, but sometimes it has been easier to post a quick IG photo and short blip and move on.  (Bloggers, if I was to add an IG badge or slide show to my blog, how would I do that??)  It's not like we don't have anything going on, on the contrary.  Did I mention that my sweet husband is now the Scout Master in our Boy Scout troop, and recently welcomed over 15 new scouts??  The troop has doubled in size, and my heart is so happy when these parents tell me they came to the troop BECAUSE my Tommy is there.  :)  Wow.  But, he not only gets the great kids, the parents are ready to help and they are uh-mazing.  It makes camping and activities just so much more fun.  (No, I am not camping.  I won't use the word "never," but it will take quite a bit to get me going to sleep, hang out and cook in the great outdoors)

But, anwho, we are here.  Potty-training (!), starting solid foods, and trying to feel like we are a family unit, and dealing with some pre-teens in the house.  Oh yes, I said PLURAL.  Sigh.  We could use some encouraging prayers and words. 

On a positive note, James has discovered his independence in some areas.  I love to see how quickly it happened.  He now wants to dress himself, because he can, do his own teeth, pick his own outfits, and do those fun things I have been trying to have him do for a while.  With the independence of the potty, he has opened a new door.  He just put on his shoes by himself the other day! I love watching this. 

And, I have to itch to decorate.  We still have blank walls, and are still slow on hanging things, but I have this urge to hang.  Not that I will do it anytime soon, but it needs to be done.  I found some straggling pictures in the basement and realized we need more interest on the walls.  Anyone got a really tall ladder for my 2 level family room walls??  Got a fan that needs dusting too.

Someday, we will feel very settled.