Come out little birdies!

Our cat, Dashuri, tried and tried to find a way to get up to the baby birds in the top of that birdhouse, but to no avail.

Ever feel this way? Reaching for something that's juuust out of your grasp. What does it mean? Keep looking for another way to reach your goal...or find a new goal? Hmmmmm...

"For I know the plans

I have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you

and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope

and a future.
Then you will call upon me

and come and pray to me
and I will listen to you."
- Jeremiah 29:11-12

A Finished Project

I actually finished something (besides a sentence). Sometimes, I can't even finish my own thoughts around here, but I actually finished this. Here is the before picture:

(Nice, but plain fireplace)
(Someday, I'm going to paint the brick and get a new mantle,
but I'm pacing myself)

Now, here are the after photos: Wait, do you need a close-up?

What is it, you ask? It's the Ragamuffin Garland I made, that The Nester taught me. Isn't it lovely? I think it was just the touch my drab fireplace needed, and it has all the colors I love! You can make one, too - it's all just about cutting strips and tying them on...and then tying more...and then some more. Get the idea? You can even tie stuff to the garland, like my sweet little "P" or clips for attaching pictures or personal things. You can add strips of fabric that have personal meaning to you, too...baby blankets, worn-out shirts, kids' clothes...just about anything. And you can adjust the length to fit your space.

Thank you, Nester for this great project! I'm still gathering up my courage to try one of your window mistreatments...one of these days I'll just get over my perfectionism & fear of commitment & do it! For those of you that don't have those problems (or don't want them haha) you should check out her blog. She has amazing decorating ideas...click on The Nester above.

Happy Friday!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Somewhere over the rainbow is where we found our girls last week, as they performed in a school production of "The Wizard of Oz." It was a long several months of rehearsals, but they did a wonderful job, Rachel as Dorothy, and Grace as one of the Munchkins.

This picture also shows Toto, played by Rachel's good friend Maureen, who was so good, not only in her role, but also in helping Rachel with her nerves while singing her big song.

The whole cast did very well, and it was such a joy to see them having so much fun performing and working together. Bravo!

Daughter Sings...Mother Cries

I don't think it's any secret that in this family music is a good friend. Quiet is not. The girls and I love to play music and sing, in the house, in the car, in the shower (oops, sorry...too much information). The girls will even take the music outside and play while singing. Even my beloved, who has a strict "no-clapping" to music policy, will do work around the yard with music playing on his PDA.

Well, I'm telling you all this because one of Rachel's classes this year has been choir. Imagine this music-loving momma's surprise and delight...choir...at school!

Anyway, one of the highlights for the kids is that all the 5th grade choirs from their school district join together (about 250 kids this year!) and perform in an annual Choir Festival held locally which draws choirs from around the state. What is amazing is that they are the only elementary aged choir; all the others are middle and high school aged kids. The other interesting fact is that they are by far the largest choir that participates.

The venue is amazing...I have sung on this stage, and it is spectacular, the sound is beautiful, and to be able to see my daughter up there...well, they sang three songs, but I've posted video of the last one...I was in tears by then.

We must have watched 6-8 more choirs after them, and while the experience was good, you can't convince me one of those was better than this choir!

Have a beautiful day...and don't forget to sing today. It doesn't matter if you are off-key, or the greatest singer on the planet. Who are you really singing for, anyway?!? =)

Worship the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful songs.
-Psalm 100:2

Thank you, Lord, for putting a song in my heart. Help me to use it for Your glory!

Cutting the Cord!

Well, I guess we are going to be seeing a lot more of this around our house

If you get the idea that the tv is turned "off" then you are with me so far. We have made the (sucking in air sounds here) decision to cancel our satellite service.

That means no more

(sorry girls!) and no more

(sorry again, girls!)...okay, I am a little sad about that, too.

And, alas, no more

Now I'm really feeling it since we've been in our house less than a year and I can use all the free advice I can get. Not to mention that all my dreams, yes big dreams, of ever having one of my rooms made over by their designers will probably never come true. How can I be on their show if they know I don't watch their show. Am I getting any sympathy yet? No? It's okay...I'm not feeling very sorry for myself, either.

I'm actually looking forward to:

Sleeping more...I love to sleep!
Reading more...magazines don't really count, do they?
More music...life is just happier when you're singing!
Actually finishing the projects I've started and all the ones I've wanted to start...whoa, let's not get too lofty in our goals - hee hee hee!
Cleaning...wait, I didn't just write that. What I meant to say was teaching the girls proper cleaning techniques...they'll be wives and mothers someday, after all. =)
Spending more time with the girls. While they demonstrate said cleaning techniques. =)
You know I'm kidding...sort of.

Speaking of the girls...I can only imagine what the first couple of weeks will be like until they "adjust" to "LWOTV" (Life With Out TV). Rachel has already asked me what she's going to do all summer, and it's only March. We still have the box for a few more weeks, so I will have to blog on a future date and let you know how we survived, but until then, I'll be thinking up responses to the inevitable, "There's nothing to do," the dreaded, "I'm bored," and, "When can we have our tv back?"

Honestly, I know it will be a struggle for all of us, at first, as we all seem a little too stuck on those 200+ channels of whatever. But I think it is a good thing we are doing, for our family and our finances, and I am encouraged to discover how our family responds to getting rid of the tv and what we will find to do instead.

If you have gotten rid of your "box" or are thinking of it, let me know. I would like to know how you are surviving it and what has taken the place of it in your family's lives.

2 Fabulous 4-Eyes...1 Fantastic Friend

So what do you get when you combine beauty, brains, and eight beautiful eyes? (the modesty is a bonus tee hee!)



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My darling Rachel got glasses for reading and studying recently and I couldn't resist showing you how great she looks in them. Since she is soooo photogenic, I thought I would be brave and jump in the picture with her with my own 4-eyes.

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I also have to shout out a big "thank you" to my friend, Christine, for thinking green in my honor. I have just a "slight" (read:huge) obsession with the color green and when she saw a green top at the thrift store today, she just had to buy it for me. What a keen surprise for this green bean! ha

All in all...it was a good Monday. Sunshine, library time with the girls, "new" green top, husband home early...I think I'll go have some Mint Chip ice cream and call it a lovely day!

Spring Blooms

And the prettiest Spring Bloomers of all...

Thank you, Father, for Your gifts of Spring

New life You create , and to what You give wing

For sun and for rain that bring blooms from dry seeds

We revel, O Father, in Your Glorious deeds!