We added something to our routine, watering the garden. When Tony comes home from work he heads outside with the kids to the water the garden, which also means running through the sprinkler.

I have had little to do with this garden but I am definitely enjoying it’s rewards. We had fresh spinach all week! And, every time I walk out of the house the garden boxes are pretty to look at. I am very proud of my husband for building them and thankful he put so much effort into making them look nice.

Weston is on a frog kick. Notice his boots? Cutie!

I took these pictures about a week ago, since then Tony took the kids to buy a real sprinkler.

Enjoy your weekend!

Here is one of my fashion goals this summer:  To dust off this purse, it is adorable, but has never been used. I blame it on lack of space for diapers. May be good for a date night?

My gray maxi dress has become a quick favorite while pregnant. Very comfortable and easily layered!

Thoughts Today:

I’ve been thinking about Psalm 139:1-6, specifically the last few verses.

¹ You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

If you have read this section of scripture before, I’m sure you have been moved by how well God knows us. As I have said before, it is good to be known but what stuck out to me today is how God knows us so much more than we even know ourselves. He understands words we say and things we do far better that we could even begin to. Verse six says such knowledge is to wonderful and too lofty for us to attain. This also means that understanding our children and well as God does is to loft and wonderful for us to attain. He will always “get them.” He will always understand the why behind their every action. This is something I will try to do with my kids every day, as long as I live, but I will never understand them as well as God does. So when I feel lost. When I don’t understand what is going on in their sweet little brains or hearts, I realize, He is the one to go to. He is the one to ask for wisdom and understanding because He is the one who knows. The Lord has the highest understanding of our children’s little hearts!

TTWL are written by Linda Colby

Lala:  Good Morning! I was thinking about S this morning, along with H & K, and even N & W!!! Haha! How is that for a Good Morning?!

Annie: Well, it is a lot of initials.. How have your grandchildren captured your mind this morning?

Lala: Baking!  I’ve always felt baking is a great time to bond with children and at the same time they learn a few things along the way.

Annie:  Yes, it is always fun to bake. S loves her own little cupcake apron!

Lala:  I know she does, it is quite adorable.  Anyway, when we bake we have talked about following instructions, which I think everyone realizes you can teach a child through baking.

Annie: And, if you don’t follow instructions; the consequences of something not tasting good.

Lala: Yes. I think it would be a good idea to be more purposeful in pointing out the “lessons” of baking while you are baking with children.  Some are more age appropriate for N as he is in school… for example… N is studying fractions right now.  Baking would be a very fun way to practice his fractions, and to see the importance of knowing and understanding their use.  He isn’t learning fractions as an exercise in Math, but can apply it to life’s activities.

Annie:  That’s fun.  I like the idea of helping the kids practice what they learn in different situations.  To even follow a recipe, reading becomes important. So, that would be another skill to point out. That would also mean allowing them to read the recipes, maybe it would be good to purchase a children’s recipe book. It would probably have simpler words.

Lala:  I agree. Some recipes can be a little confusing. And, baking gives children a chance to practice the Fruit of the Spirit: patience!  You do have to wait to reap the reward of your work!  I was even thinking when S or W have been very impatient…maybe it is time to bake instead of discipline. Like putting a “face” on the word patience.  Teaching them the reward of being patient while something yummy is in the oven, then is taken out and cools before you get to taste it!  Then their little minds can grapple the “reality” of being patient!

Annie:  That is a fun idea. Baking does teach you to be patient, especially when you smell the aroma! It could also teach them to cooperate with each other while they make the dough together.  Since I tell them we are a team, baking could show them how to be a team and cooperate by taking turns dumping ingredients into the mixing bowl, or measuring.  Baking becomes the classroom.

Lala:  I like that thought; Baking becomes the classroom. Learning through activities in life is always a good thing, especially when in a positive manner. I think baking with children can also teach them to prepare, and to organize.  You could talk about being prepared when you are getting out all of the needed ingredients, the utensils, a cake pan or a cookie sheet.  And organizing it all ahead of time so you will not be searching while you are constructing, which could cause you to forget something.  S loves to organize. She’ll like that part!

Annie: Yes, she will! She would also like being creative with baking! If you could put paper in cookies, S would certainly think that was fun too! Haha! But, she would have fun being creative with what she put in a cookie.  Or, even taking the rice krispi treat recipe and using something different than rice krispies.  I think I saw someone using fruit loops on pinterest.  It could be a lesson of thinking outside the box… or as you always say, “what if…”.

Lala:  Yes, playing “what if…” is how I learned to use a computer.  I do like the “what if..” game. Depending on what you are baking; you could teach about yeast, science, Biblical principles. You could teach how heat changes the dough into something edible.  I think there are many possibilities and it is fun to think on it.  And, discipline can sometimes be set aside, grace given…then teaching children the lesson through something constructive like baking. They may just learn it better.  Baking can be more than bonding!

This time the biggest blessing has been friends. I live in my home town, so you would assume I have a lot of long lasting relationships from my childhood. The thing is, I moved away for awhile and didn’t move back until I was married and soon to be a mom. So, I had to start building relationships over again. Everyone knows this takes time. Quantity of experiences create quality of friendships. The more you go through with people and stick in there with people the better and stronger the relationships get. But, I can’t say I didn’t find myself sometime lamenting the fact that I wanted more deeper friendships.

As I was praying through the way I have been feeling physically I asked the Lord to reveal what He was doing in my life. One day, while driving to the grocery store as a family, it finally clicked and I couldn’t wait to share the realization with Tony. I realized God was showing me how truly blessed I am with friends.

I have been shown the deep ability God places in people to care. It used to be that if I was having a bad day I could lay on the couch and no one had to know because I didn’t have anyone to take care of but myself. Being a mom has changed this. I have more responsibility and can’t afford to keep the pain to myself because sometimes I just need help (So thankful to have my mom and sisters here along with great friends!!!) As people know more, they really really care! What a blessing the body of believers is. What a blessing it is to watch people not only love and support me but love and support all the people who are hurting in our community. So if you are in pain and doubt if anyone cares, they do, people care! I praise God for giving us the ability to care.

If you ask Sienna, she’ll tell you the baby could come any day. She’ll also tell you that her Daddy will call her as soon as the baby is born and she will come to the hospital.

If you ask if the baby is a boy or girl, she will tell you she doesn’t know. And, if you ask her who knows, she will tell you God knows. The one time she did answer the question, she told me she thinks it will be a girl and Weston thinks it will be a boy.

If you asked Weston where the baby is he would point to either his tummy or mine. He has also started pointing to all the babies he sees and saying “Baby”. So if you ask me I think we’re all getting ready to welcome the next member of our family into this world. I love all three of my babies and I will probably always call them my babies.

Linked with The Pleated Poppy

Pain is real, something we have to deal with and something we can sometimes overcome. While we are in it, life doesn’t stop and we can’t always stop either. This is why I ask myself “What Now?” And What Now? translates into so many more questions… What am I going to do now? How am I going to handle it? What kind of attitude am I going to have? What am I going to learn? Am I going to be open to learning?

I mentioned in a previous post that I recently realized, during this latest flare up, I hadn’t been giving my pain to God. I also hadn’t been asking “What Now?” The question changes my attitude. It helps me accept the situation at hand and not be paralyzed by it. It helps me to keep going every day.

I realize the pain I feel is very different and probably a lot smaller than what many people experience. This is why my answers to this question are different than other peoples will be. The point is to keep fighting through it, not be defeated, and do what you can with a positive attitude.

Linked with Casey Leigh

We delivered May Day baskets Tuesday afternoon but had to cut our deliveries short because I wasn’t feeling well. It also didn’t help that Weston ended up with chocolate all over his hands and face. Normally not a problem but I didn’t have any baby wipes. Despite the somewhat challenging delivery, we had a lot of fun. Especially at our last stop. The place the kids were most excited to go… to drop one off at home for their daddy. It was adorable. My favorite moment this week. I love how much they love their daddy and how much he loves them!

Are you looking for something beautiful to look at today? My mom is the most creative person I know. She uses her giftedness in many ways, one of which is decorating for weddings, showers, galas, and other parties. The exciting news is, she is going to start sharing her creativity on a blog Designs and Dresses. Head over today to check out her first post!

I came across these verses while praying through Handbook to Prayer: Praying Scripture Back to God and they stuck out to me as a great prayer for my kids.

I pray my children will be included in Christ when they hear the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. I thank you that when they believe, you mark them with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.