Remember Today

I hope your weekend has been full of good food and fun with family and friends.  It's been a nice weekend for hanging out by the pool end enjoying Hubby's BBQ.

I just want to dedicate this post to the men and women who have sacrificed their very lives for the freedom we enjoy in this country.   Thank you.    Also, to those who are serving now and to their families who could be away from them today.   Thank you. 

No, I Don't Complete My Child's School Projects

My girl had a school project due today.  Last night as she finished up the diagram of a flower - roots to petals, she looked at it proudly and deemed it "All Finished!"  I could tell she was proud of her work and I was too!   It was colorful, 3-dimensional, neat and labeled in all the right places. 

Today, when she came home I asked her about the project.   Her disappointed response was that it didn't compare to everyone elses who looked like their parents completed them.    I thought surely not but she shared that some of her classmates told her that the parents did help them ...A LOT.  Some even completed them!     

To be fair here, we do help her.  We run through ideas together, I purchase supplies if needed and I even have drawn out a map that was too difficult for her to do with her last project.  But to actually put the work in the project and complete it for her?  What is the point?  What could she possibly learn by me doing that?


It's one thing in Kindergarten to help my little guy complete one of the million projects he came home with this year.   I needed to find pictures of the family for one and help him get it organized.  But even with that one, I let him cut and paste. 

So, am I wrong to not help my kids more with their projects?  Personally, I think it's important that my kids learn the lesson being taught by doing a project.  That they are graded on following directions and the work completed based on their ages, not the work of a 37 year old man or woman.  

Even with homework, I am simply a helper, an observer - only there to step in when they get stuck or need to review for a test.   

Why then, do so many parents complete the projects for the kids?  How about you?  How far do you go in helping your child with projects?

Go!

I want to share the story of a very good friend of mine. Her name is Chris and many of you that are local know her. She is the awesome photographer who took my profile picture.

She is a very special woman in my life.

Well, she is going on a mission trip for 11 months! I'm happy for her and her family because they have been praying for a long time that God give them an opportunity like this. As a matter of fact, their story is quite amazing. It's a story of patience through tough things in life, trusting an almighty God, listening to His spirit and moving when he calls you.

She has a new blog, Through Open Doors, where you can read all about her and her family's new adventure in moving to the Dominican Republic.  Her call to Go!

They are selling pretty much everything they have to make this happen.     If you feel so inclined there is a place you can donate to their trip.   Most importantly, please just pray for them.  We love them very much and know that they are ultra-excited for this to happen and to be a part of growing God's kingdom in the Dominican Republic.   Selfishly, I also want them to be safe.


Through Open Doors - the story of one family's call to GO to the Dominican Republic.

The Bump - 29 Weeks

Well, I thought I'd show you the bump.    I have to tell you that I do not normally like pictures of myself when I am pregnant.   I pretty much get pregnant everywhere.  Let's just say, you can tell I'm pregnant from the back and I'm not wearing a bikini to the pool.  Although, I will say that going to the pool and not having to hold in my stomach is an unexpected blessing.  It is almost as if my entire self changes to the point where people that have not seen me in awhile really don't even recognize me. 

But I've had some requests from family and friends that I have not seen in awhile to see me preggars with child # 3.  

So, here goes.

Here I am almost 29 weeks pregnant with our baby boy.  A very busy little man - kicking all the time and sending up heartburn galore.    I'm getting very excited to meet him!

Ready Hearts

My Facebook status today is that my OB appointments have officially moved to once every two weeks now.  You know what that means?  We are having a baby soon!  I have to say that I was a little more than shocked when my doc told me we were in that home stretch.  It has gone SO fast!    And I have to also say that being mom to 3 kids freaks me out A LOT  a little bit.  

We still have a lot to do around the house.  LOTS of rearranging of bedrooms and bonus rooms, painting, cleaning out the attic and getting rid of whatever we don't need - which is a lot.    

What is not ready:

• His room.
• His name.
• His clothes from the attic.
• A million other things.  

What is ready:

• Our hearts.

I'm guessing the rest will just fall into place.

Love Birds

This little couple sits right outside my front door.   I could actually reach out and touch them, yet they don't move an inch...unless they see the dogs.    So, when I walk outside there the two of them sit just nesting each day. 

I did a little research on this little dove.  Suitably named the Common Ground Dove they are a heavily populated bird here in the south.  They nest on the ground - just like they are pictured here.  They build a minimal nest ON THE GROUND (where snakes and rodents live) and often lay unfertilized eggs.   

It makes me wonder how they are so heavily populated?  Hmmm....things that make me go hmmmm.   

They also mate for a season or some for even life.    That makes me just love them.  That and their sweet little cooing sounds. 

The other day I walked out to find them nested in some cord that I've pulled up for landscape lighting.    I've yet to bury it again and now, here they are in the middle of it.   I guess I'll wait a little longer. 

I just love how they were sitting in a heart.    Sweet, huh?

The Pregnant Gardener

I have to admit that gardening this year has been a little more difficult for me.  I tire easily and seriously cannot squat over the beds.  I find myself literally sitting smack dab in the middle of the dirt just to plant something.  And Then.  Well...getting up is not so easy.    Sunday, I planted an awesome new iris I got at the Farmers Market last week and a chive plant and just had to call it a day.   Today, my mom  - thank goodness - came over to help me transplant some things.    We took out a lot of bigger bushes in front of our house and I really needed to get this area planted with some things before it gets any hotter. 

Actually that time with my mom today was nice.  I should whine a lot more about needing help.  ;) 

Anyway, I thought I'd show you some things that have bloomed like crazy so far this Spring.  Some things that I had nothing to do with THIS year.  Because I fear they would not be this beautiful if so.

I've waited years to have my Clematis grow like this.  Yay!  I smile every single time I arrive home to have this big showy purple flower greet me!  

Here it is close up:

And then there is my Peony that my mom gave me for Mother's Day several years ago.   It's not your traditional Peony but one called a Tree Peony.  The blooms are open like that for a couple weeks.  I think it makes such a happy-looking flower.  I do have another traditional Peony getting ready to open right now.  I can't wait!

It smells awesome too!

Sunday Word - Freedom

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.       

  - Romans 8:1

True Freedom.
Do you believe it?