chickadees in the tree in our front yard; beautiful, huge, white snowflakes falling down this morning; the dusting of snow on the evergreens; crack'ling wood in the fireplace; the way my 2 year old daughter says, 'o-tay' for O.K.); sewing (I'm so excited to start sewing some aprons from an old sheet that I got from my Great-Grandma K. - I'm sure it's from the 1960's or 70's as it has the huge white and pink daisy-type flowers all over it and I just LOVE it!); playing board games; making delicious meals for my family ... these are a few of my favorite things today!

YOUR Favorite Things: Your turn to share with me!

It's challenging to find the blessings in everyday life when your kids are sick with bad colds and you are tired and feeling anxious about life in general. These are the days when I usually preach to myself through my blogging. This is the perfect day to pull myself up by the bootstraps and look at the positives; but I'm struggling. So, instead of ME sharing 'my favorite things' today; I'm asking you, my dear reader, to share YOUR favorite things about today with me.

I'll share 3 things that I'm thankful for today: sunshine, my family, and comfy clothes.

Your turn!

braids; smiles; a clean kitchen; chickadees flitting on the bare branches of the tree in my front yard; warm sunshine despite the bitter cold; my children playing happily together; the scent of my husband's cologne; freshly brushed teeth with minty-fresh breath; icicles; making a creative chore chart for our family; calendar pictures; shopping; ... these are a few of my favorite things today.

Homemade Ginger Ale science project (pretty yummy); Wii Fit; having tea and freshly made cherry pie with a friend at a local restaurant; sunshine; sleeping in; tickles and giggles; teaching my son; my husband; my new cream-coloured scarf made by my mother in law; trying out my newest fragrance oil blend in my 'Silk Bath Soak' recipe (I'm thinking of calling it 'Berry Christmas' as it is a Raspberry/Vanilla Bean/Mint blend - very refreshing - lots of different kinds of salts (Coarse/Dead Sea/Epsom/Dendritic; Milk powder; Cornstarch; SLSA (for the bubbles); and fragrance) - it is expensive to make so is definitely a luxury item -but oh, how lovely to soak in! Anyway, I need ideas for fragrance names for the rest of the year); sitting by the fire; quiet time ... these are a few of my favorite things today.

walking in the beautiful winter-wonderland of my 'summer' village; listening to the birds (it's beginning to sound like Spring!); the excited squeals when I walk in the front door; dress-up; chatting with my son; playing Wii games with my family; having all the dishes done; stir-fry with my yummy sweet&sour sauce for supper; talking with friends; hugs; Oreo Truffles .... these are a few of my favorite things today!

A Berry-Special Day

"Mommy, can you call me 'Berry-Bella'?" my four year old daughter asks me. "Of course!" I reply. "And can I call you 'Berry-Mommy'?" "Sure!" And so it begins, this season of pretend-play; imagining you can change your name and shape others into who you want them to be in order to create your princess-perfect world. I love every minute of her dreams and wishes. I love her dressing up as Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and The Little Mermaid (with matching shoes of course!). I love the tiaras and sequins; the sparkles and feathers. I love the tulle and satin. The pinks, purples, yellows and blues. I love this season of tea parties and celebrations. Every day is 'berry-special' because my little girl is a part of it.

sunshine; hopefully enough wood to get us through the super cold spell we're in; thinking of Spring; dancing; watching family movies together; working on my family blanket (crochet); ice cream cones (my new favorite way to portion control a treat); my husband feeling better - well enough to begin folding our laundry mountain; my son's smiles; reading a story to my 4 year old daughter while she sits on my lap; singing 'Jesus loves me' with my 2 year old daughter; Oreo Cookie Truffles - a make-ahead treat for the unexpected surprise of company ... these are a few of my favorite things today.

my husband feeling better from the flu; my kids not getting sick; going for a walk today and getting some (extremely cold) fresh air and sunshine; birds and squirrels chattering and chirping in the trees; Silk Bubble Soak in 'Tinsel' (still to be experienced tonight); watching my girls wiggle and dance to music; spending 1-1 time with my son; playing games with my husband; a nice warm house to live in; homemade pizza; ice cream cones; prayer ... these are a few of my favorite things today.

Lakmé Flower Duet Erika Miklosa Bernadett Wiedemann

This is one of my favorite things to listen to today... a little supper music/bath music/fireplace music. Simply beautiful.

gathering together for a morning spent sharing, caring, and praying with fellow pastors' wives; the big hugs and "Mommy's Home!!!" happiness I got when I came home; my husband making lunch and supper; a working heater in the Yukon as it was terribly cold today; firewood stacked in the backyard and in our house; my husband bringing said firewood into our home everyday; honeydew melon; doing my little girls hair up with all kinds of goodies; my wedding rings; playing Wii with my son ... these are a few of my favorite things today.

snuggling with my children; watching C. and B. learn their lessons and all of the 'lightbulb' moments that bring joy to us all; A.'s little wiggle when she dances to music; hugs from my husband and his messages to me on our whiteboard (today's was that he is praying for me); peaches and golds and pinks in the sunset tonight cast a warm glow on the piles of snow around our home; the scent of clean laundry; making soap today ('Pink Sugar' and 'Orange Dream'); goodnight kisses; the warmth of the fire; making 'Egg McMuffins' - much better tasting than the original not only b/c of the ingredients but also because they are made with love for my family... these are a few of my favorite things today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Pink waffles, pink dream whip; mixed berries; pink berry tea; pink strawberry dessert; homemade valentines; chocolate from my husband (70% - yummy!); a beautiful card from my husband; 'I love you's from my kids; kisses and hugs; a good book; wrapped up in my 2 favorite blankets on the couch (a fleece one about friendship from my mom and a cream wool crocheted one from one of my grandmas); sunshine... these are a few of my favorite things today!

We're "Pasta Rich"!

We stopped for groceries when returning home from our weekend get-a-way. I had paused in the pasta aisle and wondered outloud if we needed any more pasta at home. My 8 year old son piped up, 'No, we're 'pasta-rich'! :D

Spending time with family; playing games; watching my children bond with extended family; watching my children have so much fun sledding; hugs and smiles and kisses with my husband; the warmth of a down duvet (just like home!); kisses and hugs with my kids; seeing the moon tonight; pizza out of the box to make my life easier for supper; strawberries; canned black beans on sale; reading two good books from a loved one who also sent me a care package (Thank you so much! I felt so spoiled and loved!); low fat hot chocolate; these are a few of my favorite things today!

Life Lessons: The Gift of Presence

Yesterday the kids and I were making Valentine's Day cards. The table was covered in pink, red, and purple paper hearts and all sorts of things for decorating. We had a great time as the girls pretended to write love notes inside each one and my son dutifully signed his name on his. I was asking my 4 year old daughter what she wanted to write to her daddy and I on our card. Here is what she said:
"Dear Mommy and Daddy,
Thank you for visiting.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Love,
B."

It was very cute to hear her say 'Thank you for visiting.'; but I wondered if this was truly her perception of our parenting. We're always with our children. My husband is not working at this time and I'm at home full-time as well. Our children are homeschooled; so we're always together. Yet, how much of my presence do I give to my children? I school them and cuddle them and kiss them and read to them. I watch t.v. with them and play games with them. Their Daddy takes over the bath and bed routine most nights with them. We are with our children in our home all the time. When we go anywhere, we're near always all together. And yet, how much of my presence do I give my children?

That question is particularly piercing as I begin to make changes in my life to become healthier. I have let go of social networking sites; I have reduced my time spent online; I have begun getting out of the house to go walking with a friend 3x a week; I have reformed our daily schedule. Still I know that there is more that I can do to be fully present with my family.

Psalm 46:10 reads,"Be still and know that I am God." How many times have I read that verse, read the psalm, and yet remain unchanged? Listen to the entire psalm (it's short and beautiful):

Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

God's gift to us in this psalm is the gift of his presence.

God is our refuge and strength.
God is an ever-present help.
God is with us.
God is our fortress.

In my failings as a parent, this is what I want my children to learn: that God is always with them. God will help them where I cannot. God will go with them where I cannot. God will provide for them what I cannot. I am just "visiting" this earth. One day I will await them in heaven with their sister and other loved ones; but God is always by their side.

My children are young and in need of me still; so I hope to 'visit' for a good long time. I hope that I will learn this lesson and practice the gift of presence in the day-to-day demands of home and family.

A Get-a-way

I just love get-a-ways for the weekend. The kids get strapped into their seats and choose movies to watch on the dvd player. My husband and I can talk and hold hands while driving - if the conditions and traffic allow. Sometimes I call my best friend and we can chat mostly undisturbed while flying along to our destination. And once we get where we are going; the kids are excited for their little holiday; getting to do things that they normally don't get to do. And my husband and I can enjoy the smiles on their faces. It's just a little get-a-way. A little bit away from home but not too far. A quick rest from the regular routine. A visit with family. A visit with friends. A quick trip to reconnect with each other in our own family unit. When was the last time you had a get-a-way?

The scent of clean laundry (my newest fav. is my 'Lavender & Vanilla' Laundry Love Soap!), a great walk with a friend in the sunshine, seeing my daughters flannel Christmas pj's, my son's giggle and funny dances, cookbooks, a crazy apron from my best friend one year for Christmas, clean water,... these are a few of my favorite things today!

The beauty and sweetness of words aptly spoken; the gentleness of my son with his babiest sister; the shared smiles at the antics of our precious children; snowsparkles; the 'key to my heart' pendant my husband gave me as a wedding present; the smell of woodsmoke on a cold winter's day; ... these are a few of my favorite things today.

watching my son complete his math test and grow in confidence; seeing my daughters looking so much alike in their 'two braids' hair style; making tortillas from scratch for lunch and hearing little but the sounds of crunching as everyone devoured their meal; red peppers; sunshine streaming in my windows... these are a few of my favorite things today.

Life Lessons: I'm 'live-able'! (not to be confused with livable)

We bought "Super Mario" for the Wii for Christmas. This has provided Kevin, Caleb and I with hours of fun frustration! A couple of weeks ago while playing, Caleb was complimenting us: "Dad, you're great!" "Mom, you're 'live-able'!"

What on earth is 'live-able', you ask? Ahem, well, it means that if the other two players die and are trapped in their bubbles, as long as I stay alive, there is hope they can come back into the game. I think it's an important trait; I mean, how many people do you know who are 'live-able'? ;)

So to translate that, 'live-able' means there is still hope.

Job 11:13-20
Yet if you devote your heart to him
and stretch out your hands to him,
if you put away the sin that is in your hand
and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;
you will stand firm and without fear.
You will surely forget your trouble,
recalling it only as waters gone by.
Life will be brighter than noonday,
and darkness will become like morning.
You will be secure, because there is hope;
you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,
and many will court your favor.
But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
and escape will elude them;
their hope will become a dying gasp.”

I just love that bolded portion, "You will be secure, because there is hope;" What a beautiful thought! This is what makes my son say that I am live-able: because he knows that as long as I stay alive; his life is secure too.

Isn't that what gives us hope when we face the darkness? Knowing that God never slumbers or sleeps; that he keeps watch over our coming and going both now and forevermore (Psalm 121); this is our God! We can continue to have hope because He is the "I AM". He is live-able to the extreme! Death cannot hold him down because he has conquered the grave. Nothing we do or fail to do makes him any less live-able; his live-ability exists independent of our frail existence. He is the embodiment of hope.

1 Peter 1:3-9
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

watching my husband play 'vacuum tickle' with our children; giving my son 8 bedtime kisses - one for each year; teaching B. how to read and giving her high 5's when she gets a word right; oh-so-tight chubby baby/toddler hugs with A.; the birds singing in the trees on my morning walk; kindred-spirit friends... these are a few of my favorite things today. ♥