bird-watching.  sometimes i have trouble believing i have 4 children.

caught a fish!

pjs on the kitchen floor.  typical

this is for you char.  adam thinks my recent tie-die leggings from the consignment store are ridiculous, but i don't have insight any more and no sisterly fashion-consultant.

a quick cousin visit. twins!

squishy o and uncle tom.

check out how high those boys are climbing.  gracious.

you don't rule your own life...

we have been sick lately ( i personally have not felt well since january!) with some sort of flu/snot/fever thing.  it has been cold too so we've laid low and have just enjoyed the slowness, not feeling particularly discouraged.  i read this yesterday though and it was such an encouragement to my heart that often wonders what i am supposed to be doing at any given moment or day. I am so grateful that Someone infinitely wiser than I is writing my story and enabling my feeble days with His grace:

"It's not wrong to think and think hard. It's not a sin to want to understand life. It's not bad to embark on a quest to know, but you better not be looking for peace of heart.  God created you with the ability to think and the desire for life to make sense. these traits were given to you so that you could come to know God and understand what he's communicated to you. But it is important to remember that rest is never to be found in trying to figure it all out, because you never will. There will always be mystery in your life. God will always surprise you with what he brings your way. You will always be confronted with the unplanned and the unexpected. All of this is because you don't rule your own life and you don't write your own story. And the One who does rule and write doesn't tell you everything about your life and his plan. No, he tells you the things you need to know to live as you were designed to live, and then he graces you with his presence and his power.

Because he controls the details of your life, he is always near; at any moment, you can reach out and touch him (see Acts 17:26-27). Rest is only ever found in trusting the One who has everything figured out for your good and his glory. Because he is wise, gracious, faithful, and powerful, he is worthy of your trust and is alone able to give your heart rest."

see psalm 139

from Paul Tripp's New Morning Mercies

we have been laying low and fighting off the winter cold that keeps giving and giving. so much coughing and nose-blowing and not sleeping!

just a red-tailed hawk hanging out nextdoor

heart-throb hubby really likes to iron and is teaching his sons to be equally heart-throbby.  he also loves grocery shopping.  how did i get blessed with this man?

curls for choir day.  i remember doing this when i was little.  so fun!

it seems miles spends most of his time rolling around on the floor with owen, just a hitch above gently

sunshine helps body aches

g had his first fever since infancy and hopefully he will wrap this virus up!

my life is not exciting

but it is so rich with everyday moments of grace. "Lord help me be content, but not complacent" is my most common prayer.

part of owen's chubby baby photo session.  i love his squish

a little help from big bro to ride his car

watching the birds.  during the rain the other day we saw robins, red-wing blackbirds, blue jays, cardinals, gold finches, titmice, and a few squirrels.  free entertainment!

2 peas in a pod

blustery picnic

making his own eggs.  we failed at the flip daddy does so they ended up scrambled...miles says they were  "gooder" that way:)

some everyday

it has been a rainy and cold January, which means our house is a wreck with all the forts and inside play. when the sun has been out, so have we! we need it! these children keep me busy and tired and i am grateful for this work the Lord has given me.  i've been thinking a lot about this precious mama as she nears the end of her life.  go read her book for a little perspective!  i'm thankful God has used her cancer to encourage so many to love those in our lives well...i like how she says to "open our hands to our story" and encourages to love without holding back and protecting ourselves...something to ponder as i do life with these people under my roof.

she has been reading the boxcar children (thanks Grandma for this Christmas gift!) and it is the first time she has really been hooked on reading.  hurray!

we took a chilly hike with a bunch of friends.  so fun!

oh my preciousness.  they look alike to me.

after 2 years of considering, we finally joined costco.  i mean, these kids eat SO MUCH food!  g is always on the lookout for good helmet boxes.  i wonder sometimes what the neighbors must think about the kids riding their horses (bikes) with boxes on their heads.

making a feather collector

we have been reading the burgess book of birds in the mornings lately with some of these resources.  graham said, "look! swallow's nests!" i love love burgess and so do the kiddos

i love his outfit

downy woodpecker

identifying animal prints

chubster is 22 lbs and still sweet as pie, though a terrible night-time sleeper.  i go back and forth about whether i care about that or not.  i do treasure the baby stage so this time around.

i joined a book club, so mar and i spent part of saturday afternoon like this.  so. sweet.

sponge curlers are the thing these days

the box sled

life is thrilling

 

same couch, same people

getting so big

i broke our camera on Christmas eve. we had a warranty on it for the kids, but clumsy mama was the culprit this time. here are a few memories from the season. graham's eye saga laid us pretty low for a while. it was hard to leave the house. In God's kindness, it looks like his eye will be just fine. his vision was nearly 20/20 at his last appointment. we are so grateful for this grace!

we had a few violin concerts. i love that at christmas, the suzuki group plays at nursing homes. the joy on the faces of the listeners was truly special. it really was beautiful. marit sang in our church's lessons and carols service. here's to hoping that once owen is weaned, we can do these things together!

we did leave town for a couple days with part of my family, but no camera.  it was a lovely time in the mountains at my Grandma's house where my parents have been working so hard.

got an idea from a friend to paint the progress of a camellia flower

we find these kinds of notes everywhere. this girl is sweet!